How can curcumin or turmeric help you? What the research says

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Clinical Reviewers

Jen Green, ND, FABNO

Naturopathic oncologist and CancerChoices advisor

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We summarize the clinical evidence for each medical benefit here. We begin with our assessment of the strength of evidence within each category, followed by a brief summary of individual studies or reviews of several studies. In assessing the strength of evidence, we consider the study design, number of participants, and the size of the treatment effect (how much outcomes changed with treatment).

To see more details, click the plus sign to the right of any section.

Our assessments of evidence for each medical benefit fall into one of these categories:

Strong evidence: consistent, significant effects in several large (or at least one very large) well designed clinical studies or at least two meta-analysesa statistical analysis that combines the results of two or more research studies; the results of smaller research studies addressing the same or similar questions can be analyzed as though they are one bigger, more powerful study of clinical studies of moderate or better quality (or one large meta-analysis) finding similar results
Good evidence: significant effects in one large or several mid-sized and well-designed clinical studies ( randomized controlled trialsa study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects with an appropriate placebo or other strong comparison control or observational studies that control for confounds)
Modest evidence: significant 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 observationala type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured, but no attempt is made to affect the outcome (for example, no treatment is given); an example is a study that records people’s diets, but doesn’t try to alter their diets, and looks for patterns of disease or other outcomes related to different foods studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis
Preliminary evidence: significant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect
Weak evidence: one or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects
Insufficient evidence: preclinical evidence only OR clinical studies with such poor or unclear methodology that no conclusion can be drawn OR conflicting findings across clinical studies with no preponderance of evidence in one direction; conflicting evidence occurs when studies find conflicting effects (positive effect vs no effect or negative effect) with the same treatment and the same general study population (same cancer type, for example)

Learn more about how we research and rate therapies and practices in How We Rate Therapies ›

Improving treatment outcomes

Is turmeric or curcumin linked to improved survival? Is it linked to less cancer growth or metastasis? Does it enhance the anticancer action of other treatments or therapies? We present the evidence.

Cancer as a whole

Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of tumor response among people with metastatic advanced cancer treated with intravenous curcumin

Breast cancer

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 higher tumor response rate among people with breast cancer treated with curcumin supplements or intravenously alongside chemotherapy

Higher tumor response rate and progression-free survivalthe time during and after treatment of a disease that a patient lives without disease progression (worsening) among people with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy treated with curcumin supplements compared to chemotherapy alone in a mid-sized RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects²Goyal S, Beniwal SK,et al. (2025). Efficacy and safety of curcumin as an adjuvant to standard chemotherapy in advanced and metastatic breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled study. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 39(11), 5006–5024.
Higher objective response rate among women with advanced and metastatic breast cancer treated with paclitaxel and 300 mg intravenous solution curcumin once per week compared to paclitaxel and placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a mid-sized RCT³Saghatelyan T, Tananyan A et al. Efficacy and safety of curcumin in combination with paclitaxel in patients with advanced, metastatic breast cancer: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phytomedicine. 2020 Apr 18;70:153218.
No disease progression and no increased side effects during 6 cycles of docetaxel treatment among people with advanced or metastatic breast cancer treated with oral curcumin 500 mg per day for 7 consecutive days by cycle (from 4 days before to 2 days after docetaxel treatment) in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design⁴Bayet-Robert M, Kwiatkowski F et al. Phase I dose escalation trial of docetaxel plus curcumin in patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer. Cancer Biology & Therapy. 2010 Jan;9(1):8-14.

Colorectal cancer

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 overall survival and better progression-free survival among people with colorectal cancer treated with curcumin supplements along with chemotherapy

Modest evidence of higher tumor response among people with colorectal cancer treated with curcumin supplements before surgery

Gynecologic cancer

Weak evidence of improved treatment response among people with gynecological cancers treated with turmeric

Leukemia

Preliminary evidence of a lower cancer markera chemical or substance, such as certain proteins or genetic material, that are associated with the presence of cancer or a change in status or prognosis; these markers can be detected in blood, urine, or tissue. Tumor markers are not direct measures of clinical outcomes such as survival or metastasis, and if a therapy or treatment shows an impact only on tumor markers, we cannot surmise that it will affect survival. during imatinib treatment among people with leukemia treated with turmeric powder

