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Curcumin/Turmeric

Curcuma longa
Evidence Level
Moderate
10 Clinical Trials
8 Documented Benefits
3/5 Evidence Score

Curcumin, the main bioactive compound in turmeric (Curcuma longa), is usually taken as a standardized extract, typically 500 to 2,000 mg/day, to support a healthy inflammatory response and antioxidant status. In pooled randomized trials it lowered blood markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein and raised total antioxidant capacity, and the clearest symptom evidence is for knee joint comfort. It may also support blood vessel function: pooled trials report better flow mediated dilation and small reductions in cholesterol and triglycerides of a few milligrams per decilitre, which the reviewers graded as low certainty evidence, and no trial has tested whether taking curcumin day to day lowers the risk of heart attacks or strokes. In people with functional dyspepsia, curcumin or turmeric capsules eased upper stomach discomfort more than placebo in two of three trials, but we found no placebo controlled trial of heartburn from reflux. Meta-analyses report a small reduction in depressive symptoms, while in Alzheimer's disease trials the curcumin groups did no better than placebo and on one cognitive measure did worse. Two practical points shape everything else on this page. First, plain curcumin is very poorly absorbed, so many trials reporting a benefit used an enhanced absorption extract or added piperine, and a dose number is only meaningful alongside the specific formulation. Second, turmeric and curcumin supplements are an established and growing cause of drug induced liver injury, so read the safety section before taking one every day.

Studied Dose About 1,000 to 1,500 mg/day of extract in divided doses in knee joint trials; most indigestion (dyspepsia) trials used 500 mg four times a day (2,000 mg/day) for 1 to 4 weeks. Figures refer to the capsules tested, not to kitchen turmeric.
Active Compound Curcuminoids (≥95%); branded forms Longvida®, BCM-95®.

Benefits

Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Curcumin lowers circulating markers of inflammation in randomized trials, with a pooled analysis of 66 trials reporting reductions in C-reactive protein, TNF-alpha and interleukin 6. The clearest symptom level evidence is in knee osteoarthritis. Lowering a blood marker is not the same as treating a disease, and curcumin has not been shown to replace prescribed anti-inflammatory or disease modifying medication.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 2

Antioxidant Protection

In pooled randomized trials curcumin raised total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity and lowered malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation. These are blood markers measured over weeks to months, not health outcomes, and the phase I study on this page that measured detoxification and DNA damage markers in blood cells did not report a benefit on them.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 2

Joint Health Improvement

This is the best supported use on this page. In knee osteoarthritis, several randomized trials and two systematic reviews point to a modest reduction in pain and better function, and one placebo controlled trial that imaged the knee found less pain but no change in effusion synovitis or cartilage. In rheumatoid arthritis a 45 patient pilot reported a benefit, but a 200 person placebo controlled trial found none in keeping remission.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 3

Memory and Cognition

In laboratory studies curcumin protects brain cells from inflammation and oxidative stress, but human results point partly the other way. A meta-analysis of six trials found a modest memory benefit in older adults without dementia, while in people with Alzheimer's disease the curcumin groups tended to score worse than placebo on a standard cognitive test. No trial has shown that curcumin prevents or slows cognitive decline.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 4

Cardiovascular Health Support

Pooled randomized trials show better flow mediated dilation, a measure of blood vessel function, and small drops in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL of about 4 to 7 mg/dL, graded low certainty, so the size of any effect is uncertain. There was no effect on arterial stiffness, and an earlier, smaller meta-analysis found no lipid change. No trial has tested whether daily curcumin lowers heart attacks or strokes.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 2

Digestive Health Benefits

In mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, adding curcumin to mesalamine brought clinical remission at four weeks in about half of patients versus none on placebo in one trial, and a pooled analysis of eight trials in 482 patients found more clinical remission, though endoscopic remission was not significant. Curcumin was added to prescribed therapy, not used instead of it. Evidence in IBS is weaker and comes partly from mixed herbal formulas.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 5

Mood Regulation

A meta-analysis of six trials in 377 patients reports a small but statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms, in trials lasting only four to eight weeks. A meta-review of plant based psychiatric treatments flagged weak methodology and possible publication bias in the curcumin analyses. The serotonin and dopamine explanation comes from animal and laboratory work, and curcumin is not a treatment for depression.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 8

Upper Digestive Comfort After Meals

In adults with functional dyspepsia (recurring upper stomach pain, burning or fullness), curcumin or turmeric capsules eased symptoms more than placebo in two of three placebo controlled trials; the third, 500 mg a day added to famotidine, found no difference. A Cochrane review rated this moderate certainty, another review found most trials at high risk of bias, and we found no placebo controlled heartburn trial.

Supported by Trial 7, Trial 8

Mechanism of action

1

Anti-Inflammatory Activity

In laboratory studies curcumin inhibits pro-inflammatory pathways such as NF-kB and COX-2 and reduces production of cytokines like TNF-alpha and IL-6. In pooled human trials it lowered blood levels of C-reactive protein, TNF-alpha and IL-6, which are markers of inflammation rather than disease outcomes.

2

Antioxidant Effects

In laboratory studies curcumin scavenges free radicals and switches on antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase. In pooled human trials it raised superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant capacity in blood, which are markers rather than health outcomes.

3

Neuroprotection

Curcumin crosses the blood brain barrier in animal models, where it reduces neuroinflammation and amyloid plaque formation and raises BDNF expression. Human brain exposure after oral dosing is very low, and the Alzheimer's disease trials that tested this idea did not show a clinical benefit, so this remains a proposed mechanism rather than a demonstrated one in people.

