Turmeric supplements and liver injury reports in Italy
What it found
In people, 28 reports of sudden liver inflammation, mostly with blocked bile flow, were linked to turmeric food supplements in Italy in early 2019.
In all but one, a possible connection was judged.
What they found
Studies in people
Liver injury reports
A cluster of 28 reports of sudden liver inflammation, mostly with blocked bile flow, was sent to the Italian monitoring system in the first six months of 2019. These were linked to turmeric products.
Possible connection
In all cases except one, the assessment found at least a possible connection between the turmeric products and the liver injury.
Other findings
Product testing
The suspected products were tested for drugs, heavy metals, aflatoxins, pesticides, synthetic dyes and pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Regulatory action
Based on all the work done by the team, regulatory action was taken.
What the authors conclude
“This study highlights the importance of developing an integrated evaluation approach for the evaluation of the adverse effects associated with the use of food supplements.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say regulatory intervention was taken based on the results of all the activities performed by the multidisciplinary group.
- They highlight the importance of developing an integrated evaluation approach for the evaluation of the adverse effects associated with the use of food supplements.
How it was done
Turmeric food supplements have been marketed and widely used by more and more people. Suspected bad reactions to supplements are collected in a monitoring system.
A team looked at suspected liver injury cases reported to the Italian monitoring system for turmeric food supplements. They also collected the products and tested them for drugs, heavy metals, aflatoxins, pesticides, synthetic dyes and pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are reports of suspected cases, not a controlled trial. They can show a possible link but cannot prove that turmeric supplements caused the liver injury.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy; Centro di Ricerca e Innovazione in Fitoterapia (CERFIT) dell'Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi di Firenze, Italy; Università degli Studi di Verona, Italy
The paper
- Title
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) food supplements and hepatotoxicity: an integrated evaluation approach
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Menniti-Ippolito F, Ippoliti I, Pastorelli AA, et al (2020). Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) food supplements and hepatotoxicity: an integrated evaluation approach. Annali dell'Istituto superiore di sanita. doi:10.4415/ANN_20_04_08PubMed 33346172DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error