Treatment of HIV-associated diarrhea with curcumin.

Curcumin is the organic extract of turmeric and possesses known anti-inflammatory properties. Our aim was to explore the utility of curcumin in patients with HIV-associated diarrhea. Eight patients with HIV-associated diarrhea were given a mean daily dose of 1,862 mg of curcumin and followed for a mean of 41 weeks. All had resolution of diarrhea and normalization of stool quality in a mean time of 13 ± 9.3 days. Mean number of bowel movements per day dropped from 7 ± 3.6 to 1.7 ± 0.5. Seven of eight patients had considerable weight gain on curcumin (10.8 ± 8.9 lbs). Five of six patients had resolution of bloating and abdominal pain. Patients on anti-retroviral therapy experienced no discernible drug interactions, changes in CD4 count, or changes in HIV viral load while taking curcumin. Curcumin therapy was associated with rapid and complete resolution of diarrhea, substantial weight gain, improvement in the reduction of bloating and abdominal pain.