Turmeric and Curcumin

• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence in one direction (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better tumor response to chemotherapy among women with advanced and metastatic breast cancer treated with curcumin
• Preliminary evidence of slower disease progression and better survival from FOLFOX treatment among people with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with oral Curcumin C3 Complex
• Preliminary evidence of better tumor markers and greater cancer cell cell death among people with colorectal cancer treated with curcumin before surgery
• Preliminary evidence of a lower cancer marker during imatinib treatment among people with leukemia treated with turmeric powder
• Preliminary evidence of slower prostate-specific antigen (PSA)a protein produced by both normal and malignant cells of the prostate gland; the blood level of PSA is often elevated in men with prostate cancer progression but no evidence of an effect on survival during intermittent androgen deprivation among people with prostate cancer treated with curcumin

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What is your body terrain? ›

• Modest evidencesignificant effects in at least three small but well-designed RCTs, or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observational studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity among people with impaired glucose tolerance or polycystic ovary syndrome treated with curcumin
• Modest evidence of lower inflammation among people treated with curcumin
• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better sex hormone balance among women treated with curcumin
• Preliminary evidence of higher immune response among people with advanced colon cancer treated with curcumin
• Preliminary evidence of less oxidative stressan imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body; this imbalance can cause harmful oxidation reactions in your body chemistry among people treated with curcumin

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Evidence of benefit

• Modest evidencesignificant effects in at least three small but well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observational studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of an increase in body weight or less unintentional weight loss among people with cancer treated with curcumin
• Modest evidence of lower incidence or less severe oral mucositis inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract, usually as an adverse effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for cancer among people treated mostly with topical turmeric or curcumin
• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of less burning and intolerance to spicy food among people with a precancerous oral submucous condition treated with either curcumin or turmeric
• Preliminary evidence of better quality of life during chemotherapy among people treated with curcumin
• Preliminary evidence of less severe urinary symptoms, including urination frequency, during radiotherapy among men with prostate cancer treated with curcumin
• Preliminary evidence of less radiation dermatitis among people with cancer treated with with oral curcumin or topical turmeric

No evidence of benefit

• No evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on bowel symptoms during radiotherapy among men with prostate cancer treated with curcumin in a preliminary study
• No evidence of an effect on quality of life during intermittent androgen deprivation among men with prostate cancer treated with curcumin in a preliminary study
• No evidence of an effect on sexual function among men with localized prostate cancer treated with curcumin in a preliminary study

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• Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of improvement or lack of progression of among people with head, neck, and oral precancerous conditions treated with either turmeric or curcumin
• Preliminary evidence of less progression towards myeloma among people with monoclonal gammopathy of undefined significance (MGUS)
• Preliminary evidence of better PSAa protein produced by both normal and malignant cells of the prostate gland; the blood level of PSA is often elevated in men with prostate cancer levels among men with high levels without a cancer diagnosis
• No evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on the number or size of polyps among people with familial adenomatous polyposis treated with curcumin in a preliminary study

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• Insufficient evidence to recommend use according to two clinical practice guidelines
• Used in several programs, approaches, and protocols a package of therapies combining and preferably integrating various therapies and practices into a cohesive design for care from integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan oncologists
• Among the most commonly used botanicals by oncology naturopathic physicians for colorectal cancer
• Used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda

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• Generally regarded as safe with minimal side effects
• Side effects are mostly associated with doses higher than 4 grams per day
• Interactions and possible contraindicationsa symptom, condition or other factor that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable; for example, some complementary therapies are contraindicated during pregnancy or with other drugs, such as diabetes medications with blood-thinning, chemotherapy drugs, diabetes medications, other drugs that lower blood sugar, and estrogens
• Use should be stopped before surgery
• Supervision by a medical professional is highly recommended

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• Turmeric is readily available in grocery stores at low cost
• Turmeric and curcumin are widely available as supplements
• Generally inexpensive (less than $500 US/year)

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