Irritable bowels could be calmed with spice

The spice turmeric might be the magic ingredient to bring relief to people suffering from irritable bowel disease.

Researchers at Nutrigenomics New Zealand have found that curcumin, the major yellow component of the turmeric spice, reduces inflammation for those suffering from irritable bowels.

They said the discovery could help in the development of diet-based treatments for people suffering from the disease.

The results of the study were published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

"Crohn's disease, a form of inflammatory bowel, can be aggravated or relieved by the sufferer's diet," Plant and Food Research researcher Christine Butts said.

"However, due to the number of genes involved, different people with different disease genotypes can be affected by different foods, so there isn't a `one size fits all' solution.

"Only by systematically linking particular components to effects on the specific genotype can we get a true understanding of the disease and how to treat it."

The finding could mean some people with Crohn's disease might benefit from eating turmeric, but it was dependent on their genetic makeup, Ms Butts said.

"Others may not get any benefit, or may even have a severe reaction. However, we are one step closer to understanding this disease and how to best control it with diet."

- NZPA