General Discussion

backscatter712

(26,357 posts)

50. Well, we are starting off with an NIH scientific study.

Sat Jan 18, 2014, 05:16 PM

Jan 2014

That's very good, as far as avoiding the woo factor.

Does this mean that tumeric works as a substitute for Prozac?

Maybe.

I noticed from the abstract, as the OP did, that the sample size is small, and that the P-values are large.

What's a P-value? It's the probability that a result is from pure random chance, rather than a correlation.

The P-values in the abstract are 0.58, and 0.77. In other words, a 58% and 77% chance that the results were due to randomness
rather than a correlation.

Don't panic, the Prozac results were included in this - they also got a high P-value. So does this mean that the study's bogus?

No, it means there might be positive benefits from tumeric, but the math can't distinguish these results from random results. How do you get the math there? Do the study with a larger sample size. When you can get the P-value lower than 0.05 (or 5%), that's about where most researchers conclude that the evidence is solid.

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Study Finds Turmeric Extract Equal to Prozac for Serious Depression [View all] TalkingDog Jan 2014 OP

wow, that is something. I just saw Tumeric in the herbs section today, but it was quinnox Jan 2014 #1

Go to your nearest Indian grocer LiberalEsto Jan 2014 #2

Local sources notemason Jan 2014 #17

my sweet pickle recipe calls for tumerac It really riversedge Jan 2014 #26

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2014 #48

The Library would be a great place to look up that information. William769 Jan 2014 #51

I agree that libraries are great places. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #52

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2014 #63

She is such a child. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #66

Or not, you might risk lead contamination from Tumeric... which is most likely worse JCMach1 Jan 2014 #62

What if there's lead in the turmeric sold in supermarkets or online? LiberalEsto Jan 2014 #64

Part of the trouble... there is too much coming into the country to test properly JCMach1 Jan 2014 #108

ethnic markets... awoke_in_2003 Jan 2014 #77

Find it in bulk icymist Jan 2014 #4

In addition to the other fine suggestions above, you can also tincture it to make your own extract. TalkingDog Jan 2014 #6

Isn't that a little "woo-ish"? Awfully close to... druidity33 Jan 2014 #96

Actually that would be the opposite, woo notwithstanding. progressoid Jan 2014 #99

But it wasn't prepared by a pharmacist! druidity33 Jan 2014 #101

Probably would have helped if I had more than three hours of sleep too. progressoid Jan 2014 #106

If I had a bottle of wine and a liter of vodka, ... JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2014 #104

but probable cheaper than the prescriptions..today everything is expensive... movonne Jan 2014 #33

You can buy it for next to nothing at an "Asian" food store. MADem Jan 2014 #55

The study didn't use turmeric. DeadLetterOffice Jan 2014 #68

Uh-oh. This may set off the woo threads again. JaneyVee Jan 2014 #3

Fear of Indian spices cause Woo concerns! icymist Jan 2014 #5

Yep. We all know that scientific studies don't count unless they're done by the drug companies loudsue Jan 2014 #8

And that is exactly the point for the lapdog corporate mouthpieces... villager Jan 2014 #12

+1 n/t whatchamacallit Jan 2014 #18

Well, obviously that's because if it doesn't make money for drug companies, it is by definition woo. Squinch Jan 2014 #83

You're absolutely right, Squinch. Th1onein Jan 2014 #85

Which is why I posted the link to the study rather than an article in some WOOO magazine. TalkingDog Jan 2014 #10

I'd love to see that study RainDog Jan 2014 #81

A lot of us old-timers are getting thrown out of forums these days, TalkingDog. loudsue Jan 2014 #84

I've seen references to "woo" in other threads over time; please help me!! What is "woo"? 7962 Jan 2014 #23

Here ya go: JaneyVee Jan 2014 #25

Thanks very much! And now I know I've seen a LOT of "woo"! nt 7962 Jan 2014 #29

it's not medicinal unless someone can make Billions from it. Whisp Jan 2014 #60

Woo War II. nt awoke_in_2003 Jan 2014 #79

Won't someone think of the children? ?!!1?! riderinthestorm Jan 2014 #7

But ... it's so YELLOW! In_The_Wind Jan 2014 #9

Ha! TalkingDog Jan 2014 #11

I always wondered why bright yellow rice made me happy JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2014 #103

On the other hand, this means that peope who eat Indian food are ingesting an anti-depressant! hedgehog Jan 2014 #13

Unfortunately, it doesn't follow that Indians have low rates of depression etherealtruth Jan 2014 #15

India more depressing than North korea? nt 7962 Jan 2014 #24

Who knows etherealtruth Jan 2014 #27

In India, there are high rises side by side with impoverished neighborhoods. liberal_at_heart Jan 2014 #28

how would they have gotten info on North Korea ? JI7 Jan 2014 #92

I've heard that in India you are never more than 5 feet away from another human being Matariki Jan 2014 #43

But Prozac isn't an anti depressant, it's an anti anxiety medicine. TheDebbieDee Jan 2014 #105

Um... not quite DeadLetterOffice Jan 2014 #109

The question I have about this: surrealAmerican Jan 2014 #14

As I recall, Prozac worked as well as a placebo for mild to moderate depression TalkingDog Jan 2014 #16

Prozac doesn't appear to work better than placebo for mild or moderate depression. pnwmom Jan 2014 #98