Myeloma

Preliminary evidence of higher remission rates and lower levels of cancer-related protein indicators among people with myeloma treated with oral curcumin

Weak evidence of similar progression-free survival among people with myeloma treated with curcumin compared to standard treatment with corticosteroids

Prostate cancer

Preliminary evidence of no effect on progression-free survival among people with castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with oral curcumin

Insufficient evidence of impact on prostate-specific antigen (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) response among people with prostate cancer treated with oral curcumin

No evidence of effect on progression-free survival from docetaxel treatment among men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with 6 g of oral curcumin per day for 7 days every 3 weeks compared to placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects¹²Passildas-Jahanmohan J, Eymard JC et al. Multicenter randomized phase II study comparing docetaxel plus curcumin versus docetaxel plus placebo in first-line treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Cancer Medicine. 2021 Apr;10(7):2332-2340.
PSA response in 59% of evaluable participants during 6 cycles of docetaxel/prednisone treatment in standard conditions among people with chemotherapy-naive metastatic progressing castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with 6,000 mg of oral curcumin per day from 4 days before to 2 days after docetaxel treatment in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design¹³Mahammedi H, Planchat E et al. The new combination docetaxel, prednisone and curcumin in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer: a pilot phase II study. Oncology. 2016;90(2):69-78.
Less PSA progression but no difference in change in PSA or testosterone levels during intermittent androgen deprivation among men with prostate cancer treated with 1440 mg per day oral curcumin for 6 months compared to placebo in a small RCT¹⁴Choi YH, Han DH et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the role of curcumin in prostate cancer patients with intermittent androgen deprivation. Prostate. 2019 May;79(6):614-621.

Tumeric or curcumin combined with other therapies

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 survival or tumor size among people with brain cancer treated with various supplement cocktails that include curcumin

No evidence of effect on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) among people with prostate cancer treated with a combination of supplements including turmeric, green tea, broccoli sprouts, and resveratrol

Preliminary evidence of slower disease progression among people with colorectal cancer treated with a cocktail including curcumin, green tea extract, spirulina, and several other supplements

Weak evidence of complete remission in a woman with bladder cancer treated with an intensive supplemental regimen including turmeric, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, chaga mushroom, melatonin, fiber supplements, and probiotic supplements

No evidence of longer survival among people with brain cancer treated with a cocktail of micronutrients including chokeberry extract, red grape seed extract, red clover extract, curcumin, selenium, tangeretin and lycopene compared to a placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects¹⁵Rooprai, H. K., Lawrence, P., Ashkan, K., Beaney, R., Pilkington, G. J., & Gullan, R. W. (2026). Overall Survival of Glioblastoma Patients Treated With a Combination of 7 Micronutrients: A Nutraceutical Trial. Anticancer research, 46(3), 1599–1608.
No evidence of longer survival or changes in tumor size or uptake among people with brain cancer treated with oral renin-angiotensin system modulators (propranolol, aliskiren, cilazapril, celecoxib, curcumin with piperine, aspirin, and metformin) in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design¹⁶O’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.
Slower disease progression rate during treatment with leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin among people with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with MB-6 (a combination of fermented soybean extract, green tea extract, Antrodia camphorata mycelia, spirulina, grape seed extract, and curcumin extract) compared to placebo in a small RCT¹⁷Chen WT, Yang TS et al. Effectiveness of a novel herbal agent MB-6 as a potential adjunct to 5-fluoracil-based chemotherapy in colorectal cancer. Nutrition Research. 2014 Jul;34(7):585-94.
Complete remission (no evidence of disease) in a nonsmoking woman with high grade, non-muscle involved bladder cancer (carcinoma in situ) refractory to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin treated with intravenous pharmacological ascorbate and subcutaneous mistletoe 3 times a week, and also intravenous and intravesical mistletoe once a week for an 8-week induction treatment using a dose-escalation protocol and then maintenance therapy of the same protocol for 3 weeks every 3 months for 2 years; plus these supplements in a case studya descriptive and exploratory analysis of a person, group, or event regarding changes observed over time; because changes due to treatment are not compared to similar changes over time without treatment, a case study is considered a weak study design¹⁸Davis D, Seely D et al. Complete remission of BCG-refractory high-grade bladder CIS with pharmacologic ascorbate and mistletoe. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2023 May;29(4):6-17.
No evidence of an effect on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time among men with biochemical recurrence with a moderate PSA rise rate treated with a phytotherapeutic intervention containing turmeric, resveratrol, green tea, and broccoli sprouts for 12 weeks compared to placebo in a small RCT¹⁹van Die MD, Williams SG et al. A placebo-controlled double-blinded randomized pilot study of combination phytotherapy in biochemically recurrent prostate cancer. Prostate. 2017 May;77(7):765-775.