4

Cardiovascular Protection

Curcumin improves flow mediated dilation, a measure of endothelial function, in pooled randomized trials, which also show small reductions in cholesterol and triglycerides. The nitric oxide and LDL oxidation steps are inferred from laboratory work. No trial has shown that curcumin slows atherosclerosis, and the one trial that counted heart attacks gave high dose curcuminoids for about a week around bypass surgery, which says little about everyday supplement use.

5

Modulates Gut Inflammation

In laboratory and animal studies curcumin strengthens the gut barrier, shifts gut bacteria and dampens intestinal inflammation. In people the evidence is limited to small add-on trials in ulcerative colitis and mixed results in other digestive conditions, so these steps remain proposed rather than demonstrated.

6

Mood Regulation

In rodent studies curcumin raises brain serotonin and dopamine and inhibits monoamine oxidase enzymes. These measurements come from animal brain tissue and have not been reproduced in people, so this is a proposed mechanism rather than a demonstrated one.

7

Anti-Cancer Effects

In laboratory and animal models curcumin slows cancer cell growth, triggers cell death through pathways such as PI3K/Akt and suppresses new blood vessel growth. These effects have not been shown in people.

8

Enhances Detoxification

Curcumin upregulates phase II detoxification enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase in laboratory models. The one human trial cited on this page that measured glutathione S-transferase activity in blood cells did not report an increase, so this remains a laboratory finding.

Clinical trials

1
Curcuma Extract vs Ibuprofen in Knee Osteoarthritis, Thailand
PubMed

Multicenter randomized trial in 367 adults with knee osteoarthritis comparing Curcuma domestica extract 1,500 mg/day with ibuprofen 1,200 mg/day for 4 weeks; outcomes were WOMAC total, pain, stiffness and function scores and adverse events. (Kuptniratsaikul et al. 2014, Clin Interv Aging)

367 adults with knee osteoarthritis and a pain score of 5 or more out of 10; 4 weeks.

WOMAC total, pain and function scores with the extract were noninferior to ibuprofen at week 4, and stiffness showed only a trend. The share of patients with any adverse event was similar (29.7 percent vs 35.7 percent); only abdominal pain or distension was significantly less frequent with the extract (10.8 vs 18.1 percent), while indigestion (11.4 vs 15.9 percent) did not differ significantly. There was no placebo group, so this shows similarity to ibuprofen over four weeks, not proof that either beat no treatment, and it is not a reason to stop or replace a prescribed medicine.

2
Turmeric Extracts for Knee Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review
PubMed

Systematic review of 10 randomized trials in knee osteoarthritis, 1,287 participants in total, comparing turmeric or curcumin therapy with NSAIDs or no therapy. The authors synthesized the trials narratively and did not pool them into a single combined effect estimate. (Paultre et al. 2021, BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med)

10 randomized trials, 1,287 participants with knee osteoarthritis.

All 10 studies showed improvement in pain and function from baseline with turmeric therapy, and in the 3 studies comparing turmeric with anti-inflammatory drugs there was no difference in outcome scores. The authors concluded there appears to be a benefit compared with placebo, but stated that optimal dosing, frequency and formulation remain unclear. This review includes the 367 patient trial listed above, so the two entries are not independent evidence and should not be counted twice.

3
Turmeric and Curcumin for Arthritis Symptoms: Meta-Analysis
PubMed

Meta-analysis of 8 randomized trials in knee osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, roughly 900 participants in total, evaluating turmeric or curcumin at about 1,000 mg/day of curcumin. The pooled pain estimate came from only 3 of the 8 trials and the pooled WOMAC estimate from only 4. (Daily et al. 2016, J Med Food)

8 randomized trials, roughly 900 participants with knee osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Turmeric or curcumin lowered pain scores versus placebo (mean difference -2.04 on a visual analogue scale, 3 trials) and WOMAC scores (mean difference -15.36, 4 trials), with no significant difference from pain medication in 5 trials. The authors concluded that the number of trials, the total sample size and the methodological quality were not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions. The lead author is president of a dietary supplement manufacturer, which the paper discloses. This analysis also contains both the 367 patient osteoarthritis trial and the 45 patient rheumatoid arthritis pilot listed on this page, so those trials are counted more than once across the page.

4
Curcumin vs Diclofenac in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: Pilot Trial
PubMed

Randomized pilot trial in 45 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis comparing curcumin 500 mg, diclofenac sodium 50 mg, or both, twice daily for 8 weeks; primary outcome DAS28, secondary ACR response criteria. (Chandran et al. 2012, Phytother Res)

45 adults with active rheumatoid arthritis; 8 weeks.

All three groups improved on DAS28. The curcumin group showed the largest percentage improvement in DAS28 and ACR 20, 50 and 70 scores, significantly better than diclofenac alone, and curcumin was not linked to any adverse events. Cautions: 45 patients, no placebo group, a high absorption curcumin product, and a result that has not been repeated; a later 200 person placebo controlled trial in people whose rheumatoid arthritis was in remission found curcumin did not keep them flare free as their drugs were tapered. Curcumin is not a substitute for disease modifying antirheumatic drugs.

5
Curcumin in Human Disease: Scoping Review of 389 Trial Reports
PubMed

Scoping review of 389 published clinical trial reports of oral curcumin across metabolic, musculoskeletal, neurocognitive, gastrointestinal and cancer conditions. (Panknin et al. 2023, Int J Mol Sci)

389 clinical trial reports, most of them double blind placebo controlled.

