We Asked a Doctor If Taking Turmeric Can Cause Liver Damage

Turmeric and its active component, curcumin, are touted for their natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. You can cook with turmeric or take turmeric and curcumin supplements, but some research has linked these supplements with liver damage.

We asked Jamie Alan, RPh, PharmD, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, if taking turmeric can really cause liver damage.

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Q: I’ve heard that turmeric supplements can cause liver damage. How concerned should I be if I’m taking these supplements?

Alan: Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is rapidly broken down in the digestive system and is not well absorbed. Adding certain ingredients, like black pepper extract, blocks the breakdown of curcumin and skyrockets absorption.

Liver injury seems to occur when you take these enhanced, highly absorbable forms of turmeric. When many people stop taking the supplement, their liver injury reverses in one to three months. However, if you don’t stop taking the supplement, it’s less likely that the liver damage will reverse.

If you’re taking turmeric that has not been modified in any way, the likelihood of liver injury from this is quite low.

Will Cooking With Turmeric Cause Liver Damage?

It’s generally safe to cook with turmeric, even if you add black pepper. Typically, supplements use black pepper extract, which is a really, really concentrated form compared to just throwing some black pepper into your dish.

Turmeric has a strong taste, which will likely limit the amount that you cook with. If you buy a product that uses turmeric as a natural dye, there’s probably a very low risk of liver injury. Since turmeric has a pungent flavor, manufacturers will likely use a small amount of turmeric so they can make something that tastes identical to their original product that contained synthetic dye.

With supplements, you might consume more because you’re not tasting it.

Herbal supplements do not undergo the same FDA regulation as prescription medications. My best advice is to pick a brand that has undergone testing from an independent testing group, like ConsumerLab. Otherwise, the supplement may have contaminants or may not contain the right amount of active ingredients. 

People who have liver damage, like hepatitis or cirrhosis, or those who consume a lot of alcohol, should use caution when considering turmeric supplements. If you have hepatitis, it is probably fine to have a meal with turmeric in it.