Also see separate reviews of products containing turmeric:
Pomi-T, a blend of pomegranate extracts, green tea extracts, turmeric, and broccoli extracts: Pomi-T ›
Zyflamend, a blend of rosemary, turmeric, ginger, holy basil, green tea, hu zhang, Chinese goldthread, barberry, oregano, and baikal skullcap: Zyflamend ›

Managing side effects and promoting wellness

Is turmeric or curcumin linked to fewer or less severe side effects or symptoms? Is it linked to less toxicity from cancer treatment? Does it support your quality of life or promote general well-being? We present the evidence.

Blood-related side effects

Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of improved hematological parameters among people with breast cancer treated with turmeric supplements

Body composition or cachexia

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 unintentional weight loss and better body weight among people with cancer treated with curcumin

Considerably less unintentional weight loss related to 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 with head and neck cancer treated with curcumin compared to controls in a meta-analysisa statistical analysis that combines the results of two or more research studies; the results of smaller research studies addressing the same or similar questions can be analyzed as though they are one bigger, more powerful study of 6 RCTsrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects²¹Zhang L, Tang G, Wei Z. Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of curcumin on treatment-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition and Cancer. 2021;73(5):740-749.
Less change in body weight related to oral mucositis among people undergoing treatment for head and neck cancers treated with a turmeric gargle compared to povidone-iodine in a mid-sized RCT²²Rao S, Dinkar C, Vaishnav LK, Rao P, Rai MP, Fayad R, Baliga MS. The Indian spice turmeric delays and mitigates radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer: an investigational study. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2014 May;13(3):201-10.
Better body weight among people undergoing colorectal cancer surgery treated with 360 mg oral curcumin 3 times day between 10 and 30 days before surgery compared to a similar treatment with no active curcumin in a mid-sized RCT²³He ZY, Shi CB et al. Upregulation of p53 expression in patients with colorectal cancer by administration of curcumin. Cancer Investigation. 2011 Mar;29(3):208-13.
No difference in body weight among people with solid cancer diagnosed with cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome treated with curcumin compared to a placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCT²⁴Chaiworramukkul A, Seetalarom K, et al. (2022). A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized phase IIa study: Evaluating the effect of curcumin for treatment of cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome in solid cancer patients. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 23(7), 2333–2340.

Fatigue

Weak evidence of less fatigue resulting from chemotherapy among women with advanced or metastatic breast cancer treated with curcumin

Gastrointestinal effects

Weak evidence of decreased vomiting among people receiving high-dose chemotherapy treated with curcumin

Preliminary evidence of no effect on bowel symptoms among people with prostate cancer treated with curcumin

Neuropathy

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 reduced neuropathy among children with leukemia treated with curcumin supplements

Oral symptoms

Good evidencesignificant effects in one large or several mid-sized and well-designed clinical studies (randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with an appropriate placebo or other strong comparison control or observational studies that control for confounds) (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of reduced severity of oral mucositis among people with head and neck cancer treated with curcumin mouthwash, oral gel, or curcumin-nanoscapsules

Pain

Weak evidence of less pain among people with precancerous oral conditions treated with curcumin or turmeric

Quality of life

Modest evidence of better quality of life during chemotherapy among people with cancer treated with curcumin or turmeric supplements

Preliminary evidence of no effect on quality of life during intermittent androgen deprivation among men with prostate cancer treated with curcumin in a preliminary study

Sexual difficulties

Preliminary evidence of no effect on sexual function among men with localized prostate cancer treated with curcumin in a preliminary study