About 29 percent of the reports covered obesity related metabolic disorders and 17 percent musculoskeletal disorders, and most of these described a benefit on clinical outcomes or biomarkers. Reports in neurocognitive disorders (11 percent), gastrointestinal disorders (10 percent) and cancer (9 percent) were fewer and gave mixed results. A scoping review maps what has been published rather than pooling results, so it gives no effect estimate, and the share of reports describing a benefit is not a measure of how well curcumin works. The authors call for systematic testing of formulations and doses in larger trials.

6
Oral Curcumin Phase I Dose Escalation in Advanced Colorectal Cancer
PubMed

Phase I dose escalation trial in 15 patients with advanced colorectal cancer taking curcumin 0.45 to 3.6 g/day for up to 4 months; outcomes were pharmacokinetics, blood biomarkers and tolerability. (Sharma et al. 2004, Clin Cancer Res)

15 patients with advanced colorectal cancer that no longer responded to standard chemotherapy.

No dose limiting toxicity was seen up to 3.6 g/day. Curcumin and its metabolites reached plasma only in the 10 nanomolar range. At 3.6 g/day, inducible prostaglandin E2 in blood fell by 62 and 57 percent one hour after dosing on days 1 and 29. This was a dose finding and safety study in patients with advanced cancer, with no control group, and it does not show that curcumin treats anything; its main lesson is how little oral curcumin reaches the blood.

7
Curcuma longa vs Omeprazole and Placebo in Functional Dyspepsia
PubMed

Randomized, double blind, placebo and omeprazole controlled trial in 132 adults with functional dyspepsia (Rome IV) for 4 weeks; outcome was the Severity of Dyspepsia Assessment (SODA). The abstract gives no dose; a later systematic review lists Curcuma longa capsules 500 mg four times daily. (Yongwatana et al. 2022, J Gastroenterol Hepatol)

132 adults with functional dyspepsia in Thailand (45 Curcuma longa, 43 omeprazole, 44 placebo); 4 weeks.

At 4 weeks, SODA pain and non pain scores fell more with Curcuma longa than with placebo (pain -16.98 vs -10.53, P<0.001; non pain -7.96 vs -6.05, P<0.008). Scores did not differ significantly from omeprazole. One 4 week trial; a non significant difference from a drug does not show that the two work the same, and this is not a reason to stop prescribed acid reducing medicine.

8
Curcuma domestica Rhizome vs Placebo for Indigestion, Thailand
PubMed

Multicenter randomized double blind trial in 116 adults with acid, flatulent or atonic dyspepsia comparing Curcuma domestica rhizome capsules, a herbal flatulence remedy and placebo, 2 capsules four times daily for 7 days. (Thamlikitkul et al. 1989, J Med Assoc Thai)

116 adults with dyspepsia at one provincial and five community hospitals in Thailand; 7 days; 10 did not return for follow up.

87 percent responded on Curcuma domestica and 83 percent on the flatulence remedy, versus 53 percent on placebo; the differences between placebo and the active treatments were statistically significant. Mild, self limited side effects occurred at similar rates in all three groups. Limitations: one week only, response judged by the patients, no formal diagnostic criteria for dyspepsia, and a later review rated the trial at high risk of bias.

9
Curcuminoids Added to Famotidine in Functional Dyspepsia
PubMed

Triple blinded randomized trial in 75 adults with functional dyspepsia (Rome III): 500 mg curcumin or placebo daily, each with famotidine 40 mg daily, for 1 month plus 1 month follow up; outcome was dyspepsia severity on the Hong Kong questionnaire. (Panahi et al. 2021, Adv Exp Med Biol)

75 adults with functional dyspepsia in Iran (39 curcumin, 36 placebo).

No significant difference was found between the curcumin and placebo groups in dyspepsia severity, H. pylori rate or blood measures, so this add-on trial was null. Severity fell over time within the curcumin group, which does not show an effect of curcumin when the comparison with placebo was not different. One author is from Sabinsa Corporation, and a later review identifies the product as C3 Complex curcuminoids.

10
Curcumin, Omeprazole or Both in Functional Dyspepsia
PubMed

Randomized double blind trial with no placebo arm in 206 adults with functional dyspepsia at Thai hospitals: curcumin, omeprazole 20 mg daily, or both, for 28 days, with curcumin as two 250 mg capsules four times daily (2,000 mg/day; the abstract states this for the combination arm); outcome was SODA at days 28 and 56. (Kongkam et al. 2023, BMJ Evid Based Med)

206 adults with functional dyspepsia (mean age about 50, 73 percent women); 151 completed.

All three groups improved on SODA pain, non pain and satisfaction scores at days 28 and 56, with no significant differences among them and no serious adverse events. With no placebo group and about a quarter of participants not completing, this cannot show that curcumin beat no treatment. A published correction states the trial was registered retrospectively, fixes dropout numbers, and removes the word equivalence because the trial was not designed to test it, so it is not evidence that curcumin works like a proton pump inhibitor.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Gastrointestinal Discomfort: Oral turmeric can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, diarrhea or constipation, according to the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
Heartburn or Acid Reflux: The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health lists acid reflux among the side effects of oral turmeric, and in a 4 week knee trial of 1,500 mg/day extract, indigestion was reported 21 times among 185 people (versus 29 among 182 on ibuprofen). Anyone taking it for upper stomach discomfort should stop if heartburn starts or gets worse.
Allergic Reactions: Allergic responses such as rash or itching are possible, from turmeric itself or from other ingredients in a supplement.
Blood Thinning: Curcumin may inhibit platelet aggregation, increasing bleeding risk, especially in those on anticoagulants like warfarin or aspirin.
Gallbladder and Liver: Curcumin may stimulate gallbladder contractions, potentially worsening symptoms in individuals with gallstones or bile duct obstruction. More seriously, turmeric and curcumin supplements are an established and growing cause of drug induced liver injury. The United States Drug Induced Liver Injury Network reported ten turmeric associated cases collected between 2004 and 2022, most of them a hepatocellular pattern of injury and most in women, including one death from acute liver failure; seven of the ten patients carried the HLA-B*35:01 immune gene variant, and several of the implicated products also contained black pepper compounds, which sharply increase how much curcumin is absorbed. Herbal and dietary supplements now account for about a fifth of the drug induced liver injury cases in that network. Stop the supplement and seek medical care if you develop jaundice, dark urine, persistent nausea, unusual fatigue or right upper abdominal pain.
Low Blood Sugar: Curcumin may lower blood sugar levels, posing a risk of hypoglycemia in people with diabetes or on glucose-lowering medications.
Iron Absorption Interference: High doses of curcumin may chelate iron, potentially reducing iron absorption and contributing to anemia in susceptible individuals.

