Curcumin & Turmeric for Cancer: Safety & Side Effects

This page covers safety information for Curcumin & Turmeric. See our complete Curcumin & Turmeric therapy guide →

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Jen Green, ND, FABNO

Naturopathic oncologist and CancerChoices advisor

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Is curcumin safe?

Curcumin (turmeric) is generally regarded as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, long-term regular use even at low doses can lead to liver damage in some cases. Supervision by a medical professional is necessary if undergoing chemotherapy due to potential interactions with treatment, and potentially caution before surgery.

Interactions with cancer treatments

Curcumin (turmeric) interacts with multiple CYP enzymes in the liver that process many medications, including certain cancer treatments. This may influence drug efficacy or increase the risk of side effects so it is important to discuss with your doctor and pharmacist to understand if any of your prescriptions may be affected by turmeric supplementation. Use caution and check with your oncology team first if you are receiving or are planning to receive cancer treatment and are interested in using curcumin or turmeric.

In one study, it was shown that it may slightly reduce the effectiveness of tamoxifen.¹Hussaarts KGAM, Hurkmans DP et al. Impact of curcumin (with or without piperine) on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen. Cancers (Basel). 2019 Mar 22;11(3). pii: E403. However, some studies suggest that curcumin did not appear to increase toxicities of certain cancer treatments such as irinotecan and was tolerated in combination with some chemotherapy regimens.²Bayet-Robert, M., Kwiatowski, F., Leheurteur, M., et al. (2010). Phase I dose escalation trial of docetaxel plus curcumin in patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer. Cancer biology & therapy, 9(1), 8-14; Gbolahan OB, O’Neil BH, et al. (2022). A phase I evaluation of the effect of curcumin on dose-limiting toxicity and pharmacokinetics of irinotecan in participants with solid tumors. Clinical and translational science, 15(5), 1304–1315; Jeon Y, Sym, SJ, et al. (2022). Long-term survival, tolerability, and safety of first-line bevacizumab and FOLFIRI in combination with ginsenoside-modified nanostructured lipid carrier containing curcumin in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer. Integrative cancer therapies, 21, 15347354221105498.

Side effects and adverse reactions

Curcumin and turmeric are usually administered as oral supplements though may also be applied in topical applications or intravenously. Curcumin (turmeric) is generally associated with very few, mostly minor side effects and significant adverse reactions are rare.³O’Rawe M, Wickremesekera AC, et al. (2022). Treatment of glioblastoma with re-purposed renin-angiotensin system modulators: Results of a phase I clinical trial. Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia, 95, 48–54; Jeon Y, Sym, SJ, et al. (2022). Long-term survival, tolerability, and safety of first-line bevacizumab and FOLFIRI in combination with ginsenoside-modified nanostructured lipid carrier containing curcumin in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer. Integrative cancer therapies, 21, 15347354221105498; Kuptniratsaikul V, Dajpratham P, et al. (2014). Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter study. Clinical interventions in aging, 9, 451–458. As curcumin supplements have increased in popularity and usage, there have also been an increase in cases of liver damage associated with regular, long-term use of curcumin supplements; however, these cases are still comparatively rare.⁴Halegoua-DeMarzio D, Navarro V, et al. (2023). Liver Injury Associated with Turmeric-A Growing Problem: Ten Cases from the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [DILIN]. The American journal of medicine, 136(2), 200–206; Garaizabal Azkue ÍJ, Castiella A, et al. (2024). Turmeric associated liver injury (DILI) with susceptible HLA. Revista española de enfermedades digestivas, 116(11), 650–651; Smith DN, Pungwe P, et al. (2023). Turmeric-Associated Liver Injury: A Rare Case of Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Cureus, 15(3), e36978; Sunagawa SW, Houlihan C, et al. (2022). Turmeric-Associated Drug-Induced Liver Injury. ACG case reports journal, 9(12), e00941; Sohal A, Alhankawi D, et al. (2021). Turmeric-Induced Hepatotoxicity: Report of 2 Cases. International medical case reports journal, 14, 849–852; Lombardi N, Crescioli G, et al. (2021). Acute liver injury following turmeric use in Tuscany: An analysis of the Italian Phytovigilance database and systematic review of case reports. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 87(3), 741–753; Chand S, Hair C, & Beswick L. (2020). A rare case of turmeric-induced hepatotoxicity. Internal medicine journal, 50(2), 258–259; Luber RP, Rentsch C, et al. (2019). Turmeric Induced Liver Injury: A Report of Two Cases. Case reports in hepatology, 2019, 6741213. Liver damage associated with curcumin may be more likely when combined with piperine (black pepper extract), which is used to increase curcumin absorption; however, more research is needed.⁵Stati G, Rossi F, et al. (2021). Curcuma longa Hepatotoxicity: A Baseless Accusation. Cases Assessed for Causality Using RUCAM Method. Frontiers in pharmacology, 12, 780330. More severe side effects are mostly associated with higher doses or long-term use. Other side effects include:⁶Lao CD, Rufin MT et al. Dose escalation of a curcuminoid formulation. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2006;6:10; Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT. Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2016 Sep 9;7(3):339-346; Kanai M, Yoshimura K et al. A phase I/II study of gemcitabine-based chemotherapy plus curcumin for patients with gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2011 Jul;68(1):157-64; Cheng AL, Hsu CH et al. Phase I clinical trial of curcumin, a chemopreventive agent, in patients with high-risk or pre-malignant lesions. Anticancer Research. 2001 Jul-Aug;21(4B):2895-900

