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Curcumin to reduce risk of progression
Has anyone had curcumin recommended by an multiple myeloma specialist as a method to reduce risk of progression from MGUS to smoldering or symptomatic myeloma?
Re: Curcumin to reduce risk of progression
Hello,
I have experience with curcumin and though my doc is very interested in how it alleviates symptoms, he has not recommended it as preventative medicine, but I don't think MD's can officially prescribe alternative supplements, though I could be wrong.
I started taking Meriva (Thorne's brand of curcumin, which is highly reputable) in high doses about 1 year ago when I started to have increasing pain in my bones and joints and it helped alleviate the symptoms due to inflammation significantly. It is safer than NSAIDS, which I was taking daily at the time, but costly. Sadly, it didn't prevent my disease from progressing, but I continue to take it to avoid the NSAIDS and improve quality of life.
Hope this helps.
J
I have experience with curcumin and though my doc is very interested in how it alleviates symptoms, he has not recommended it as preventative medicine, but I don't think MD's can officially prescribe alternative supplements, though I could be wrong.
I started taking Meriva (Thorne's brand of curcumin, which is highly reputable) in high doses about 1 year ago when I started to have increasing pain in my bones and joints and it helped alleviate the symptoms due to inflammation significantly. It is safer than NSAIDS, which I was taking daily at the time, but costly. Sadly, it didn't prevent my disease from progressing, but I continue to take it to avoid the NSAIDS and improve quality of life.
Hope this helps.
J
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jhorner - Name: Magpie
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 49
Re: Curcumin to reduce risk of progression
Hi Jerry - I was diagnosed with IgG MGUS the fall of 2011. My initial M spike was 1 and after a repeat test it was 1.5. Following a bone marrow biopsy in January 2012, I started taking one green tea capsule (315mg) in the morning and one curcumin (250mg curcuminoids) at night. Just got my last M spike result and it was 0.8.
I asked my doctor if she thought the green tea and curcumin affected the M-spike and she said IgG MGUS numbers tend to vary and it was unclear if the supplements had helped. At 1.5, I was considered 'intermediate risk' for progression. I don't know if the risk changes if the spike goes down, but will keep taking the same supplements.
Good luck, Diane
I asked my doctor if she thought the green tea and curcumin affected the M-spike and she said IgG MGUS numbers tend to vary and it was unclear if the supplements had helped. At 1.5, I was considered 'intermediate risk' for progression. I don't know if the risk changes if the spike goes down, but will keep taking the same supplements.
Good luck, Diane
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Dianem
Re: Curcumin to reduce risk of progression
Was on curcumin approx six months, 4500 mg daily. It acted like fertilizer. Ended up with new bone lesions and plasma cells went from 15% to 34%.
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Papa Owen
Re: Curcumin to reduce risk of progression
Curcumin is an interesting subject and very popular with patients and caregivers. It is quite safe, but there is no strong data in appropriately controlled trials indicating that it has an effects on MGUS or smoldering myeloma outcomes.
Pre-clinically it has been shown to affect multiple myeloma cell survival and important signaling pathways in multiple myeloma cells (IL-6 and STAT3 among others). And, as many of you will state (anecdotally), small decreases in paraprotein levels have been seen.
These data would suggest that there is a rationale for its use in multiple myeloma. However, at least as far as I know, there are no positive clinical studies.
That being said, I do not generally recommend curcumin (especially not on study or therapy), but I do not tell patients not to take it in other circumstances. My opinion: It is likely benign, without great harm (toxicity) or benefit (change in outcome).
It has been a topic a number of times on the Beacon. Maybe we can post some links to previous discussion and articles. Also, the articles below provide insight as well.
Rajkumar, "Preventive strategies in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering multiple myeloma," American Journal of Hematology, 2012.
Golombick et al, "Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, smoldering multiple myeloma, and curcumin: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over 4g study and an open-label 8g extension study", American Journal of Hematology, 2012.
(The above article is summarized and reviewed in: "Curcumin May Reduce Free Light Chains In Patients With MGUS And Smoldering Multiple Myeloma," Myeloma Beacon, March 7, 2012.
Others may have different experiences.
Pre-clinically it has been shown to affect multiple myeloma cell survival and important signaling pathways in multiple myeloma cells (IL-6 and STAT3 among others). And, as many of you will state (anecdotally), small decreases in paraprotein levels have been seen.
These data would suggest that there is a rationale for its use in multiple myeloma. However, at least as far as I know, there are no positive clinical studies.
That being said, I do not generally recommend curcumin (especially not on study or therapy), but I do not tell patients not to take it in other circumstances. My opinion: It is likely benign, without great harm (toxicity) or benefit (change in outcome).
It has been a topic a number of times on the Beacon. Maybe we can post some links to previous discussion and articles. Also, the articles below provide insight as well.
Rajkumar, "Preventive strategies in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering multiple myeloma," American Journal of Hematology, 2012.
Golombick et al, "Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, smoldering multiple myeloma, and curcumin: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over 4g study and an open-label 8g extension study", American Journal of Hematology, 2012.
(The above article is summarized and reviewed in: "Curcumin May Reduce Free Light Chains In Patients With MGUS And Smoldering Multiple Myeloma," Myeloma Beacon, March 7, 2012.
Others may have different experiences.
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Dr. Ken Shain - Name: Ken Shain, M.D., Ph.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Curcumin to reduce risk of progression
Thanks, Dr. Shain, for the detailed reply.
Here are some links along the lines of what you suggested:
Curcumin-related Beacon forum discussions
Curcumin-related Beacon news & opinion articles
Here are some links along the lines of what you suggested:
Curcumin-related Beacon forum discussions
Curcumin-related Beacon news & opinion articles
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