Important Drug interactions

Anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel): curcumin inhibits platelet aggregation and may potentiate anticoagulants; monitor INR and avoid high doses before surgery
Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel): curcumin may enhance or reduce efficacy depending on drug and tumor type; consult oncologist
Antidiabetic medications: curcumin may lower blood glucose; monitor closely when combining with metformin or insulin
Piperine (BioPerine®): greatly increases curcumin absorption; the widely quoted 2,000 percent figure comes from a single dose study in a small group of healthy volunteers in which plain curcumin was essentially undetectable, so that percentage is calculated from a near zero starting point. Piperine also affects the metabolism of many other medications by inhibiting CYP3A4, and several turmeric products linked to liver injury also contained piperine, so greater absorption is not automatically safer

Featured in these supplement guides

Acid Reflux and Heartburn→Allergies→Eczema & Skin Inflammation→Eye Health→Healthy Brain Aging→IBS→Inflammation→Joint Pain→Menopause Symptoms→Mouth & Gum Health→

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Frequently asked questions about Curcumin/Turmeric

How much turmeric or curcumin should I take?

It depends on the product and the use. Knee joint trials mostly used about 1,000 to 1,500 mg a day of extract, and most indigestion trials used 500 mg four times a day (2,000 mg a day) for one to four weeks. Many products add piperine or use enhanced absorption forms, so compare the curcuminoid content and form rather than the milligrams alone, and do not assume kitchen turmeric gives the same dose.

Why is curcumin taken with black pepper?

Curcumin is poorly absorbed on its own, and piperine from black pepper can increase its absorption many times over by slowing how fast the body clears it. Many supplements add piperine or use enhanced-absorption formulations such as phytosome or nanoparticle forms.

Should I take curcumin with food?

Curcumin is fat soluble and many products suggest taking it with a meal, but food effects have been studied far less than piperine or enhanced absorption formulas, which are the approaches with human absorption data. If capsules cause stomach upset or heartburn, taking them with food or lowering the dose is a sensible first step, and stop if it persists.

Is curcumin safe to take every day?

Most people tolerate it, and mild digestive upset is the most common complaint. There is one serious exception worth knowing about before you commit to taking it daily: turmeric and curcumin supplements are a documented and increasing cause of drug induced liver injury, with cases collected by the United States Drug Induced Liver Injury Network including one death from acute liver failure. Stop and seek medical care if you develop jaundice, dark urine, persistent nausea or unusual fatigue. Because curcumin can also have a mild blood thinning effect and may interact with certain drugs, talk to your doctor if you take blood thinners, have gallbladder or liver problems, or are scheduled for surgery.

What is Curcumin/Turmeric?

Curcumin, the main bioactive compound in turmeric (Curcuma longa), is usually taken as a standardized extract, typically 500 to 2,000 mg/day, to support a healthy inflammatory response and antioxidant status.

What is Curcumin/Turmeric used for?

Curcumin/Turmeric is researched primarily for Antioxidant, Cardiovascular, and Mood & Mental Health. Curcumin lowers circulating markers of inflammation in randomized trials, with a pooled analysis of 66 trials reporting reductions in C-reactive protein, TNF-alpha and interleukin 6.

What is the recommended dosage of Curcumin/Turmeric?

