Can Turmeric and Curcumin Benefit Health?
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Potential Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

Potential Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin
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Updated on November 27, 2024
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Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not evaluate supplements for safety or effectiveness. Talk to a healthcare professional about whether a supplement is the right fit for your individual health, and about any potential drug interactions or safety concerns.

Turmeric is a staple of both Indian cooking and ayurvedic medicine, the ancient Indian system that uses traditional and holistic approaches to restore and maintain physical and mental health.

 Its power seems to come from the active component curcumin.

“Curcumin is a natural [plant-sourced] antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory benefits,” says Elizabeth Ann Shaw, RDN, owner of Shaw Simple Swaps Consulting in San Diego.

One challenge is curcumin doesn’t absorb well into the bloodstream, and eating it occasionally in a dish seasoned with turmeric is unlikely to give you the desired anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, says Dana Angelo White, RD, owner of Dana White Nutrition, in Fairfield, Connecticut. That’s where supplements come in.

While no research definitively proves turmeric and curcumin supplements can prevent or treat certain health conditions, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved curcumin as a treatment for any specific medical issue, studies have shown ingesting turmeric and curcumin may be associated with a number of health benefits.

Here’s what the science says about the potential health benefits of turmeric and curcumin.

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12 Scientific Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

Turmeric May Help Protect Against Heart Disease

Curcumin may improve endothelial function, or the health of the thin membrane that covers the inside of the heart and blood vessels. This membrane plays a key role in regulating blood pressure, and reduced endothelial function is associated with aging and an increased risk of heart disease. Thus, curcumin may help protect against age-related loss of function and reduce your likelihood of developing heart disease, according to a large-scale review of clinical trials that included 440 studies that was published in ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science.

One study cited in the review found that taking 2,000 milligrams (mg) of curcumin daily reduced triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in people with coronary artery disease.

Another study found that postmenopausal women who received 150 mg of curcumin each day for eight weeks and exercised showed changes in the heart that suggested taking curcumin daily may support heart-health benefits.

 (Of note, the study found that curcumin may help reduce left ventricular afterload (the amount of resistance the left ventricle needs to overcome to pump blood throughout the body), which can play an important role in how hard the heart has to work to circulate blood and heart health in general.) The review concluded that curcumin may be a promising treatment for cardiovascular disease, but noted that additional research is needed before the compound is prescribed for this purpose.

Turmeric May Help Ease Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Thanks to curcumin’s potent anti-inflammatory properties, research has shown that it may be a safe and effective complementary approach for people with osteoarthritis.

One meta-analysis of patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis that included 23 studies from seven countries found that curcumin, either alone or in combination with other treatments, was generally safe and improved symptom measurements for knee osteoarthritis.

According to the ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science review, multiple clinical trials have shown that curcumin can help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness; improve range of motion and joint function; and help increase physical activity such as walking.

And one article on the benefits of curcumin for osteoporosis noted that curcumin was found in several studies to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and was shown to be safe in high doses.

 The article notes that reducing inflammation can lead to multiple benefits including better pain management, improved joint function, and significant reduction in doses of drugs typically used to treat osteoarthritis, such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can be linked to serious side effects such as increased risk of infection or bleeding, gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular problems, and more.
The article authors point out that further research is needed to determine issues such as how curcumin may play a role in the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis, what optimal therapeutic dosages would be, and the effects of long-term usage of curcumin.

Turmeric May Play a Role in Prevention and Treatment of Certain Types of Cancer

One of the reasons researchers are interested in studying curcumin for cancer is that it’s a polyphenol, which is a class of chemical compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation has been linked to the development of cancer (among other diseases), and antioxidants have been shown to help prevent the cell damage that may lead to cancer.

Research in the past two decades — mostly in cell cultures and in animals — has shown curcumin may play a role in disrupting cancer development and progression. These studies have suggested that turmeric, and specifically, curcumin, may prevent certain cancers or slow their spread; make chemotherapy more effective; and protect healthy cells from damage by radiation therapy. There have also been several preliminary and clinical trials, but more studies in humans are needed.

According to the National Cancer Institute, some preliminary research in people has shown that curcumin, when used alongside conventional treatment, may improve different types of cancer including breast, prostate, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer (though they note that other studies did not show an improvement).

For instance, a review of four randomized controlled trials found that people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (a condition that increases liver cancer risk) who were given curcumin experienced a significant reduction of levels of ALT (alanine aminotransferase), an enzyme found in the liver that's associated with liver cancer risk, as well as a reduction in levels of AST (aspartate aminotransferase), which is an indicator of liver damage.

And the ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science review has also shown that curcumin may be effective as a complementary approach to treating thyroid cancer and multiple myeloma.

 One clinical trial found that curcumin may help prevent the genetic damage related to radiation therapy for the treatment of thyroid cancer.

 Another clinical trial found that taking curcumin, along with other plant extracts, twice a day for 12 weeks significantly decreased the size of nodules in patients with benign thyroid nodules.

Bottom line: There has not yet been enough conclusive evidence to show that turmeric and curcumin can definitively prevent or treat cancer in people, and the results of early research has been mixed.

Illustrative graphic titled Health Benefits of Turmeric shows flights inflammation, may help protect the heart, may boost brain health, may help treat or prevent diabetes. Everyday Health logo

Turmeric May Help Treat or Prevent Diabetes

According to research, curcumin may help prevent diabetes through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and improve many of the factors that contribute to diabetes, including insulin resistance and high blood sugar.

An umbrella review of meta-analyses and research reviews on the effects of curcumin in adults with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and metabolic syndrome found that curcumin can effectively reduce blood sugar levels and improve symptoms of prediabetes and metabolic disease.

