The potential health benefits of turmeric in hemochromatosis are remarkable. Clinical research has shown that turmeric is one of the BEST nutritional supplements to reduce iron build-up in the body. Most significantly, turmeric can lower ferritin by chelating iron from the body.
However, recent articles have asked a very important question about the safety of this classic herbal remedy.
Namely, is turmeric safe for the liver?
On June 25th, 2024, an article entitled, “Turmeric supplements may harm the liver in some people: Turmeric-induced liver injury is rare, but the number of cases is growing, some researchers say” was published in the Washington Post and has since garnered a lot of attention.
Numerous other outlets and websites have posted their own versions of this article, spreading this question further to more and more readers.
To our understanding, the Washington Post article was the first article to raise this question, so we will primarily focus on it for our response.
Our aim here is to thoroughly evaluate the evidence presented including the original clinical data, and see if turmeric is, in fact, safe for the liver.
In This Article
Attention Grabbing Headlines Often Misrepresent Natural Remedies
In our experience over the years, we’ve seen numerous attention-grabbing headlines meant to capture an audience and unfortunately, the content of the articles often contains mistakes or misrepresentations.
Similar articles evaluating the safety and efficacy of natural and herbal remedies tend to make a lot of strong claims about their dangers and/or their lack of benefit… However, a closer look frequently demonstrates both an inherent bias as well as a lazy interpretation of the data.
Not surprisingly, we quickly found a number of sloppy conclusions with little regard for the large and well-established database of turmeric’s safety and efficacy.
The first thing to keep in mind is that works like these are often review articles, NOT research papers. They are written by journalists who are crafting a story for their newspaper or website. To be clear, we’re sure they are trying their best to represent the story accurately. After all, experts are often quoted and clinical studies are often referred to as a part of the story.
But the reality is that writing about nutrition and herbal medicine and natural remedies is inherently a tough challenge to get right, especially if the author is not an expert in the field or a professional health care practitioner.
As health care practitioners who specialize in hemochromatosis and natural health and nutrition, please allow us to go through what the clinical data actually says!
The Washington Post article begins with a general overview of turmeric and its benefits. Then, the article continues:
With many people taking turmeric in concentrated supplement form, a troubling trend has emerged. In recent years, turmeric has been implicated in a growing number of cases of acute liver injury, some of which have led to liver transplant or even death.
“Turmeric-induced liver injury is considered rare — one in 10,000 or even 100,000 people who take it might get sick — but now, millions of people are taking turmeric,” said Jay Hoofnagle, director of the Liver Disease Research Branch in the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Based on what we’re seeing in our data, it’s one of the most common causes of dietary supplement liver injury.”
Troubling trends emerging and growing numbers of acute injury to the liver sound alarm bells and cases of liver transplant and death really sound terrible! Plus, an expert says that turmeric is a common cause of liver injury (oh no!).
But what does the data actually say?
Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [DILIN], as published in the The American Journal of Medicine
Let’s go directly to the clinical research, where Dr. Hoofnagle is one of the authors of the study from the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [DILIN], as published in the The American Journal of Medicine:
Liver Injury Associated with Turmeric—A Growing Problem: Ten Cases
This study monitored individuals from 2004 through 2022. In that time period, they reported 10 cases of liver injury.
Let’s pause for a moment…
In 18 years, there were 10 reported cases of liver injury.
Total.
The following is a graph of turmeric cases causing liver injury. It is from the study mentioned in the article, the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [DILIN]:
You’ll recall that in the article’s subtitle, it states “Turmeric-induced liver injury is rare, but the number of cases is growing, some researchers say.” I suppose this is true, since they found 3 total cases of injury from 2013-2016 and they found 6 cases of injury from 2017-2022.
As a quick aside, we do find it interesting that 5 of the 10 cases of injury involved a combination product of turmeric and piperine. We have another article on our site entitled, “Why You Shouldn’t Use Black Pepper Extract with Turmeric in Hemochromatosis” where we demonstrate how piperine (aka Black Pepper Extract) is potentially harmful to the liver.
So we are not surprised to see this frequently included ingredient implicated in potential problems.
