Turmeric supplements and quality of life in breast cancer patients
What it found
In 60 women having paclitaxel chemotherapy for breast cancer, taking turmeric for 21 days was linked to better quality of life scores and blood test results.
This was a case series, so it cannot prove turmeric caused the improvements.
What they found
Studies in people
Quality of life
After 21 days of turmeric supplementation, global health status improved in a way the authors call clinically relevant and statistically significant.
Symptoms
Symptom scores for fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain, appetite loss and insomnia all improved.
Blood parameters
Hematological parameters recorded from hospital records increased.
What the authors conclude
“The study findings show that turmeric supplementation improved QoL, brought about symptom palliation and increased hematological parameters in breast cancer patients.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the study findings show that turmeric supplementation improved quality of life, brought about symptom palliation and increased hematological parameters in breast cancer patients.
How it was done
The authors say plant-based compounds are known to affect many cancer-related pathways. They wanted to see if adding turmeric to standard chemotherapy could improve outcomes for cancer patients.
They followed 60 breast cancer patients who were having paclitaxel chemotherapy and taking turmeric supplements for 21 days. Quality of life was measured with a standard questionnaire, and blood test results were taken from hospital records.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a case series with no comparison group, so it cannot show that turmeric caused the improvements.
- The results are only in breast cancer patients having paclitaxel chemotherapy and may not apply to other people.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, India
The paper
- Title
- Turmeric supplementation improves the quality of life and hematological parameters in breast cancer patients on paclitaxel chemotherapy: A case series
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Kalluru H, Kondaveeti SS, Telapolu S, Kalachaveedu M (2020). Turmeric supplementation improves the quality of life and hematological parameters in breast cancer patients on paclitaxel chemotherapy: A case series. Complementary therapies in clinical practice. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101247PubMed 33099272DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error