Skin and tissue side effects

Preliminary evidence of less radiation dermatitis among people with cancer treated with oral curcumin or topical turmeric

Weak evidence of less odor and itching among people with external cancerous lesions treated with turmeric and curcumin

Less severe radiation dermatitis among people with breast cancer treated with oral curcumin supplements in a meta-analysis for four RCTsrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects of mixed quality⁴⁶Mirzaei Dahka S, Afsharfar M, et al. (2023). Impact of Curcumin Supplementation on Radiation Dermatitis Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 24(3), 783–789.
No effect on radiation dermatitis or pain at the administration site among people with cancer treated with oral or topical curcumin in a meta-analysisa statistical analysis that combines the results of two or more research studies; the results of smaller research studies addressing the same or similar questions can be analyzed as though they are one bigger, more powerful study of four RCTs of mixed quality⁴⁷Robijns J, Becherini C, et al. (2023). Natural and miscellaneous agents for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 31(3), 195.
Less redness, irritation, and pain among people with breast cancer undergoing radiation treated with topical curcumin compared to a placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCT⁴⁸Heydari B, Sheikhalishahi S, et al. (2025). Topical curcumin for prevention of radiation-induced dermatitis: a pilot double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial. Cancer investigation, 43(3), 173–182.
Less pain and radiation-induced skin reactions after seven weeks among people with breast cancer treated with nano-curcumin supplement compared to a placebo in a small RCT⁴⁹Talakesh T, Tabatabaee N, et al. (2022). Effect of Nano-Curcumin on Radiotherapy-Induced Skin Reaction in Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Current radiopharmaceuticals, 15(4), 332–340.
Slightly less radiation dermatitis during radiotherapy among people with cancer treated with with oral curcumin compared to controls in a meta-analysis of 2 controlled trialsa study design in which people are assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatment; assignment is not random, and so this is not as strong a study design as a randomized controlled trial, but still stronger than an uncontrolled trial with very low-certainty evidence⁵⁰Ginex PK, Backler C et al. Radiodermatitis in patients with cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2020 Nov 1;47(6):E225-E236.
Less odor and itching among people with external cancerous lesions with an ethanol extract of turmeric and an ointment of curcumin compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled studya study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group to judge outcomes against; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design⁵¹Kuttan R, Sudheeran PC, Josph CD. Turmeric and curcumin as topical agents in cancer therapy. Tumori. 1987 Feb 28;73(1):29-31.

Other side effects and symptoms

Preliminary evidence of less severe heart and kidney damage among people with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy treated with curcumin

Preliminary evidence of no reduction in kidney damage among people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy treated with curcumin

Preliminary evidence of less severe urinary symptoms, including urination frequency, during radiotherapy among men with prostate cancer treated with curcumin

Tumeric or curcumin combined with other therapies

Preliminary evidence of delayed onset of hand-foot syndrome among people undergoing chemotherapy treated with a henna and curcumin ointment

Preliminary evidence of reduced mucositis and pain among people undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treated with curcumin combined with blue LED, photobiomodulation, and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy

Preliminary evidence of widespread symptom relief during chemotherapy or radiotherapy among people treated with Meriva (curcumin formulation), soy lecithin, and microcrystalline cellulose

Preliminary evidence of fewer serious side effects and during treatment with leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin among people with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with MB-6

Weak evidence of less pain during treatment predominantly with aromatase inhibitors among people treated with hydroxytyrosol, omega-3 fatty acids, and curcumin

Weak evidence of less severe oral mucositis during chemo/radiotherapy among people treated with a preparation of Indian gooseberry (amla), holy basil (tulsi), and curcumin added to zinc oxide