But, in the grand scheme, this still amounts to an average of roughly 1 case per year!
Contrasting the Impact of Tylenol on Liver Health
By comparison, over 150 people go to the ER every single day due to excessive Tylenol intake harming the liver. That’s 150 people yesterday, 150 people today, and 150 more people tomorrow… and so on. (Source)
Allow me to repeat this: 150 people go to the ER due to Tylenol harming their liver
Every.
Single.
Day.
If there were such a thing, the yearly scoreboard for liver injury would read:
Tylenol 54,750 – Turmeric 1.
While we certainly don’t want anyone to become injured or have their health compromised, we just don’t see how anyone with a straight face can consider turmeric’s impact on the liver a “troubling trend.”
Research Shows Turmeric Benefits Liver Health
We also find it interesting that the Washington Post article states in respect to turmeric’s benefits, “Clinical trials have not produced rigorous evidence to support these broad claims, yet turmeric remains one of the top-selling herbal supplements in the United States.“
Yet, if you follow the link under the word “clinical trials,” you can read an article that has literally hundreds of references to studies showing turmeric’s effectiveness.
All of these research studies that have been published showing how safe and effective turmeric is just confirm what people have known for centuries about this beautiful and incredible herb.
Notice in particular the biological activity of turmeric/curcumin → “Hepatoprotective”, aka liver protective!
In fact, this review study has an entire section on the Hepatoprotective functions of turmeric.
They reference 19 separate studies showing a beneficial effect of turmeric on liver function!
For our part, we also reference a number of studies showing turmeric’s safety and effectiveness (specifically in hemochromatosis), along with data showing a liver-health promoting effect of turmeric on our website article here:
Turmeric Benefits for Hemochromatosis
For quick context, a common way research studies will evaluate liver function is to look at markers named AST and ALT.
Both AST and ALT are liver enzymes, and if they are elevated it might show signs of injury to the liver.
However, if a nutrient demonstrates the ability to lower AST and/or ALT, then researchers will often conclude that it is helpful for promoting liver health.
This is exactly what the evidence base of clinical research shows with respect to turmeric and its active component, curcumin.
From our article, we cite one study that stated:
“Curcumin administration alleviated iron burden and liver dysfunction by reducing NTBI, ALT, and AST levels in patients.”
(Reducing NTBI, or “Non-Transferrin Bound Iron,” is also a very positive result because it shows that curcumin reduces iron levels in addition to protecting the liver).
And another systematic review of turmeric on liver function found:
“Turmeric/curcumin supplementation might be effective in improving AST and ALT levels.”
Taken as a whole, we not only consider turmeric to be safe for the liver, we actually see it being quite helpful and supportive of liver function.
False Narratives Can Shape the Conversation
But one of the troubling aspects of an article making bold claims is that their opinion can spread… even if it is not true.
When articles gain traction and get a lot of views, they can start to influence the overall discussion and “become true.”
For example, when we Googled “turmeric associated liver injury,” here is a screenshot of the results:
In our search, Google suggested the term “recent study showing turmeric bad for liver” and here was the resulting screenshot:
How does this impact the conversation?
Well, if you come across an article or a loved one shares an article with you or if you search a topic, it’s basic human nature that the first thing we see will strongly influence how we interpret the information.
Now imagine hundreds or thousands of individuals seeing this information (from a major source like the Washington Post, no less) and assuming it is accurate…
This is how misinformation spreads.
From our end, as health care professionals focused on helping people with hemochromatosis and iron overload, we promise to do our best to accurately portray the research. After all, turmeric may be a potentially healthful choice for you or your family member!
But the reality is that our website is fairly small and we’re not likely influencing Dr. Google anytime soon!
Data From Other Countries on Turmeric’s Safety for the Liver
Nonetheless, what is more important and our sincere hope is that we are able to help you, our reader, determine what are safe and effective choices for you.
So let’s be thorough and look through data from other countries on turmeric’s safety for the liver. We can also take a look at other herbal remedies and nutrients that have also been implicated in potential liver damage.