The clinically studied dose is About 1,000 to 1,500 mg/day of extract in divided doses in knee joint trials; most indigestion (dyspepsia) trials used 500 mg four times a day (2,000 mg/day) for 1 to 4 weeks. Figures refer to the capsules tested, not to kitchen turmeric. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Curcumin/Turmeric safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Curcumin/Turmeric is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Gastrointestinal Discomfort: Oral turmeric can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, diarrhea or constipation, according to the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. It may also interact with some medications. Curcumin/Turmeric is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Curcumin/Turmeric interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel): curcumin inhibits platelet aggregation and may potentiate anticoagulants; monitor INR and avoid high doses before surgery Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel): curcumin may enhance or reduce efficacy depending o… If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Curcumin/Turmeric?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Curcumin/Turmeric as Moderate (3 out of 5). It is backed by 10 clinical trials and 30 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(30 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Kuptniratsaikul V, Dajpratham P, Taechaarpornkul W, Buntragulpoontawee M, Lukkanapichonchut P, Chootip C, Saengsuwan J, Tantayakom K, Laongpech S. Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter study. Clin Interv Aging. 2014;9:451-8. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S58535.PubMedUsed to support: 367 adults with painful knee osteoarthritis took either Curcuma domestica extract 1,500 mg/day or ibuprofen 1,200 mg/day for 4 weeks, at multiple hospitals in Thailand. Pain and function improved similarly in both groups, and abdominal pain and discomfort were reported less often with the extract. Limitations: there was no placebo group, so this shows similarity to ibuprofen rather than proof that either beat no treatment; the trial ran only 4 weeks; and this same trial is also counted inside both review articles cited below, so the three entries are not three independent pieces of evidence
  2. Paultre K, Cade W, Hernandez D, Reynolds J, Greif D, Best TM. Therapeutic effects of turmeric or curcumin extract on pain and function for individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2021;7(1):e000935. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000935.PubMedUsed to support: A systematic review of 10 randomized trials in knee osteoarthritis, 1,287 participants in total. All 10 trials showed improvement in pain and function, and in the 3 trials comparing turmeric with anti-inflammatory drugs there was no difference between them. Limitations: the authors synthesized the trials narratively and produced no pooled effect estimate, they state that optimal dosing, frequency and formulation remain unclear, the individual trials used different extracts, and this review includes the 367 patient trial cited above
  3. Daily JW, Yang M, Park S. Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Med Food. 2016;19(8):717-29. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2016.3705.PubMedUsed to support: A meta-analysis of 8 randomized trials in knee osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, roughly 900 participants, using about 1,000 mg/day of curcumin; it reported reduced pain, improved function, and no significant difference from pain medication. Limitations: the pooled pain result came from only 3 of the 8 trials, the authors concluded that the number of trials, the sample size and the methodological quality were not sufficient for definitive conclusions, the lead author is president of a dietary supplement manufacturer as disclosed in the paper, and this analysis contains both of the other arthritis trials cited on this page
  4. Chandran B, Goel A. A randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Phytother Res. 2012;26(11):1719-25. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4639.PubMedUsed to support: A pilot study in 45 people with active rheumatoid arthritis compared curcumin 500 mg, diclofenac sodium 50 mg, and the two combined; all three groups improved on DAS28, the curcumin group showed the largest percentage improvement in DAS28 and ACR scores, significantly better than diclofenac alone, and curcumin was not linked to any adverse events. Limitations: 45 patients, no placebo group, a high absorption curcumin product rather than ordinary turmeric, and a result that has not been repeated, with a later 200 person placebo controlled trial in rheumatoid arthritis in remission finding no benefit. Curcumin is not a substitute for disease modifying antirheumatic drugs
  5. Panknin TM, Howe CL, Hauer M, Bucchireddigari B, Rossi AM, Funk JL. Curcumin Supplementation and Human Disease: A Scoping Review of Clinical Trials. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(5):4476. doi: 10.3390/ijms24054476.PubMedUsed to support: A scoping review that identified 389 human trials of oral curcumin, with about 29 percent in obesity related metabolic disorders and 17 percent in musculoskeletal disorders, areas where most reports described a benefit; trials in cognition, gastrointestinal disease and cancer were fewer and gave mixed results. Limitation: a scoping review maps the published literature rather than pooling it, so it produces no effect estimate and cannot correct for the tendency of positive trials to be published more often than negative ones
  6. Sharma RA, Euden SA, Platton SL, Cooke DN, Shafayat A, Hewitt HR, Marczylo TH, Morgan B, Hemingway D, Plummer SM, Pirmohamed M, Gescher AJ, Steward WP. Phase I clinical trial of oral curcumin: biomarkers of systemic activity and compliance. Clin Cancer Res. 2004;10(20):6847-54. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-04-0744.PubMedUsed to support: A phase I dose escalation study in 15 patients with advanced colorectal cancer taking 0.45 to 3.6 g/day of oral curcumin for up to 4 months found no dose limiting toxicity, plasma curcumin only in the 10 nanomolar range, and a 62 percent fall in inducible prostaglandin E2 in blood one hour after dosing. Limitations: this is a dose finding and safety study rather than an efficacy study, there is no control group, the participants had advanced cancer, and its main lesson is that ordinary curcumin is barely absorbed
