title: Effect of dietary turmeric on breath hydrogen.
abstract: Turmeric is widely used in Indian cuisine. The main constituents of turmeric are curcumin and its analogues, which are well-known antioxidant compounds. In the present study, we hypothesized that turmeric in curry might increase bowel motility and activate hydrogen-producing bacterial flora in the colon, thereby increasing the concentration of breath hydrogen. Eight healthy subjects fasted for 12 h and ingested curry and rice with or without turmeric (turmeric knockout curry). Breath-hydrogen concentrations were analyzed every 15 min for 6 h by gas chromatography with a semiconductor detector. Curry with turmeric significantly increased the area under the curve of breath hydrogen and shortened small-bowel transit time, compared with curry not containing turmeric. These results suggested that dietary turmeric activated bowel motility and carbohydrate colonic fermentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Etiology and Pathogenesis, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, 5-7-1, Fujishiro-dai, Suita, Osaka, 565-8565, Japan. ashimouc@res.ncvc.go.jp
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimouchi
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nose
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takaoka
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Takaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology; D030024:Curcuma; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D006859:Hydrogen; C012596:turmeric extract