Curcumin supplements and metabolic health in people
What it found
In people with metabolic conditions, curcumin supplements improved some blood sugar, insulin and cholesterol measures, but most studies were small and lasted three months or less.
Some benefits were seen in animals and lab tests too.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood sugar and insulin
In women with polycystic ovary syndrome, curcumin improved fasting glucose, fasting insulin and insulin resistance compared with placebo in several trials. One 12-week trial found reduced fasting glucose and increased insulin sensitivity.
Cholesterol and triglycerides
Curcumin improved HDL and total cholesterol in some women with polycystic ovary syndrome, but not all studies found changes in LDL or triglycerides. In people with metabolic syndrome, 80 mg a day of nano-curcumin for 12 weeks reduced triglycerides.
Fatty liver disease
A analysis of nine randomized trials in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease found curcumin lowered liver enzymes ALT and AST, total cholesterol, LDL, fasting blood sugar, insulin resistance, insulin and waist circumference. It did not significantly change triglycerides, HDL, HbA1c, body weight or BMI overall.
Animal and lab studies
Animal and lab studies
In rats with polycystic ovary syndrome, curcumin decreased IL-6 and CRP and reduced TNF-alpha in ovarian tissue. In a mouse model, curcumin suppressed ovarian injury and cell death.
Studies in people and animals
Inflammation and heart risk
A analysis of clinical trials found nano-curcumin lowered CRP and IL-6, lowered fasting blood glucose and raised HDL. In mice fed a high-fat diet, curcumin reduced a pathway involved in plaque formation.
Other findings
Nano-curcumin vs curcumin
Recent studies found nano-curcumin had stronger effects on blood lipid profiles than plain curcumin. This may be because nano-curcumin is more soluble and more available to the body.
What the authors conclude
“The results presented in this review suggest its beneficial effects on metabolic parameters in some metabolic diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic syndrome, glycemic disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease—particularly atherosclerosis.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say curcumin supplements mostly showed benefits for metabolic parameters in the conditions reviewed, with improvements in fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin resistance and lipid profiles.
- They recommend using the most available form of curcumin, such as nano-curcumin, to get the best therapeutic results, especially for metabolic and hormonal diseases.
- They advise that more research with larger groups and longer durations is needed to establish effective doses and long-term effects.
How it was done
Metabolic disorders may depend on diet, and a diet rich in polyphenols may help treat conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease and heart disease. Curcumin, a polyphenol in turmeric, has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties.
The authors reviewed recent studies of curcumin supplements in people with polycystic ovary syndrome, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis, plus some animal and lab studies. Most human studies lasted two to three months, and curcumin doses ranged from 40 mg of nano-curcumin to 1500 mg of curcumin per day.
What it can’t tell you
- Most studies were small and lasted three months or less, so the long-term effects of curcumin supplements are not known.
- The studies used different doses and forms of curcumin, and many were done in Iran, so the results may not apply to everyone.
- Animal and lab results cannot show what happens in people.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Medical University of Silesia (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
- Authors work at
- Medical University of Silesia, Poland
The paper
- Title
- Curcumin in Metabolic Health and Disease
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Jabczyk M, Nowak J, Hudzik B, Zubelewicz-Szkodzińska B (2021). Curcumin in Metabolic Health and Disease. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu13124440Free full textPubMed 34959992DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error