  7. Halegoua-DeMarzio D, Navarro V, Ahmad J, Avula B, Barnhart H, Barritt AS, Bonkovsky HL, Fontana RJ, Ghabril MS, Hoofnagle JH, Khan IA, Kleiner DE, Phillips E, Stolz A, Vuppalanchi R. Liver Injury Associated with Turmeric-A Growing Problem: Ten Cases from the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [DILIN]. Am J Med. 2023;136(2):200-206. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2022.09.026.PubMedUsed to support: Ten cases of liver injury attributed to turmeric supplements, collected by a national United States injury network between 2004 and 2022; nine of the ten showed a hepatocellular pattern, eight were women, one patient died of acute liver failure, and seven of the ten carried the HLA-B*35:01 immune gene variant. Chemical analysis confirmed turmeric in all seven products tested and found black pepper compounds in three of them. Limitation: this is a case series, not a trial, so it cannot give a rate of injury per user, but it establishes that turmeric supplements can cause serious and occasionally fatal liver damage.
  8. Halegoua-DeMarzio D, Navarro V. Challenges in herbal-induced liver injury identification and prevention. Liver Int. 2025;45(3):e16071. doi: 10.1111/liv.16071.PubMedUsed to support: A review of liver injury caused by herbal and dietary supplements, reporting that these products now account for 20 percent of the cases in the United States Drug Induced Liver Injury Network, with turmeric among the most frequently implicated ingredients alongside green tea extract, garcinia cambogia, kratom and ashwagandha. Limitation: this is a narrative review of one network's reported cases rather than a trial, so it describes the pattern of injuries that reach specialist centres and cannot give a risk per user.
  9. Likhitsup A, Chen VL, Fontana RJ. Estimated Exposure to 6 Potentially Hepatotoxic Botanicals in US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2425822. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.25822.PubMedUsed to support: Nationally representative United States survey data from 2017 to 2020 estimating that about 15.6 million adults had taken at least one of six potentially liver toxic botanicals in the previous 30 days, a number comparable to the number taking simvastatin. Turmeric was by far the most used of the six, and users were more likely to be older and to have arthritis. Limitation: this measures how many people are exposed, not how many are harmed, and it does not show that any individual user was injured.
  10. Wang Z, Jones G, Winzenberg T, Cai G, Laslett LL, Aitken D, Hopper I, Singh A, Jones R, Fripp J, Ding C, Antony B. Effectiveness of Curcuma longa Extract for the Treatment of Symptoms and Effusion-Synovitis of Knee Osteoarthritis : A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(11):861-869. doi: 10.7326/M20-0990.PubMedUsed to support: A 12 week randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial in 70 adults with knee osteoarthritis and effusion synovitis, in which Curcuma longa extract reduced knee pain by about 9 mm on a 100 mm scale and improved WOMAC pain, but did not reduce effusion synovitis volume or change cartilage composition on MRI, with similar adverse events in both groups. Limitations: a single centre with only 70 participants, funding came partly from a herbal extract manufacturer as well as from the university, and the authors called for larger multicentre trials; because the imaging endpoints were null, this supports a symptomatic benefit only and nothing about the structure of the joint itself.
  11. Dehzad MJ, Ghalandari H, Nouri M, Askarpour M. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cytokine. 2023;164:156144. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156144.PubMedUsed to support: A GRADE assessed systematic review and dose response meta-analysis of 66 randomized trials in adults reporting that turmeric or curcumin supplementation lowered C-reactive protein, TNF-alpha, interleukin 6 and malondialdehyde while raising total antioxidant capacity. Limitations: these are blood markers rather than health outcomes, interleukin 1 beta did not change, the pooled trials used widely differing formulations, doses and durations, and improving a marker does not establish that any disease is prevented or treated. This is the human evidence behind the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory sections.
  12. Ng QX, Koh SSH, Chan HW, Ho CYX. Clinical Use of Curcumin in Depression: A Meta-Analysis. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2017;18(6):503-508. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2016.12.071.PubMedUsed to support: A meta-analysis of six randomized trials in 377 patients reporting a small but statistically significant reduction in depressive symptoms with curcumin (standardized mean difference -0.34), plus an anti-anxiety effect in three of the trials, with no adverse events reported. Limitations: every trial ran only four to eight weeks, so nothing is known about longer use; there were too few trials to test formally for publication bias; and the effect is modest. This supports the mood section as a cautious short term claim, not as a treatment for depression.
  13. Sarris J, Marx W, Ashton MM, Ng CH, Galvao-Coelho N, Ayati Z, Zhang ZJ, Kasper S, Ravindran A, Harvey BH, Lopresti A, Mischoulon D, Amsterdam J, Yatham LN, Berk M. Plant-based Medicines (Phytoceuticals) in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Meta-review of Meta-analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials: Les médicaments à base de plantes (phytoceutiques) dans le traitement des troubles psychiatriques: une méta-revue des méta-analyses d'essais randomisés contrôlés. Can J Psychiatry. 2021;66(10):849-862. doi: 10.1177/0706743720979917.PubMedUsed to support: A meta-review of nine meta-analyses of randomized trials of plant based treatments in psychiatry, covering 5,927 people, which found the evidence for curcumin in depressive symptoms supportive but identified significant problems with methodology, reporting quality and probable publication bias across the underlying analyses, concluding that more rigorous international studies are needed before treatment recommendations can be made. Limitation: it evaluates other reviews rather than patients directly; it is the reason the mood claim on this page is stated cautiously.
  14. Zhu LN, Mei X, Zhang ZG, Xie YP, Lang F. Curcumin intervention for cognitive function in different types of people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2019;33(3):524-533. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6257.PubMedUsed to support: A meta-analysis of six trials in 289 people found curcumin improved memory in older adults without dementia (standardized mean difference 0.33), but in Alzheimer's disease patients the curcumin groups performed worse than placebo on the Mini Mental State Examination (standardized mean difference -0.90). Limitation and direction: the populations differ and the data are sparse, but the result in the disease population runs against curcumin, so this page does not present curcumin as protecting against dementia.
  15. Hallajzadeh J, Milajerdi A, Kolahdooz F, Amirani E, Mirzaei H, Asemi Z. The effects of curcumin supplementation on endothelial function: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2019;33(11):2989-2995. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6477.PubMedUsed to support: A meta-analysis of ten randomized trials found curcumin supplementation significantly improved flow mediated dilation, a measure of blood vessel function, but produced no benefit on pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, endothelin 1 or adhesion molecules. Limitations: flow mediated dilation is a surrogate marker measured in small short trials, the other vascular measures were all null, and no cardiovascular events were counted, so this cannot show that curcumin protects the heart.