Mild gastrointestinal disturbances such as loose stools and abdominal discomfort⁷De Jaeghere EA, Tuyaerts S, et al. (2023). Pembrolizumab, radiotherapy, and an immunomodulatory five-drug cocktail in pretreated patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical or endometrial carcinoma: Results of the phase II PRIMMO study. Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII, 72(2), 475–491.
Bloating⁸Epelbaum R, Schaffer M, Vizel B, Badmaev V, Bar-Sela G. Curcumin and gemcitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Nutrition and Cancer. 2010;62(8):1137-41
A single case report described iron deficiency anemia⁹Smith TJ, & Ashar BH. (2019). Iron Deficiency Anemia Due to High-dose Turmeric. Cureus, 11(1), e3858.
Autoimmune hepatitis¹⁰Lukefahr AL, McEvoy S, et al. (2018). Drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis associated with turmeric dietary supplement use. BMJ case reports, 2018, bcr2018224611; Lee BS, Bhatia T, et al. (2020). Autoimmune Hepatitis Associated With Turmeric Consumption. ACG case reports journal, 7(3), e00320; Arzallus T, Izagirre A, et al. (2023). Drug induced autoimmune hepatitis after turmeric intake. Gastroenterologia y hepatologia, 46(10), 805–806.
Kidney damage¹¹Washington O, Robinson E, et al. (2024). Oxalate nephropathy and chronic turmeric supplementation: a case report. Jornal brasileiro de nefrologia, 46(1), 99–106; Garg AX, Devereaux PJ, et al (2018). Oral curcumin in elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a multicentre randomized controlled trial. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 190(43), E1273–E1280.
A single case report observed suppressed white blood cell count with high dose raw root ingestion¹²Abdel-Razeq R, Iweir S, et al. (2021). Prolonged Neutropenia and Yellowish Discoloration of the Skin, But Not the Sclera, Following Excessive Turmeric Raw Root Ingestion. Cureus, 13(4), e14754.
Skin reactions such as hives, contact dermatitis, or contact allergy¹³Babu D & Rai R. (2023). Allergic and photoaggravated contact dermatitis from turmeric in mangalsutra: A cultural dermatosis. Contact dermatitis, 89(5), 396–397; Liddle M, Hull C, et al. (2006). Contact urticaria from curcumin. Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 17(4), 196–197; Lamb SR, & Wilkinson SM. (2003). Contact allergy to tetrahydrocurcumin. Contact dermatitis, 48(4), 227.

Intravenous application of curcumin at high doses may have higher risk for more severe side effects or adverse reactions.¹⁴Storka A, Vcelar B et al. Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of liposomal curcumin in healthy humans. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2015 Jan;53(1):54-65. One case of death associated with intravenous use of curcumin was reported in 2018.¹⁵Lasoff DR, Cantrell FL, & Ly BT. (2018). Death associated with intravenous turmeric (Curcumin) preparation. Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 56(5), 384–385.

Contraindications and precautions

Do not use curcumin (turmeric) if you have a known allergy to turmeric or curcumin. Use caution and consult your healthcare provider before use if you have iron deficiencies, gastrointestinal issues such as ulcers or gallstones, or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.¹⁶Weil A. Curcumin or turmeric? Andrew Weil, MD. Viewed October 11, 2021; Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010; McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016. Curcumin (turmeric) may have blood-thinning effects and could increase the risk of bleeding.¹⁷Daveluy A, Géniaux H, Thibaud L, Mallaret M, Miremont-Salamé G, Haramburu F. Probable interaction between an oral vitamin K antagonist and turmeric (Curcuma longa). Therapie. 2014 Nov-Dec;69(6):519-20; Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT. Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2016 Sep 9;7(3):339-346. Check with your oncology team before surgery.

Drug interactions

There are known potential drug interactions with curcumin (turmeric), including immunosuppressants and certain chemotherapies. Interactions with medications and other interventions are complex. Always consult with a healthcare professional before adding any new therapy to your regimen. To learn more about interactions visit one of the trusted resources below:

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References[+]

Curcumin & Turmeric for Cancer