And you can increase the bioavailability of curcumin by consuming it with black pepper siligut Jan 2014 #19

Does naan and mango chutney help? DBoon Jan 2014 #53

Well then, it most certainly helps siligut Jan 2014 #58

and standarized extract @ 90%+ curcuminoids is type of tumeric root to pursue iirc lunasun Jan 2014 #80

That would be great, but I get so tired of hearing about trials that involve small sample liberal_at_heart Jan 2014 #20

Careful, or you'll be accused of being a closed-minded scientist Orrex Jan 2014 #39

I can already here it coming! NuclearDem Jan 2014 #42

Why not just enjoy curry for curries sake? TalkingDog Jan 2014 #44

Heh, yep. eggplant Jan 2014 #65

And now they are dead! icymist Jan 2014 #71

C'mon. Sample size of 2, not a great study. nilram Jan 2014 #72

100% of me is still alive (+/- 3%) so I'm with you. n/t eggplant Jan 2014 #76

Lard has the power.... Systematic Chaos Jan 2014 #97

Well that was a fun way to start a Sunday! progressoid Jan 2014 #100

its debatable iamthebandfanman Jan 2014 #21

I am somewhat in agreement with that idea. TalkingDog Jan 2014 #46

not just us, studies show it too... iamthebandfanman Jan 2014 #59

India wins battle with USA over turmeric patent Jesus Malverde Jan 2014 #22

That's good. They should have the patent. liberal_at_heart Jan 2014 #31

good it was nothing new that deserved a "patent" .....aach lunasun Jan 2014 #82

Turmeric -- it's in French's yellow mustard. nt SDjack Jan 2014 #30

What I actually take away from something like this SheilaT Jan 2014 #32

+1. Freshly prepared foods are best brer cat Jan 2014 #34

And we have a WINNAH! TalkingDog Jan 2014 #45

Turmeric extract should be regulated like a medicine if shown effective, the supplement... Humanist_Activist Jan 2014 #35

Bull. All the way around, bull, Humanist_Activist. Th1onein Jan 2014 #86

I ask that the manufacturers be regulated to make sure they contain the ingredients... Humanist_Activist Jan 2014 #89

+1 DeadLetterOffice Jan 2014 #107

The problem with the "regulation" you want is that it is going to be done by the FDA. Th1onein Jan 2014 #113

I'm just talking about testing the products to reduce outright fraud... Humanist_Activist Jan 2014 #115

I have a problem with the FDA taking over their regulation because big pharma owns the FDA. Th1onein Jan 2014 #117

My concern about Turmeric TlalocW Jan 2014 #36

Use a coffee grinder to get it to powder. icymist Jan 2014 #70

Now I have to go buy a coffee grinder... TlalocW Jan 2014 #73

You could always use the old-fashion way with a mortar and pesto... icymist Jan 2014 #74

I actually just broke the cheap-o one I had TlalocW Jan 2014 #75

As though I needed another reason to eat Indian food every chance I have dorkzilla Jan 2014 #37

It hasn't worked for me. 12ZTR Jan 2014 #38

Breaking: Eli Lilly/Glaxco have purchased ALL tumeric ownership/production throughout the universe spanone Jan 2014 #40

Ok, a few important things to keep in mind as we go off the rails regarding woo. eggplant Jan 2014 #41

The initial study was on animials. This was a people study. TalkingDog Jan 2014 #49

"Regarding....the conspiracy theory of big Pharma" Th1onein Jan 2014 #87

You do realize the same applies to the supplement and alternative medicine industries as well... Humanist_Activist Jan 2014 #90

That is beside the point. no one is accusing people who Th1onein Jan 2014 #111

Yea, this was what I meant when I wrote "as we go off the rails regarding woo" eggplant Jan 2014 #94

I'm sorry. I don't get your point. Th1onein Jan 2014 #112

I'm sorry. It seems like you are trolling. eggplant Jan 2014 #114

I'm definitely not trolling, but it's interesting that you won't explain your point. Th1onein Jan 2014 #118

Turmeric (with black pepper) is also good for inflammation Lucinda Jan 2014 #47

Well, we are starting off with an NIH scientific study. backscatter712 Jan 2014 #50

The importance of p-values Skipx025 Jan 2014 #57

Don't forget about the statistical power... DeadLetterOffice Jan 2014 #67

so the indian custom of turmeric in milk for sleeping makes more sense. heard on NPR. pansypoo53219 Jan 2014 #54

Well shit, I should throw away my antidepressants and eat turmeric! Vashta Nerada Jan 2014 #56

So much wrong with this study naturallyselected Jan 2014 #61

If it helps you feel any better... DeadLetterOffice Jan 2014 #69

You get me so hot when you talk like this. eggplant Jan 2014 #78

Impact factor doesn't mean a hell of a lot. Th1onein Jan 2014 #88

Perhaps not to you, but to scholars... well... eggplant Jan 2014 #95

Do you understand what an impact factor is a measure of? Th1onein Jan 2014 #110

How do you know there's a "lack of side effects"? Silent3 Jan 2014 #91

... mindwalker_i Jan 2014 #93

The chronic heartburn would depress me! DeltaLitProf Jan 2014 #102

Go for pure curcumin if you do this jmowreader Jan 2014 #116