  16. Dehzad MJ, Ghalandari H, Amini MR, Askarpour M. Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on lipid profile: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2023;75:102955. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102955.PubMedUsed to support: A GRADE assessed dose response meta-analysis of 64 randomized trials finding that turmeric or curcumin supplementation lowered total cholesterol by about 4 mg/dL, triglycerides by about 7 mg/dL and LDL cholesterol by about 5 mg/dL, and raised HDL cholesterol by about 2 mg/dL, with no change in the related apolipoproteins. Limitations: the reviewers graded the certainty of this evidence as low to very low, heterogeneity between trials was high, formulations and doses varied widely, changes of a few milligrams per decilitre are far smaller than those produced by lipid lowering medication, and no trial has shown that this change prevents heart attacks or strokes.
  17. Sahebkar A. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of curcumin on blood lipid levels. Clin Nutr. 2014;33(3):406-14. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2013.09.012.PubMedUsed to support: The earliest and smallest meta-analysis of curcumin and blood lipids, pooling five randomized trials in 223 participants, found no significant change in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. Limitations: few trials and mixed populations, and the author called for longer trials of bioavailability improved formulations; and larger later analyses of the same question do find small reductions; this is cited as the weakest end of the lipid evidence rather than as the final word on it.
  18. Wongcharoen W, Jai-Aue S, Phrommintikul A, Nawarawong W, Woragidpoonpol S, Tepsuwan T, Sukonthasarn A, Apaijai N, Chattipakorn N. Effects of curcuminoids on frequency of acute myocardial infarction after coronary artery bypass grafting. Am J Cardiol. 2012;110(1):40-4. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2012.02.043.PubMedUsed to support: A randomized placebo controlled trial in 121 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery who took curcuminoids 4 g/day from three days before until five days after the operation: heart attacks in hospital fell from 30 percent on placebo to 13 percent on curcuminoids, alongside lower C-reactive protein and malondialdehyde. Limitations: a trial of 121 patients, in a surgical setting, at a dose far above ordinary supplement use, for about a week, and it has not been repeated. It says nothing about whether taking curcumin day to day prevents heart attacks or strokes, and it is cited so that the cardiovascular section does not claim that no trial has ever counted a cardiac event.
  19. Lang A, Salomon N, Wu JC, Kopylov U, Lahat A, Har-Noy O, Ching JY, Cheong PK, Avidan B, Gamus D, Kaimakliotis I, Eliakim R, Ng SC, Ben-Horin S. Curcumin in Combination With Mesalamine Induces Remission in Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis in a Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015;13(8):1444-9.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2015.02.019.PubMedUsed to support: A randomized, double blind trial in 50 patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis who were already taking mesalamine: 53.8 percent of those given added curcumin reached clinical remission at week 4, compared with none of those given placebo. Limitations: 50 patients, only four weeks, and curcumin was added on top of prescribed drug therapy rather than used in place of it, so this supports curcumin only as an adjunct in one specific disease and not as a general digestive remedy.
  20. Peng Z, Li D, Wu N, Wang XY, Sun GX, Gao HB, Li HX. Safety and efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Explore (NY). 2025;21(1):103083. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103083.PubMedUsed to support: An updated meta-analysis of eight randomized trials in 482 patients with ulcerative colitis found that adding curcumin to standard therapy more than doubled the rate of clinical remission compared with placebo added to standard therapy, and improved endoscopic appearance, with no serious adverse events reported. Limitations: pooled endoscopic remission was not statistically significant, heterogeneity between the trials was high, the trials were small and short, and in every one of them curcumin was an addition to prescribed drug therapy rather than a replacement for it.
  21. Bhat SS, Ahmed S, Reji R, Mehta P, Paul A, Mohanan M, Babu S, Vinayak B, Vijayan A, Nalianda KK, Joseph S, Narayanan K, Padmaja R, Alex G, Shenoy P. Efficacy and safety of curcumin in maintaining remission during disease-modifying antirheumatic drug withdrawal in rheumatoid arthritis at 52 weeks: a phase III double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. Rheumatol Int. 2023;43(12):2193-2200. doi: 10.1007/s00296-023-05417-z.PubMedUsed to support: A phase III double blind randomized placebo controlled trial in 200 adults whose rheumatoid arthritis was in sustained remission, testing whether curcumin 1 g with piperine twice daily could keep them free of flares while their prescribed disease modifying drugs were tapered and stopped. Flare free survival at 52 weeks was 60 percent with curcumin and 64 percent with placebo, no different, even though blood curcuminoid levels confirmed the supplement was being absorbed. Limitations: it tested maintenance of remission during drug withdrawal rather than treatment of active disease, so it does not directly overturn the small pilot in active disease; it is nonetheless a 200 person, 52 week placebo controlled trial and it is null, which is why the joint section states the rheumatoid arthritis evidence cautiously.
  22. Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PS. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med. 1998;64(4):353-6. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-957450.PubMedUsed to support: A pharmacokinetic study in which healthy volunteers given 2 g of plain curcumin had serum levels that were undetectable or barely measurable, while adding 20 mg of piperine raised serum concentrations sharply in the first hour. Limitations: a single dose study in a small group of healthy volunteers, and the widely quoted 2,000 percent increase is calculated from a near zero starting concentration. It explains why plain turmeric powder is a poor delivery vehicle and why the dose section insists that a dose figure only means something alongside the formulation; it demonstrates no health benefit of its own.
