What are curcumin’s main drawbacks?

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    Last Updated: March 26, 2024

    One of curcumin’s greatest disadvantages is that it is poorly absorbed when orally ingested by itself.[1]

    Dosages of up to 8 grams per day of curcuminoids have not been associated with serious adverse effects in humans.[2] However, comprehensive long-term studies are needed to confirm this lack of adverse effects. Studies using high doses of curcumin have reported some mild adverse effects, including nausea, diarrhea, headache, skin rash, and yellow stool.[3][4][5] Use of curcumin with piperine (a black pepper extract) may increase adverse reactions to curcumin, because piperine greatly increases intestinal permeability.[6] Not all formulations of curcumin have been safety tested to the same degree.

    References

    1. ^Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PSInfluence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteersPlanta Med.(1998 May)
    2. ^Lao CD, Ruffin MT 4th, Normolle D, Heath DD, Murray SI, Bailey JM, Boggs ME, Crowell J, Rock CL, Brenner DEDose escalation of a curcuminoid formulationBMC Complement Altern Med.(2006 Mar 17)
    3. ^Sharma RA, Euden SA, Platton SL, Cooke DN, Shafayat A, Hewitt HR, Marczylo TH, Morgan B, Hemingway D, Plummer SM, Pirmohamed M, Gescher AJ, Steward WPPhase I clinical trial of oral curcumin: biomarkers of systemic activity and complianceClin Cancer Res.(2004 Oct 15)
    4. ^Cheng AL, Hsu CH, Lin JK, Hsu MM, Ho YF, Shen TS, Ko JY, Lin JT, Lin BR, Ming-Shiang W, Yu HS, Jee SH, Chen GS, Chen TM, Chen CA, Lai MK, Pu YS, Pan MH, Wang YJ, Tsai CC, Hsieh CYPhase I clinical trial of curcumin, a chemopreventive agent, in patients with high-risk or pre-malignant lesionsAnticancer Res.(2001 Jul-Aug)
    5. ^Kanit Pungcharoenkul, Phensri ThongnopnuaEffect of different curcuminoid supplement dosages on total in vivo antioxidant capacity and cholesterol levels of healthy human subjectsPhytother Res.(2011 Nov)
    6. ^Han HKThe effects of black pepper on the intestinal absorption and hepatic metabolism of drugs.Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol.(2011-Jun)