Our Members Asked:
After taking a curcumin supplement, I started getting chronic diarrhea which went away when I stopped taking it. Can curcumin supplements cause diarrhea?
Answer:
Yes, unfortunately diarrhea is one of the reported side-effects of curcumin supplements. The risk of diarrhea may increase with higher doses of curcumin (900 mg/day or more) or when taken for one month or longer (Sharma, Clin Cancer Res 2004). For more information, including other potential side-effects of curcumin, evidence for use, and our tests of curcumin supplements, see the Curcumin Supplements Review >>Join today to unlock all member benefits including full access to all CL Answers and over 1,300 reviews.
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Roger8558
March 27, 2016I know that all of this is personal - having said that I have been taking 1/2 tsp of curcumin twice a day for about a year and I have had no adverse result. I do feel a positive result from that and other "supplements" I have been taking.
SUBBIAH6914
September 3, 2015I am using curcumin supplements regularly for my colon cancer therapy. I was using different formulations that claim higher bioavailabilty. When I was using pepperine curcumin I faced severe constipation. when I stopped i recovered from constipation. when I contacted the producer, they suggested to consume more water!!! Now I am taking nono curcumin formulation 'Threracurmin'. I feel comfortable, no more constipation for the past 6 months. It is true that pepperine curcumin may cause constipation some times more severe like my case. I want to share my experience to all people who are taking curcumin supplement. It is worth studying the impact of pepper.
Brenda11368
November 1, 2016I take Terry Naturally extra strength Curamin. It uses BCM-95 instead of the black pepper for absorption. No problems with constipation.
Kathy17572
February 24, 2019Long time subscriber of CL. Started taking a 'recommended' curcumin with black pepper extract around 12/1/18 - 1000mg a day for arthritis. Sudden severe diarrhea started on 1/28/19, lasting 25 days, regardless of 2 Dr visits, negative lab results for bacteria, parasites, elimination of gluten, dairy, coffee, etc. Continued with severe diarrhea. Then I researched my supplements. Found articles re diarrhea being a common side effect of tumeric, so I stopped taking it. Started seeing improvements the very next day! Diarrhea was totally gone within 4 days. (My husband is still taking it with no side effects.)
Uros17383
December 19, 2018I had soft stool when the dosage was to high. Might be a good idea to go up gradually. Like +500mg every 7-10 days. When I jumped from 2 g to 4g daily I had soft stool trouble and loud bowel movements. So I went down to 1,500 mg daily dose and went up slowly. Now my dosage is 3000 mg daily and the bowels work fine.
It is always a good idea to go up slowly.
eve16392
January 31, 2018it seems logical to take turmeric at a culinary dose, the dose that people in India might consume on a daily basis. i take a quarter teaspoon daily for general anti-inflammatory health and well being.
Thanks Eve, you may be interested in our CL Answer about using turmeric in food: https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/how-does-turmeric-spice-differ-from-turmeric-curcumin-supplements/tumeric-spice-vs-supplements/
Maurice H131
September 2, 2014I apply DMSO to my wrist when I inadvertently stress my old carpal tunnel injury.