  23. Yongwatana K, Harinwan K, Chirapongsathorn S, Opuchar K, Sanpajit T, Piyanirun W, Puttapitakpong C. Curcuma longa Linn versus omeprazole in treatment of functional dyspepsia: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;37(2):335-341. doi: 10.1111/jgh.15705.PubMedUsed to support: A randomized, double blind trial in 132 adults with functional dyspepsia (Rome IV) comparing Curcuma longa, omeprazole and placebo for 4 weeks: Severity of Dyspepsia Assessment pain and non pain scores improved more with Curcuma longa than with placebo (P<0.001 and P<0.008) and did not differ significantly from omeprazole. The abstract does not state the dose or product; a later systematic review (Thavorn 2024) lists 500 mg capsules four times daily. Limitations: one 4 week trial, and a non significant difference from omeprazole does not show that the two work the same.
  24. Thamlikitkul V, Bunyapraphatsara N, Dechatiwongse T, Theerapong S, Chantrakul C, Thanaveerasuwan T, Nimitnon S, Boonroj P, Punkrut W, Gingsungneon V. Randomized double blind study of Curcuma domestica Val. for dyspepsia. J Med Assoc Thai. 1989;72(11):613-20..PubMedUsed to support: A multicenter randomized double blind trial in 116 adults with acid, flatulent or atonic dyspepsia given Curcuma domestica rhizome capsules, a herbal flatulence remedy or placebo, 2 capsules four times daily for 7 days: 87 percent responded on Curcuma domestica and 83 percent on the flatulence remedy versus 53 percent on placebo, a statistically significant difference, with mild self limited side effects at similar rates in all groups. Limitations: one week only, patient judged response, no formal diagnostic criteria, 10 patients lost to follow up, and a later review rated it at high risk of bias.
  25. Panahi Y, Karbasi A, Valizadegan G, Ostadzadeh N, Soflaei SS, Jamialahmadi T, Majeed M, Sahebkar A. Effect of Curcumin on Severity of Functional Dyspepsia: a Triple Blinded Clinical Trial. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1308:119-126. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-64872-5_10.PubMedUsed to support: A triple blinded randomized trial in 75 adults with functional dyspepsia (Rome III) given 500 mg curcumin or placebo daily, each with famotidine 40 mg, for 1 month: there was no significant difference between groups in dyspepsia severity, H. pylori rate or blood measures; severity fell within the curcumin group over time, which does not show an effect of curcumin. One author is from Sabinsa Corporation, and a later review identifies the product as C3 Complex curcuminoids. This is the null result among the three placebo controlled dyspepsia trials.
  26. Kongkam P, Khongkha W, Lopimpisuth C, Chumsri C, Kosarussawadee P, Phutrakool P, Khamsai S, Sawanyawisuth K, Sura T, Phisalprapa P, Buamahakul T, Siwamogsatham S, Angsusing J, Poonniam P, Wanaratna K, Teerachaisakul M, Pongpirul K. Curcumin and proton pump inhibitors for functional dyspepsia: a randomised, double blind controlled trial. BMJ Evid Based Med. 2023;28(6):399-406. doi: 10.1136/bmjebm-2022-112231.PubMedUsed to support: A randomized double blind trial with no placebo arm in 206 adults with functional dyspepsia in Thailand comparing curcumin, omeprazole 20 mg daily, or both for 28 days, with curcumin given as two 250 mg capsules four times daily (2,000 mg/day; the abstract states this dose for the combination arm); 151 completed. All three groups improved on SODA scores at days 28 and 56 with no significant differences among them and no serious adverse events. A correction (BMJ Evid Based Med 2025;30(5):358, PMID 38866470) states that the trial was registered retrospectively, corrects the dropout numbers in the flow diagram, and removes the word equivalence because the trial was not designed as an equivalence trial. Without a placebo group this cannot show that curcumin beat no treatment, and it is not evidence that curcumin works like a proton pump inhibitor.
  27. Báez G, Vargas C, Arancibia M, Papuzinski C, Franco JV. Non-Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;6(6):CD013323. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013323.pub2.PubMedUsed to support: A Cochrane systematic review of 41 trials of non Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia: Curcuma longa probably gives a moderate improvement in global dyspepsia symptoms versus placebo at four weeks (mean difference -3.33; 2 studies, 110 participants; moderate certainty) and may increase the improvement rate (1 study, 76 participants; low certainty), with probably little to no difference in adverse events. Compared with other treatments, Curcuma longa may provide little to no benefit. Limitation: the placebo comparison rests on only two small trials.
  28. Thavorn K, Wolfe D, Faust L, Shorr R, Akkawi M, Isaranuwatchai W, Klinger C, Chai-Adisaksopa C, Tanvejsilp P, Nochaiwong S, Straus SE, Hutton B. A systematic review of the efficacy and safety of turmeric in the treatment of digestive disorders. Phytother Res. 2024;38(6):2687-2706. doi: 10.1002/ptr.8189.PubMedUsed to support: A systematic review of 26 studies of turmeric or curcumin in digestive disorders (searched to November 2021), with no meta-analysis because of heterogeneity. None of the 26 included studies was in gastroesophageal reflux disease; across five dyspepsia trials the authors summarized curcumin extract as better than placebo but not than active comparators. Over half of all studies were at high risk of bias and safety reporting was inadequate; the authors found possible benefit in inflammatory bowel disease and IBS, inconsistent effects elsewhere, and concluded that efficacy in digestive disorders remains unclear.
  29. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Turmeric. NCCIH Health Information (nccih.nih.gov). 2025;Last updated April 2025..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed indexed. A US government fact sheet stating that oral turmeric can cause nausea and vomiting, acid reflux, stomach upset, diarrhea or constipation, and that liver damage has been reported in some people taking curcumin products with increased bioavailability. Cited for the heartburn and digestive side effects.
  30. Wittanakorn O, Angsubhakorn A, Chirapongsathorn S. A multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial of Curcumin longa Linn versus standard dose of omeprazole in treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. UEG Week Copenhagen 2023 (poster abstract). 2023;United European Gastroenterology Journal 2023;11(Supplement 8). Poster abstract, UEG Week Copenhagen 2023..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed indexed; a conference abstract only, not a peer reviewed full paper. In 62 people with reflux disease (Rome IV) randomized open label to Curcuma longa (30) or omeprazole (32) for 4 weeks, the change in reflux symptom scores (GSAS) did not differ significantly between groups (P = 0.83), the share with severe symptoms fell more on omeprazole (50 to 3.1 percent) than on curcumin (16.6 to 10 percent), and no adverse reactions were reported. There was no placebo group, so it cannot show that curcumin relieves heartburn; it is cited only so this page does not claim that no reflux trial exists.