Curcumin
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Evidence Summary
Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound derived from Curcuma longa known for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Research indicates significant efficacy in managing inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis and modulating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Evidence by Condition
Meta-analyses demonstrate that curcumin and Curcuma longa extracts are effective in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes in knee osteoarthritis.
Evidence from meta-analyses supports the use of curcumin for the treatment of depression and the reduction of anxiety symptoms.
Oral supplementation with curcumin has been shown to exert significant anti-inflammatory effects.
The use of nano-curcumin in combination with Coenzyme Q10 shows promise for migraine prophylaxis.
As part of the Mediterranean diet's aromatic spices, curcumin may influence glycemic profiles.
Effective Doses
Specific dosage ranges are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, though studies evaluate both high- and low-dose curcuminoids.
Key Findings
- Curcumin supplementation is effective for pain and functional improvement in knee osteoarthritis (PMID: 34537344).
- Meta-analyses support the efficacy of curcumin in treating depression (PMID: 31423805) and anxiety (PMID: 38857152).
- Curcumin exhibits significant anti-inflammatory effects through oral supplementation (PMID: 34378053).
- Nano-curcumin combined with CoQ10 may serve as an effective agent for migraine prophylaxis (PMID: 31241007).
Limitations
Much of the current research is focused on specific applications like knee osteoarthritis or as part of broader dietary patterns, with a need for more standardized clinical applications.
Safety & Interactions
Research has assessed the safety of Curcuma longa extract and curcumin supplements, particularly in the context of osteoarthritis (PMID: 34017975).
AI-generated summary from 310 peer-reviewed studies. Not medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider.
Claims vs. Evidence
| Claim Type | % of Products | Evidence Required | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Other | 99% | Tier D (Unclassified) | ✅ Supported |
| Structure/Function | 89% | Tier C (DSHEA Structure/Function (no pre-approval)) | ✅ Supported |
| Nutrient | 7% | Tier D (Unknown) | ✅ Supported |
| No Claim | 0% | Tier D (No claim on label) | ✅ Supported |
| Qualified Health | 0% | Tier B (FDA Qualified Health Claim) | ✅ Supported |
🏛️ NIH ODS Factsheet
Research by Topic
⚠️ FDA Safety Data
Research Evidence (311)
OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Curcuma longa extract and curcumin supplements on osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: The databases such as Pubmed and Cochrane Library were searched to collect the article about Curcuma longa extract and cur...
Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid found in turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice frequently used in Asian countries. Given its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it has been hypothesized that curcumin might be effective in treating symptom...
**Garza et al., 2024** | Nutrients | Meta Analysis Garza María Carmen, Pérez-Calahorra Sofía, ... Lamiquiz-Moneo Itziar. Effect of Aromatic Herbs and Spices Present in the Mediterranean Diet on the Glycemic Profile in Type 2 Diabetes Subjects: A Syst...
**Gamret et al., 2018** | JAMA Dermatol | Meta Analysis Gamret A Caresse, Price Alexandra, ... Nichols Anna J. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies for Psoriasis: A Systematic Review. JAMA Dermatol. 2018-Nov-01;154(11):1330-1337. doi:10.1...
**Luvián-Morales et al., 2022** | Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr | Systematic Review Luvián-Morales Julissa, Varela-Castillo Francisco Omar, ... Castro-Eguiluz Denisse. Functional foods modulating inflammation and metabolism in chronic diseases: a systematic...
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound that has been used to treat various ailments such as symptoms of anxiety. However, the findings of studies regarding the anti-anxiety properties of curcumin are controversial. This revie...
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to critically appraise and evaluate effects of low- and high-dose curcuminoids on pain and functional improvement in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to compare adverse events (AEs) between curcuminoids...
**Kubizna et al., 2024** | Int J Mol Sci | Systematic Review Kubizna Magdalena, Dawiec Grzegorz, Wiench Rafał. Efficacy of Curcumin-Mediated Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy on Candida spp.-A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2024-Jul-26;25(15). do...
BACKGROUND: Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herbal medicine that has been shown to exert beneficial effects on knee osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies revealed that curcumin had a superior effect compared to control treatmen...
**Bayo et al., 2025** | Int J Mol Sci | Systematic Review Bayo Jimenez Maria T, Rivas-García Lorenzo, ... Forbes-Hernández Tamara Y. Natural Products in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms. ...
**Fontes et al., 2019** | Cochrane Database Syst Rev | Meta Analysis Fontes Luís Eduardo S, Martimbianco Ana Luiza C, ... Riera Rachel. N-acetylcysteine as an adjuvant therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019-Feb-...
**Mathieu et al., 2022** | Nutrients | Meta Analysis Mathieu Sylvain, Soubrier Martin, ... Tournadre Anne. A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Nutritional Supplementation on Osteoarthritis Symptoms. Nutrients. 2022-Apr-12;14(8). doi:10.3390/nu14081607 C...
BACKGROUND: Modern pharmacological research found that the chemical components of Curcuma longa L. are mainly curcumin and turmeric volatile oil. Several recent randomized controlled trials (RCT) have shown that curcumin improves symptoms and inflamm...
