Turmeric

Studies in people

• Concern

  Liver health⁴

  In 2019, 28 people in Italy who took turmeric supplements reported sudden liver problems, which were possibly linked to the supplements.

• Benefit

  Quality of life in cancer patients⁵

  In breast cancer patients on chemotherapy, turmeric improved quality of life and blood counts over 21 days.

• Open question

  How much the body absorbs⁶

  Curcumin from turmeric gets into the body better when eaten as fresh or powdered turmeric than as curcumin powder alone.

• Open question

  Urinary mutagens in smokers⁹

  In smokers, taking turmeric daily cut the amount of harmful substances leaving their bodies in urine.

Animal and lab studies only

• Benefit

  Memory and brain health¹⁵

  In animal and lab studies, turmeric has compounds that may protect nerves, but human amounts are not agreed on.

• Benefit

  Gut bacteria growth¹⁶

  In lab studies, turmeric extract helped good gut bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium grow.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Heart and cancer health¹¹

  Turmeric is being looked at as a natural way to help with cancer and heart disease.

• Open question

  Cancer risk in people¹²

  Scientists do not yet know whether eating turmeric in food lowers cancer risk in people.

• Benefit

  Protection from food contaminants¹³

  Turmeric and its curcumin may help protect the body from harmful substances found in food.

• Open question

  Weight control¹⁴

  Turmeric affects energy metabolism, but scientists do not yet know the right amount or how long to use it.

Found in some samples or products

These come from where it was grown, how it was processed or cooked, or what it was made into. They are not about the ingredient itself, so the signal does not count them.

• Contaminated spice health risk⁷

  Some turmeric samples sold in South Asia contained lead, which can raise children's blood lead levels.

• Spice contamination crackdown⁸

  Turmeric in Bangladesh was often mixed with lead, but after warnings and testing, lead levels dropped.

• Capsule content and purity¹⁰

  Turmeric capsules varied widely in curcumin, and some contained trace metals like lead and nickel.

Single cases of misuse or overdose

One person or one incident, such as an accidental overdose or a mistake in a kitchen or factory. They are real, but a single case does not show what happens at normal amounts, so the signal does not count them.

• Liver injury from supplements³

  A woman who took turmeric with black pepper got severe liver injury again after restarting it.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.