Delayed onset of hand-foot syndrome for people during chemotherapy treated with henna and curcumin ointment; no evidence of reduced incidence of hand-foot syndrome in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects⁵⁶Elyasi S, Rasta S, et al. (2022). Topical henna and curcumin (Alpha®) ointment efficacy for prevention of capecitabine induced hand-foot syndrome: A randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 30(1), 117–125.
Reduced mucositis and pain among people undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treated with curcumin combined with blue LED, photobiomodulation, and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in a small RCT⁵⁷de Cássia Dias Viana Andrade R, Azevedo Reis T, et al. (2022). Comparative randomized trial study about the efficacy of photobiomodulation and curcumin antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as a coadjuvant treatment of oral mucositis in oncologic patients: antimicrobial, analgesic, and degree alteration effect. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 30(9), 7365–7371.
Medical benefits during chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery among people with significant side effects treated with Meriva (curcumin formulation), soy lecithin, and microcrystalline cellulose in a mid-sized RCT⁵⁸Belcaro G, Hosoi M et al. A controlled study of a lecithinized delivery system of curcumin (Meriva®) to alleviate the adverse effects of cancer treatment. Phytotherapy Research. 2014 Mar; 28:444-50.
Lower incidence of adverse events of grade 4 or higher, and lower occurrence of increased serum creatinine (an indicator of kidney function) during treatment with leucovorin, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin among people with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with MB-6 (a combination of fermented soybean extract, green tea extract, Antrodia camphorata mycelia, spirulina, grape seed extract, and curcumin extract) compared to placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCT⁵⁹Chen WT, Yang TS et al. Effectiveness of a novel herbal agent MB-6 as a potential adjunct to 5-fluoracil-based chemotherapy in colorectal cancer. Nutrition Research. 2014 Jul;34(7):585-94.
Lower pain scores during treatment predominantly with aromatase inhibitors among postmenopausal women with breast cancer with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) treated with hydroxytyrosol, omega-3 fatty acids, and curcumin for one month compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design⁶⁰Martínez N, Herrera M et al. A combination of hydroxytyrosol, omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin improves pain and inflammation among early stage breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy: results of a pilot study. Clinical and Translational Oncology. 2019;21(4):489-498.
A weak trendan apparent change due to a therapy, close to but not achieving full statistical significance (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently toward less severe oral mucositis during chemo/radiotherapy among people treated with a preparation of zinc oxide, amla, tulsi and curcumin at 1% therapeutic concentrations for five weeks compared to 5% zinc oxide alone, and significantly less severe compared to standard treatment in a small RCT⁶¹Chaitanya N, Badam R et al. Efficacy of improvised topical zinc (1%) ora-base on oral mucositis during cancer chemo-radiation-a randomized study. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology (Tokyo). 2020;66(2):93-97.

Optimizing your body terrain

Does turmeric or curcumin promote an environment within your body that is less supportive of cancer development, growth, or spread? We present the evidence.

See Optimizing Your Body Terrain ›

Find medical professionals who specialize in managing body terrain factors: Finding Integrative Oncologists and Other Practitioners ›

Body weight

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 improved waist circumference among people with high fasting plasma glucose treated with phytosomal curcumin

High blood sugar and insulin resistance

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

Hormone imbalance

Changes in hormone levels seen in the studies here may not be beneficial in every situation. Your oncology team needs to determine whether any changes would be favorable for your condition.

Preliminary evidence of better sex hormone balance among women treated with curcumin

Immune function

Increased immune system activation is not always beneficial, so your oncology team needs to determine whether immune activation would be favorable in your situation.

Insufficient evidencepreclinical evidence only OR clinical studies with such poor or unclear methodology that no conclusion can be drawn OR conflicting findings across clinical studies with no preponderance of evidence in one direction; conflicting evidence occurs when studies find conflicting effects (positive effect vs no effect or negative effect) with the same treatment and the same general study population (same cancer type, for example) (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of change in immune response among people with cancer treated with curcumin

Slightly lower immune markers among people with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy treated with bioavailable curcumin mouthwash in addition to photobiomodulation (laser therapy) compared to photobiomodulation alone in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group against which to judge outcomes; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design⁶⁹Pereira CH, Martins AFL, et al. (2024). Oral mucositis management with photobiomodulation, Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) and Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae), the FITOPROT herbal medicine, and its influence on inflammatory cytokine levels: a randomized clinical trial. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 32(9), 628.
Some decrease in white blood cells and other immune markers among patients with sepsis after ten days of nano-curcumin supplementation compared to a placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects⁷⁰Naeini F, Tutunchi H, et al. (2022). Does nano-curcumin supplementation improve hematological indices in critically ill patients with sepsis? A randomized controlled clinical trial. Journal of food biochemistry, 46(5), e14093.
Higher immune response among people with advanced colon cancer treated with 3 g oral curcumin for 1 month compared to placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCT⁷¹Xu B, Yu L, Zhao LZ. Curcumin up regulates T helper 1 cells in patients with colon cancer. American Journal of Translational Research. 2017 Apr 15;9(4):1866-1875.