For the sake of brevity, we will list out other relevant articles to this discussion and provide our insight in the box below… and then we will wrap up this article with our conclusion at the end.
Click on the dropdown box below to expand the content if you would like to see what other countries have found regarding the safety of turmeric for the liver:
Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/turmeric-black-pepper-supplements-linked-liver-injury
This highly searched article is intended for doctors and health care providers to read. It contains very similar information to the Washington Post article, but the key is that this article may influence what influential physicians tell their patients.
Australian Government, Therapeutic Goods Administration: https://www.tga.gov.au/news/safety-alerts/medicines-containing-turmeric-or-curcumin-risk-liver-injury
This safety advisory was published in August of 2023, with an intended audience of both health professionals and consumers. They do not provide when their study began, but they note 18 reports of suspected liver problems. 9 cases were found to have enough evidence to suggest a link to turmeric. Of these 9, 5 cases involved other ingredients that may have contributed to liver injury… leaving only 4 total cases of liver injury due to turmeric.
British Pharmacological Society:
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.14460
This review article from the UK looked at cases of hepatitis reported from the Tuscany region of Italy secondary to turmeric intake. Out of 23 cases, 16 individuals were taking turmeric and other medications. 7 individuals were taking only turmeric.
Medical News Today:
This article looks at 6 herbal supplements that may cause harm to the liver, including turmeric and green tea. We do agree with one of the paragraph headings that reads, “‘Natural’ Does Not Always Equal Safe”… however the article fails to provide actual data showing safety concerns for turmeric, green tea, or other herbal remedies. It does blame Tik Tok for the rise in popularity of herbal supplements, which seems like a very scientific justification lol.
Journal of the American Medical Association:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821951#google_vignette
The research that the above article referred to.
Catechins in dietary supplements and hepatotoxicity:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23625293/
This study tried to determine if there was any association between Green Tea and its polyphenols (“Catechins”) with liver injury. They concluded:
“Our results did not establish an association between GTE or catechins with hepatotoxicity.”
Risk of Liver Injury Associated with Green Tea Extract in SLIMQUICK(®) Weight Loss Products: Results from the DILIN Prospective Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27189593/
This study looked at a specific weight loss product that contains Green Tea Extract called Slimquick. They found 6 cases of liver injury due to this product. An important note is to look at the other ingredients in Slimquick, which include a proprietary blend of a number of ingredients and large amounts of caffeine.
Conclusion: Is Turmeric Safe for the Liver?
In conclusion, data from clinical research confirms what people have known for centuries. Turmeric is extremely safe and effective for a wide range of health concerns.
So is turmeric safe for the liver?
We feel the evidence base strongly demonstrates that turmeric is safe for the liver while also being effective in reducing iron overload.
Hemochromatosis Help Turmeric Supplements
We offer two forms of safe and effective turmeric:
Our Hemochromatosis Help Turmeric Capsules features BCM-95®, a very well researched ingredient that shows exceptional turmeric absorption – without piperine or black pepper extract! This is our preferred way to provide a safe, effective, and well-absorbed Turmeric Capsule that does not interfere with liver detoxification.
To date, BCM-95® is backed by more than 21 published studies and over 12 years of research conducted around the world. Unlike many commercially available curcumin formulas, the bioavailability, safety, and efficacy of BCM-95® curcumin has been demonstrated in numerous preclinical and human studies.
Our other formulation of curcumin, Hemochromatosis Help Turmeric Cream, also does not use piperine. The enhanced absorption from this cream comes from its unique topical application. A topical cream of turmeric gets absorbed directly into the body, bypassing the gut to ensure maximal results.
Both options provide excellent, safe choices for those with iron overload!
Professional Quality Supplements Hand-Picked by the Naturopathic Doctors at Hemochromatosis Help.