And a review of randomized clinical trials and other studies on the potential benefits of curcumin in people with type 2 diabetes concluded that curcumin was found to significantly improve insulin resistance (when your body doesn't respond properly to the hormone insulin, which can lead to excessive sugar in the blood), blood glucose levels, and inflammation in the body.

Turmeric May Help Prevent and Treat Eye Diseases

Investigators have shown increasing interest in what role curcumin might play in the treatment of retinal diseases. According to one comprehensive review of studies in cell cultures, animals, and humans, curcumin has shown promising results in treating retinal conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

One retrospective study, which examined anonymized health data on patients from more than 107 healthcare organizations across 15 countries, found that curcumin may lower the risk of developing or worsening of AMD.

 According to the analysis, which sorted people with AMD and those without AMD, taking curcumin was associated with decreased risk of developing dry AMD, wet AMD, and blindness, as well as a reduced need for anti-VEGF therapy (AMD medication injected directly into the eye that slows or stops damage from vision-threatening abnormal blood vessels) compared with people who did not take curcumin.
Curcumin was shown to be able to reduce the death of neurons in the retina, decrease blood vessel dysfunction in the eye, and more, though the review authors note that formulations to make curcumin more usable by the body are needed as is more research before any conclusions can be made about curcumin’s effectiveness in treating these and other eye disease.

And a review of human, cell, and animal studies on the effectiveness of natural products including curcumin on retinal cells (which are damaged by glaucoma and lead to vision loss) showed that curcumin, among other complementary treatments, may be an effective treatment for glaucoma.

 The review showed that nanoformulations of curcumin reduced retinal cell deaths, preserved retinal thickness, slowed degeneration of retinal capillaries, and more.

Turmeric May Help Ease Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms

Given curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects, it’s not surprising that research shows it may be helpful in managing inflammatory diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. A review found that curcumin may help relieve abdominal pain in people who have IBD, and that people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's who took curcumin alongside their prescribed medications experienced a reduction in disease activity and symptoms, including decreased bloating, cramping, and muscle soreness.

Turmeric Shows Promise in Alzheimer’s Disease Research

Alzheimer’s disease is another significant health condition that researchers are investigating to determine whether and how supplementing with turmeric might be helpful.

In a study on rats, researchers found evidence suggesting that curcumin may help memory and other functions in brains affected by Alzheimer's disease.

 Researchers modified the rats' brains to have certain characteristics of Alzheimer's and then treated the rats with curcumin processed into nanoparticles (to make it easier for the body to use). They found that curcumin may be able to restore memory and reverse changes in the cortex and hippocampus, and concluded that these effects likely had to do with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory aspects of curcumin.
And a large review of nearly 80 studies, which included research in both humans and animals that evaluated the effects of curcumin on neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and psychological illnesses such as depression, found that curcumin may be able to prevent and improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease such as cognitive and memory problems by, among other things, restoring BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) levels and reducing inflammation.

 (BDNF is a protein found in the brain and spinal cord that plays a key role in keeping neurons healthy and communicating well, which is important for learning and memory; low levels of BDNF have been linked to neurological diseases including Alzheimer's.)

Turmeric May Play a Role in Depression Treatment

There has also been growing interest in turmeric and curcumin as a possible complementary treatment for depression. According to a review, which included human clinical trials investigating curcumin as a treatment for depression as well as studies in cell cultures, animals, and humans that examined the potential antidepressant effects of curcumin, research has shown that curcumin may act as an antidepressant in the body, and points to several ways it may have this effect.

For example, the review notes that depression is linked to various biological disturbances, such as problems with the functioning of brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine; inflammation; gut health; and low levels of BDNF. (Like Alzheimer’s, depression is associated with lower levels of BDNF.) According to the review authors, curcumin has been shown to potentially counter these issues, and thus may help improve symptoms of depression.

Turmeric May Play a Role in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

A review of six studies that examined the effectiveness of curcumin as a complementary treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients found that curcumin was beneficial for managing the condition, and was shown to improve symptoms such as swollen or tender joints and signs of inflammation.

 The researchers noted that more large-scale research needs to be done on the effects of curcumin on people with rheumatoid arthritis, but the evidence found so far has indicated that curcumin could help reduce symptoms and inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis.
And according to the ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science review, some studies found that curcumin has the potential to reduce pain, swelling, and tenderness as well as joint inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis with no reported side effects or safety issues.

Turmeric May Help Treat Eczema, Psoriasis and Other Skin Conditions

Curcumin has also been studied for its potential benefits for an array of skin disorders including eczema (atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, skin infections, and even skin cancer. According to a review of research examining the therapeutic potential of curcumin in helping to treat various skin conditions, curcumin's anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties, as well as its ability to help improve and strengthen the skin barrier and inhibit the growth of tumor cells, are thought to be some of the reasons why the antioxidant has been shown to be helpful in the management and treatment of various skin disorders.

And according to the ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science review, clinical trials and other research in individuals with eczema found that topical curcumin was effective in improving itching, redness, inflammation, and scaling associated with eczema.

 Curcumin was also shown to help reduce symptoms of psoriasis (which, like rheumatoid arthritis, is an autoimmune disease); the review authors concluded that topical and oral curcumin was effective in reducing redness and severity of disease in people with psoriasis.

The Takeaway

  • Curcumin is a component of turmeric that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties and other potential health benefits.
  • It has been shown to be a potentially helpful complementary approach to help manage and treat a wide range of conditions with few side effects, but more research is needed before doctors can more generally recommend curcumin or turmeric to prevent or treat specific conditions.
  • Since the FDA has not established a recommended daily value for curcumin or turmeric, and the supplement may interact negatively with medications (such as blood thinners or diabetes drugs), it’s important to talk to your doctor, registered dietitian, or other healthcare provider before taking turmeric or curcumin supplements.

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