Inflammation

Modest evidence of lower inflammation among people treated with curcumin, not specific to people with cancer

Lower inflammation markers among people treated with curcumin supplements in a meta-analysisa statistical analysis that combines the results of two or more research studies; the results of smaller research studies addressing the same or similar questions can be analyzed as though they are one bigger, more powerful study of 15 medium to high quality RCTsrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects⁷²Tabrizi R, Vakili S, et al. (2019). The effects of curcumin-containing supplements on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytotherapy research : PTR, 33(2), 253–262.
A lower marker of inflammation among people treated with bioavailability-improved preparations of curcuminoids for 4 or more weeks compared to placebosa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a meta-analysis of 6 clinical trials⁷³Sahebkar A. Are curcuminoids effective C-reactive protein-lowering agents in clinical practice? Evidence from a meta-analysis. Phytotherapy Research. 2014 May;28(5):633-42.
Lower markers of inflammation among people with osteoarthritis treated with Meriva, a proprietary curcumin-phosphatidylcholine phytosome complex, compared to controls in a mid-sized controlled triala study design in which people are assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatment; assignment is not random, and so this is not as strong a study design as a randomized controlled trial, but still stronger than an uncontrolled trial⁷⁴Belcaro G, Cesarone MR et al. Efficacy and safety of Meriva®, a curcumin-phosphatidylcholine complex, during extended administration in osteoarthritis patients. Alternative Medicine Review. 2010 Dec;15(4):337-44.
Lower systemic inflammation during standard chemotherapy regimens among people with solid tumors treated with bioavailability-boosted curcuminoids preparation (180 mg/day) for 8 weeks compared to placebo in a small RCT⁷⁵Panahi Y, Saadat A, Beiraghdar F, Sahebkar A. Adjuvant therapy with bioavailability-boosted curcuminoids suppresses systemic inflammation and improves quality of life in patients with solid tumors: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Phytother Research. 2014 Oct;28(10):1461-7.
Lower markers of inflammation after surgical repair of an inguinal hernia and/or hydrocele among men treated with 400 mg curcumin compared to placebo (250 mg lactose powder) or phenylbutazone (100 mg) 3 times a day for 6 days in a small RCT⁷⁶Satoskar RR, Shah SJ, Shenoy SG. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory property of curcumin (diferuloyl methane) in patients with postoperative inflammation. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Therapy, and Toxicology. 1986 Dec;24(12):651-4.
More than 50% beneficial decrease in an inflammatory regulator without dose-limiting toxicity among people with advanced colorectal cancer resistant to standard chemotherapies treated with capsules comparable to curcumin doses between 0.45 and 3.6 g daily for up to 4 months compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group to judge outcomes against; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design⁷⁷Sharma RA, Euden SA et al. Phase I clinical trial of oral curcumin: biomarkers of systemic activity and compliance. Clinical Cancer Research. 2004 Oct 15;10(20):6847-54.
Lower marker of inflammation among women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial neoplasia a new and abnormal growth of tissue (tumor) in some part of the body, especially as a characteristic of cancer; some neoplasms are benign, while cancer is a malignant neoplasm treated with Curcuma longa Linn extract for 12 weeks compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled study⁷⁸Joshi JV, Paradkar PH et al. Chemopreventive potential and safety profile of a curcuma longa extract in women with cervical low-grade squamous intraepithelial neoplasia. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2011;12:3305-11.
Downregulated gene transcription factors/enzymes linked to cancer promotion, including pro-inflammatory effects, among people with myeloma treated with oral curcumin at 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 grams/day in 2 divided doses, either with or without Bioperine 10 mg in 2 divided doses for 12 weeks to a year in a small uncontrolled trial⁷⁹Vadhan-Raj S, Weber D et al. Curcumin downregulates NF-КB and related genes in patients with multiple myeloma: results of a phase 1/2 study. Blood. 2007;110(11):357a.

