Potential health benefits from turmeric

Is turmeric really that good for people's health or is it just another wellness trend? Turmeric has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and cooking, but lately, it's been popping up everywhere: in supplements, teas, smoothies and even skincare products. With claims ranging from fighting inflammation to supporting mood and heart health, it's easy to wonder what's fact and what's hype.

This article will try to figure that all out by digging into the science behind turmeric and its active compound, curcumin.

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What is turmeric?

Turmeric is a plant in the ginger family that's grown commercially in Southeast Asia and India. Most people know it as the spice that gives curry its flavor or as a natural food coloring. But it isn't just for cooking.

For centuries, people in Southeast Asia have used turmeric's underground stem in traditional medicine to treat various conditions, thinking it had various health benefits. Even now, it can be found as a capsule, tablet, extract, powder or even brew it into tea. It's also been mixed into a paste and applied to the skin.

Curcumin is a natural compound found in the underground stem of the turmeric plant. It gives turmeric its bright yellow color. However, despite having a big, purported health impact, curcumin actually only makes up a small amount of turmeric's total weight.

What turmeric might be good for

For years, Western medicine has been looking into whether turmeric and its active compound, curcumin, offer real, science-backed benefits or if their reputation comes mostly from tradition. So far, there may be some potential benefits, but the research isn't strong enough to confirm any proven health benefits.

Can turmeric help with cancer?

Researchers have studied curcumin supplements to see whether they might help prevent or treat different types of cancer, including colorectal, oral and liver cancers. So far, only small early-stage studies have been done. These trials mainly look at whether curcumin is safe, whether it might play a role in cancer prevention or treatment and whether it could help improve quality of life or ease treatment-related side effects. While some early findings look promising, there just isn't enough strong evidence yet to know if curcumin products actually prevent or treat cancer.

Can turmeric help with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?

Early studies hint that taking turmeric or curcumin by mouth may help improve certain measures of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A study of 102 people with NAFLD found that those who took a curcumin supplement saw reductions in their body mass index and waist size. Many also showed improvements in liver ultrasound results and in blood markers of liver inflammation compared with the group that didn't take curcumin.

A later analysis that pooled results from four randomized controlled trials, involving 228 people with NAFLD, reported similar improvements in inflammation-related biomarkers among those who used curcumin products. However, it's still not clear which specific measures actually improved consistently.

Can turmeric help with osteoarthritis?

Several large reviews have looked at whether taking a turmeric or curcumin oral supplement can help people with osteoarthritis reduce knee pain and stiffness, support joint strength and move more easily. The early results are encouraging, saying that they might be able to. But more high-quality research is still needed to confirm these benefits.

Can turmeric help with inflammation?

Curcumin has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Who shouldn’t use turmeric?

People should always speak to their health care provider before starting turmeric or curcumin supplements. Turmeric supplements may not be safe to use during pregnancy. There is also very limited information on whether taking more turmeric than what is normally found in food is safe while breastfeeding.

People should not start or stop any supplement before speaking with a health care provider. This is especially important for patients who are taking certain prescriptions such as blood thinners, chemotherapy medications and others as it can interact in harmful ways.

Another consideration: Curcumin supplements come in many forms, and the amount of active ingredient can vary widely from product to product. This inconsistency makes it difficult to know how much a product actually contains. Highly bioavailable formulations of curcumin, which enhance the body's ability to absorb the curcumin, may harm the liver.

Consideraciones clave

Turmeric and its active compound, curcumin, have been linked to potential benefits for inflammation. While early findings are encouraging, most studies have been small, short-term and sometimes produce mixed results. More robust research is still needed to understand how well turmeric works and who may benefit most.

Another challenge is curcumin's low absorption in the body, along with the wide variation in potency among supplements. Because of this, it can be difficult to know how much to take or what could be truly effective. For anyone considering a turmeric or curcumin supplement, it's important to talk with a health care provider first, since side effects and medication interactions are possible and long-term safety hasn't been fully established.

FOR VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements. Estas declaraciones no han sido evaluadas por la Administración de Medicamentos y Alimentos. Estos productos no están hechos para diagnosticar, tratar, curar ni prevenir ninguna enfermedad.