Does curcumin lower blood sugar?

    Written by:
    Antonis Damianou, Thomas Solomon

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Gregory Lopez, Nick Milazzo
    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Research on curcumin's effects on blood sugar is limited. One study showed that 500 mg of curcumin taken 3 times daily for 12 weeks reduced fasting blood glucose in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, whereas another study found no improvements in fasting blood glucose or insulin levels in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

    There is currently very little research regarding curcumin’s effects on blood sugar levels.

    One randomized controlled trial (RCT) found that supplementation with 500 mg of curcumin three times daily for 12 weeks significantly decreased fasting blood glucose levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to a placebo but had no effect on insulin levels or insulin resistance.[1] However, another RCT that included individuals with metabolic syndrome and used nanomicellar curcumin did not find any improvements in either fasting blood glucose or insulin levels.[2]