Oxidation

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

Other terrain factors

Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of down-regulated P-STAT-3—a signaling pathway that drives cancer aggressiveness in some types of blood cells—among people with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with curucmin

Tumeric or curcumin combined with other therapies

Weak evidence of no effect on inflammation among people with colorectal adenomas treated with a combination of curcumin and anthocyanin supplements

Preliminary evidence of lower levels of insulin and other measures of insulin function among adults with impaired fasting glucose treated with a combination therapy of Lagerstroemia speciosa, Berberis aristata, Curcuma longa, alpha-lipoic acid, chromium picolinate and folic acid

Preliminary evidence of lower early-follicular phase androgens but no evidence of substantial effects on estrogen measures among healthy premenopausal women with turmeric (Curcuma longa), artichoke (Cynara scolymus), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), magnolia berry (Schisandra chinensis), milk thistle (Silybum marinum), and dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis)

Weak evidence of lower markers of inflammation during treatment predominantly with aromatase inhibitors among postmenopausal women with breast cancer with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) with hydroxytyrosol, omega-3 fatty acids, and curcumin

Reducing cancer risk

Is turmeric or curcumin linked to lower risks of developing cancer or of recurrence? We present the evidence.

Bladder cancer

Weak evidenceone or more case studies, supported by animal evidence OR small treatment effects of limited clinical significance OR studies with no controls OR weak trends of effects (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of improvement in precancerous lesions among people with bladder cancer treated with curcumin

Colorectal cancer

Weak evidence of no effect on the number or size of polyps among people with familial adenomatous polyposis treated with curcumin

Weak evidence of fewer aberrant crypt foci (ACF) among people who smoke and were treated with curcumin

Gastrointestinal cancer

Weak evidence of precancerous lesion response among people with intestinal metaplasia of the stomach treated with curcumin

Gynecologic cancer

Weak evidence of improvement in precancerous lesions among people with cervical intraepithelial neoplasm treated with curcumin

Head, neck, and oral cancers

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 improvement or lack of progression of among people with head, neck, and oral precancerous conditions treated with either turmeric or curcumin

Less pain and erosion among people with oral lichen planus treated with topical curcumin in a meta-analysisa statistical analysis that combines the results of two or more research studies; the results of smaller research studies addressing the same or similar questions can be analyzed as though they are one bigger, more powerful study of four high quality RCTsrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects⁹⁷Shi W, Wang Q, et al. (2024). Evaluating the efficacy of curcumin in the management of oral potentially malignant disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PeerJ, 12, e18492.
No effect on pain and tongue protrusion among people with oral submucous fibrosis treated with systemic curcumin in a meta-analysis of seven medium to high quality RCTs⁹⁸Shi W, Wang Q, et al. (2024). Evaluating the efficacy of curcumin in the management of oral potentially malignant disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PeerJ, 12, e18492.
Better clinical scores indicating tissue change to a lower pre-malignant grade among people with oral submucous fibrosis with either curcumin capsules or turmeric oil compared to placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCT⁹⁹Das AD, Balan A, Sreelatha KT. Comparative study of the efficacy of curcumin and turmeric oil as chemopreventive agents in oral submucous fibrosis: a clinical and histopathological evaluation. Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology. 2010;22:88-92.
Improvement of precancerous lesions in 1 of 7 people with oral precancerous tissue (leukoplakia) treated with oral curcumin up to 8,000 mg/day for 3 months compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group to judge outcomes against; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design¹⁰⁰Cheng 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;21(4B):2895-900.
No evidence of an effect on symptoms or clinical signs among people with oral lichen planus—an inflammatory condition in the mouth that may increase risk of developing mouth cancer—treated with 2000 mg curcuminoids per day (planned for 7 weeks but terminated early) compared to baseline in a mid-sized RCT; the researchers concluded that a higher dose and/or longer duration of curcuminoids should be considered in a subsequent trial¹⁰¹Chainani-Wu N, Silverman S Jr et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of curcuminoids in oral lichen planus. Phytomedicine. 2007 Aug;14(7-8):437-46.
Fewer micronuclei—a precursor to and markera chemical or substance, such as certain proteins or genetic material, that are associated with the presence of cancer or a change in status or prognosis; these markers can be detected in blood, urine, or tissue. Tumor markers are not direct measures of clinical outcomes such as survival or metastasis, and if a therapy or treatment shows an impact only on tumor markers, we cannot surmise that it will affect survival. of cancer development—among people with submucous fibrosis treated with alcoholic extracts of turmeric, turmeric oil, or turmeric oleoresin for three months, with the greatest reduction with turmeric oleoresin, compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled trial¹⁰²Hastak K, Lubri N et al. Effect of turmeric oil and turmeric oleoresin on cytogenetic damage in patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis. Cancer Letters. 1997 Jun 24;116(2):265-9.
Smaller lesions among people with oral leukoplakia, submucous fibrosis, or lichen planus, plus greater mouth opening among those with submucous fibrosis, treated with 1 g caplets of 900 mg curcumin, 80 mg desmethoxycurcumin, and 20 mg bisdesmethoxycurcumin compared to baseline in a mid-sized uncontrolled trial¹⁰³Rai B, Kaur J, Jacobs R, Singh J. Possible action mechanism for curcumin in pre-cancerous lesions based on serum and salivary markers of oxidative stress. Journal of Oral Science. 2010 Jun;52(2):251-6.