Introduction: Migraine is a disabling neurovascular disorder characterized by increasing levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress biomarkers. Curcumin and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can exert neuroprotective effects through modulation of i...
**Ferguson et al., 2021** | Nutr Rev | Meta Analysis Ferguson Jessica J A, Abbott Kylie A, Garg Manohar L. Anti-inflammatory effects of oral supplementation with curcumin: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Re...
**Picheta et al., 2024** | Front Psychiatry | Systematic Review Picheta Natalia, Piekarz Julia, ... Smoleń Agata. Phytochemicals in the treatment of patients with depression: a systemic review. Front Psychiatry. 2024;15:1509109. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.202...
BACKGROUND: The main aim of periodontal therapy is to halt the progression of periodontitis. Curcumin, one of the main components of Curcumin longa, has been well known to possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even anticarcinogenic properties...
**Zhang et al., 2025** | Nutrients | Systematic Review Zhang Yuntong, Gui Yunfei, ... Han Jia. Comparative Effectiveness of Nutritional Supplements in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Network Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2025-Aug-03;17(15). doi:1...
**Sahebkar et al., 2014** | Clin Nutr | Meta Analysis Sahebkar Amirhossein. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of curcumin on blood lipid levels. Clin Nutr. 2014-Jun;33(3):406-14. doi:10.10...
**Coelho et al., 2020** | Nutrients | Systematic Review Coelho Mariana Roque, Romi Marcela Diogo, ... Soares-Mota Marcia. The Use of Curcumin as a Complementary Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Clinical Tria...
**Simental-Mendía et al., 2022** | Reprod Sci | Meta Analysis Simental-Mendía Luis E, Shah Najeeb, ... Sahebkar Amirhossein. Effect of Curcumin on Glycaemic and Lipid Parameters in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of R...
**Molani-Gol et al., 2024** | Phytother Res | Meta Analysis Molani-Gol Roghayeh, Dehghani Azadeh, Rafraf Maryam. Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on the liver enzymes, lipid profiles, glycemic index, and anthropometric indices in non-alco...
**Dehzad et al., 2024** | Clin Nutr ESPEN | Meta Analysis Dehzad Mohammad Jafar, Ghalandari Hamid, Askarpour Moein. Curcumin/turmeric supplementation could improve blood pressure and endothelial function: A grade-assessed systematic review and dose-r...
**López-Gómez et al., 2024** | Nutrients | Systematic Review López-Gómez Laura, Uranga Jose Antonio. Polyphenols in the Prevention and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence. Nutrients. 2024-Aug-16;16(16). doi:10.339...
PURPOSE: The unfavorable safety profiles of commonly prescribed knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatments have led clinicians and patients to seek safer alternatives. Research has suggested that curcuminoid and boswellia formulations could moderate key inf...
Curcumin, a phytochemical from the spice turmeric, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to have pain-relieving effects. In this 8-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 101 adults with knee osteoarthritis received ei...
OBJECTIVE: The aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis for assessing the effectiveness and safety of dietary polyphenol curcumin supplement on metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress indices in patients with metabolic syndrome ...
BACKGROUND: Our previous studies showed that curcumin prevented hepatic steatosis in animal models. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the effects of curcumin on hepatic fat content, body composition, and gut microbiota-dependent bile acid (BA) m...
Type 2 diabetes and depression co-occur in a bidirectional manner. Curcumin supplements exhibit antidepressant effects that may mitigate depression by modulating neurotransmitters and reducing inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. This study ai...
**Jafari et al., 2024** | Phytother Res | Meta Analysis Jafari Ali, Abbastabar Maryam, ... Sepidarkish Mahdi. Curcumin on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 103 Randomized Controlled Trials. Phytother Res. 2024-Dec;3...
BACKGROUND: Curcumin and Curcuma longa extract have been proposed as adjunct therapies for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Th...
**Kumar et al., 2012** | Cochrane Database Syst Rev | Systematic Review Kumar Sushil, Ahuja Vineet, ... Moss Alan C. Curcumin for maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012-Oct-17;10:CD008424. doi:10.1002/1465185...
INTRODUCTION: There is growing interest in the use of curcumin, a plant polyphenol with potent anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective properties, as a novel antidepressant. Clinical trials have yielded conflicting conclusions pertaining...
**Kahuripour et al., 2023** | Nutr Neurosci | Meta Analysis Kahuripour Mahnaz, Behroozi Zahra, ... Ramezani Fatemeh. The potential of curcumin for treating spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis study. Nutr Neurosci. 2023-Jun;26(6):560-571. doi:10.1080/...
**Yang et al., 2022** | Front Immunol | Meta Analysis Yang Kailin, Chen Junpeng, ... Ge Jinwen. Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenol supplementation in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Fr...
**Anheyer et al., 2025** | Complement Ther Med | Systematic Review Anheyer Melanie, Cramer Holger, ... Anheyer Dennis. Herbal medicine for treating psoriasis: A systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2025-Jun;90:103173. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2025.10317...
Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound with diverse and attractive biological activities, which may prevent or ameliorate pathological processes underlying age-related cognitive decline, dementia, or mood disorders. However, clinical trials and ...
**Huang et al., 2019** | J Hum Nutr Diet | Meta Analysis Huang J, Qin S, ... Hu H. Efficacy and safety of Rhizoma curcumea longae with respect to improving the glucose metabolism of patients at risk for cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis of rand...
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of liver-related morbidity; its prevalence is elevating due to the rising epidemic of obesity. Several clinical trials have examined the effects of curcumin supplementation on anthropometric v...
**Suhett et al., 2021** | Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr | Systematic Review Suhett Lara Gomes, de Miranda Monteiro Santos Rodrigo, ... Lucia Ceres Mattos Della. Effects of curcumin supplementation on sport and physical exercise: a systematic review. Crit Re...
**Bagherniya et al., 2021** | Adv Exp Med Biol | Systematic Review Bagherniya Mohammad, Soleimani Davood, ... Sahebkar Amirhossein. The Use of Curcumin for the Treatment of Renal Disorders: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Adv Exp...
**Mohseni et al., 2021** | Phytother Res | Systematic Review Mohseni Maryam, Sahebkar Amirhossein, ... Bagherniya Mohammad. The clinical use of curcumin on neurological disorders: An updated systematic review of clinical trials. Phytother Res. 2021-D...
**Long et al., 2023** | Front Immunol | Meta Analysis Long Zhiyong, Xiang Wang, ... Huang Zhen. Efficacy and safety of dietary polyphenols in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 randomized controlled trials. Front Immuno...
**Nunes et al., 2024** | Nutrients | Systematic Review Nunes Yandra Cervelim, Mendes Nathalia M, ... Marin Maria José Sanches. Curcumin: A Golden Approach to Healthy Aging: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. Nutrients. 2024-Aug-15;16(16). doi:10.33...
**Gutsche et al., 2025** | Eur J Clin Pharmacol | Systematic Review Gutsche Lisa C, Dörfler Jennifer, Hübner Jutta. Curcumin as a complementary treatment in oncological therapy: a systematic review. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2025-Jan;81(1):1-33. doi:10.1...
Controlling hyperglycemia and inflammation in type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains an important approach to control diabetes. The use of phytochemicals found in natural herbs has been investigated widely, and there are inconsistent findings in clinical tria...
BACKGROUND: Phytosomal curcumin may have some potential in improving anthropometric indices for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and this meta-analysis aims to study the effect of phytosomal curcumin on anthropometric indices for nonalcoholic fatty ...
Dementia is marked by progressive cognitive decline linked to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and synaptic dysfunction. Curcumin, a natural compound from Curcuma longa, has shown promising neuroprotective effects. This systematic review analyzed...
**Palasantzas et al., 2026** | Nutrients | Systematic Review Palasantzas Victoria E J M, Struik Dicky, ... Hoogerland Joanne A. Assessing Nutraceuticals for Hepatic Steatosis: A Standardized In Vitro Approach. Nutrients. 2026-Jan-24;18(3). doi:10.339...
**de et al., 2019** | Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr | Systematic Review de Medeiros Marília Cristina Santos, Medeiros Jussara Cristina Alves, ... Knackfuss Maria Irany. Dietary intervention and health in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systema...
Showing top 50 of 311 sources, sorted by quality score.
Details
Curcumin
Overview
Curcumin is a bioactive compound tracked in the biomedical knowledge base.
Also known as: turmeric, curcuminoids, turmeric extract, diferuloylmethane
Role in Health
Detailed overview pending — this entity has sources compiled across multiple verticals.
Related Verticals
See sources-index for all verified sources referencing Curcumin.
Safety Considerations
Safety data extraction pending.
Sources
See linked source pages for full provenance.
Related Supplements
Frequently Asked Questions
What is curcumin and how does it work?
Curcumin is a natural polyphenol compound derived from the Curcuma longa plant. It is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with strong evidence showing that oral supplementation can significantly reduce general inflammation.
Does curcumin help with knee pain and osteoarthritis?
Yes, there is strong evidence that curcumin and Curcuma longa extracts are effective in reducing pain and improving functional outcomes for those with knee osteoarthritis.
Can curcumin help with anxiety and depression?
There is moderate evidence supporting the use of curcumin for the treatment of depression and the reduction of anxiety symptoms. Research suggests it may help in modulating these mood disorders.
Is curcumin effective for preventing migraines?
There is moderate evidence that using nano-curcumin in combination with Coenzyme Q10 shows promise for migraine prophylaxis. This specific formulation is being studied for its potential to prevent migraine attacks.
Does curcumin affect blood sugar or Type 2 diabetes?
There is moderate evidence that curcumin may influence glycemic profiles in people with Type 2 diabetes. This effect is often studied as part of the aromatic spices found in a Mediterranean diet.
Is curcumin safe to take and are there any drug interactions?
Research has assessed the safety of curcumin, particularly for treating osteoarthritis, and no drug interactions have been documented. While specific dosage ranges are not explicitly detailed, studies have evaluated both high- and low-dose curcuminoids.
Answers generated from research evidence. Not medical advice.