Washington Post Article
Turmeric supplements may harm the liver in some people. Turmeric-induced liver injury is rare, but the number of cases is growing, some researchers say.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/06/25/turmeric-supplements-may-harm-liver-some-people/
Frontiers, Review Article
Turmeric and Its Major Compound Curcumin on Health: Bioactive Effects and Safety Profiles for Food, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnological and Medicinal Applications
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.01021/full
Front. Pharmacol., 14 September 2020
Sec. Ethnopharmacology
Volume 11 – 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.01021
Medical News Today
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/turmeric-black-pepper-supplements-linked-liver-injury
The American Journal of Medicine
https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(22)00740-9/fulltext
Graph, American Journal of Medicine
https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(22)00740-9/fulltext#fig0001
Effects of turmeric on iron overload, hepcidin level, and liver function
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29806132/
Mohammadi E, Tamaddoni A, Qujeq D, Nasseri E, Zayeri F, Zand H, Gholami M, Mir SM. An investigation of the effects of curcumin on iron overload, hepcidin level, and liver function in β-thalassemia major patients: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res. 2018 Sep;32(9):1828-1835.
“Curcumin administration alleviated iron burden and liver dysfunction by reducing NTBI, ALT, and AST levels in patients.”
Systematic review of turmeric on liver function
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229923000390
Mohammad Jafar Dehzad, Hamid Ghalandari, Mohammad Reza Amini, Moein Askarpour, Effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation on liver function in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 74, 2023, 102.
“Turmeric/curcumin supplementation might be effective in improving AST and ALT levels.”
British Pharmacological Society: Case reports from Tuscany
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.14460
Lombardi N, Crescioli G, Maggini V, et al. Acute liver injury following turmeric use in Tuscany: An analysis of the Italian Phytovigilance database and systematic review of case reports. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021; 87: 741–753.
Acetaminophen Toxicity
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441917/
Agrawal S, Khazaeni B. Acetaminophen Toxicity. [Updated 2023 Jun 9]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.
Acetaminophen, Liver Toxicity
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548162/
LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012-. Acetaminophen.
Medical News Today
JAMA Network
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821951#google_vignette
Alisa Likhitsup, MD, MPH1; Vincent L. Chen, MD, MS1; Robert J. Fontana, MD1. Estimated Exposure to 6 Potentially Hepatotoxic Botanicals in US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2425822.
CAM Induced Liver Injury
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27045922/
Hillman L, Gottfried M, Whitsett M, Rakela J, Schilsky M, Lee WM, Ganger D. Clinical Features and Outcomes of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Induced Acute Liver Failure and Injury. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016 Jul;111(7):958-65. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2016.114.
Garcinia (and Green Tea) and Liver Health
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34400337/
Vuppalanchi R, Bonkovsky HL, Ahmad J, Barnhart H, Durazo F, Fontana RJ, Gu J, Khan I, Kleiner DE, Koh C, Rockey DC, Phillips EJ, Li YJ, Serrano J, Stolz A, Tillmann HL, Seeff LB, Hoofnagle JH, Navarro VJ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network. Garcinia cambogia, Either Alone or in Combination With Green Tea, Causes Moderate to Severe Liver Injury. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Jun;20(6):e1416-e1425.
Green Tea/Catechins and Helpatotoxicity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23625293/
Navarro VJ, Bonkovsky HL, Hwang SI, Vega M, Barnhart H, Serrano J. Catechins in dietary supplements and hepatotoxicity. Dig Dis Sci. 2013 Sep;58(9):2682-90.
Green Tea/Slimquick and Risk of Liver Injury
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27189593/
Zheng EX, Rossi S, Fontana RJ, Vuppalanchi R, Hoofnagle JH, Khan I, Navarro VJ. Risk of Liver Injury Associated with Green Tea Extract in SLIMQUICK(®) Weight Loss Products: Results from the DILIN Prospective Study. Drug Saf. 2016 Aug;39(8):749-54.
SlimQuick products: https://www.myslimquick.com/products
Related Articles & Links:
- Using Nutritional Supplements in Hemochromatosis
- Supplements Created for the Hemochromatosis Patient
- Benefits of Quercetin in Hemochromatosis
- Benefits of Resveratrol in Hemochromatosis
- Benefits of Milk Thistle in Hemochromatosis
- Benefits of Green Tea in Hemochromatosis
- Benefits of Calcium in Hemochromatosis