Lung cancer

Weak evidence of fewer mutagens in the urine of people who smoke and are treated with turmeric

Melanoma and other skin cancers

Weak evidence of precancerous lesion response among people with Bowen’s disease treated with curcumin

Myeloma

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 less progression towards myeloma among people with monoclonal gammopathy of undefined significance (MGUS) treated with curcumin

Prostate cancer

Weak evidence of lower 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 treated with curcumin

Tumeric or curcumin combined with other therapies

Preliminary evidence of decreasing PSA levels among men with high PSA levels treated with isoflavones and curcumin

Weak evidence of fewer and smaller polyps among people with familial adenomatous polyposis treated with curcumin and quercetin

Preliminary evidence of higher clinical response rate among people with oral potentially malignant disorders treated with both topical and systemic green tea extract and curcumin

Decreasing PSA levels among men with PSA of 10 or higher at baseline but without prostate cancer treated with a daily supplement of isoflavones and curcumin compared to placeboa pill, medicine, or procedure—thought to be both harmless and ineffective—prescribed for the psychological benefit to the patient or as a sham treatment in a study to allow a comparison to a therapy of interest in a small RCTrandomized controlled trial, a study design in which people are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group to compare the outcomes from different treatments; an RCT is considered a strong design for determining a therapy’s effects¹⁰⁹Ide H, Tokiwa S et al. Combined inhibitory effects of soy isoflavones and curcumin on the production of prostate-specific antigen. Prostate. 2010 Jul 1;70(10):1127-33.
60% fewer polyps and 51% smaller size of polyps among people with familial adenomatous polyposis with prior colectomy treated with 480 mg curcumin and 20 mg quercetin orally 3 times a day for 6 months compared to baseline in a small uncontrolled triala study in which a therapy is used, but without a comparison group to judge outcomes against; an uncontrolled trial is considered a weak study design¹¹⁰Cruz-Correa M, Shoskes DA et al. Combination treatment with curcumin and quercetin of adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2006 Aug;4(8):1035-8.
Higher clinical response rate among people with oral potentially malignant disorders treated with both 800 mg topical + systemic green tea extract per day and 950 mg topical + systemic curcumin per day for 3 months compared to either green tea extract or curcumin alone in a small RCT¹¹¹Neetha MC, Panchaksharappa MG, Pattabhiramasastry S, Shivaprasad NV, Venkatesh UG. Chemopreventive synergism between green tea extract and curcumin in patients with potentially malignant oral disorders: a double-blind, randomized preliminary study. Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. 2020 May 1;21(5):521-531.

Also see separate reviews of products containing turmeric:

Pomi-T, a blend of pomegranate extracts, green tea extracts, turmeric, and broccoli extracts: Pomi-T ›
Zyflamend, a blend of rosemary, turmeric, ginger, holy basil, green tea, hu zhang, Chinese goldthread, barberry, oregano, and baikal skullcap: Zyflamend ›

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References[+]

Curcumin for Cancer