Brands compared in report

	365 (Whole Foods) Turmeric Ground
	Andorra Life Flexi Joint
	Doctor's Best High Absorption Curcumin
	Finest Nutrition Turmeric
	Gaia Herbs Turmeric Supreme Extra Strength
	GNC Herbal Plus Turmeric Curcumin
	Healthy Directions Turmeric Curcumin Complete
	Instaflex Advanced
	Life Extension Super Bio-Curcumin
	McCormick Ground Turmeric
	Natural Factors CurcuminRich Theracurmin
	Nature's Bounty Turmeric
	Nature's Sunshine CurcuminBP
	New Chapter Turmeric Force
	NOW Curcumin
	Nutrigold Turmeric Curcumin Gold
	Pure Encapsulations Curcumin 500 With Bioperine
	Puritan's Pride Turmeric Curcumin
	Relentless Improvement Curcumin
	Simply Organic Turmeric
	Solgar Turmeric
	Swanson Ultra Turmeric Phytosome
	Terry Naturally CuraMed
	The Spice Hunter India Turmeric (Ground)
	Trader Joe's Turmeric
	Vitamin Research Products Longvida
	Vitamin World Turmeric Curcumin

More about this report

Turmeric and its key compound, curcumin, may be helpful in treating inflammation and conditions such as depression, diabetes, and indigestion. However, supplements on the market vary widely in the amounts of key curcumin compounds they contain, and some formulations may be better absorbed than others.

Which are the best turmeric and curcumin supplements, and which don't measure up? To find out, ConsumerLab.com purchased and tested many popular turmeric/curcumin supplements. The tests showed that two products contained only about 50% of the curcumin compounds which CL expected based on their labels.

Supplements which passed testing were then compared on cost (ranging from 20 cents to over $8.00 for equal amounts of curcumin compounds), and ConsumerLab.com then arrived at its Top Picks Among Supplements.

Bottles of ground turmeric spice were also tested for possible contamination with heavy metals (lead, cadmium and arsenic) and filth. Three turmeric spices failed for filth — each having numbers of insect parts ConsumerLab considers unacceptable. Those that passed were then compared on cost and ConsumerLab.com chose its Top Pick Among Spices.

You must be a member to get the full test results along with ConsumerLab.com's recommendations and quality ratings for turmeric and curcumin products. You will get results for 11 turmeric/curcumin supplements selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com as well as for nine others which passed the same testing in CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program. You will also get results for five popular turmeric spices used for cooking. 

In this comprehensive review of turmeric and curcumin supplements and spices you'll learn:

• Which turmeric and curcumin products failed testing, which passed, and which are CL's Top Picks
• How turmeric and curcumin products compare on ingredients, quality, and price
• How the bioavailability of curcumin may be enhanced with ingredients such as black pepper extract (Bioperine), CurcuWin, Meriva and BMC-95... and how to increase absorption of curcumin even without an enhanced formula!
• Dosing for specific uses of turmeric and curcumin, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, depression, ulcerative colitis and proctitis, uveitis, psoriasis, blood sugar control, and cancer
• Safety and side effects of turmeric and curcumin supplements
• Cautions and potential drug interactions with turmeric, curcumin and black pepper extract

Update

(4/14/17): ConsumerLab.com was contacted by an attorney representing one of the companies with a product that was designated "Not Approved" in this Review. The attorney demanded that information about the product be removed from the Review, asserting that CL "misunderstood" the product and that its methods were "flawed." CL disagrees with these assertions. Information about the product remains in the Review. For more information, see the Update posted near the top of the full Review.

Related questions and answers

•  Are supplements which claim increased absorption or improved bioavailability telling the truth? Is it worth paying more for these? Are there concerns? >>
  
  
•  I've heard that curcumin is a MAO inhibitor. Is this true, and does that mean it is not safe to take if you eat amine-rich foods like cheese and dark chocolate? >>
  
  
•  I read that turmeric may be a GI irritant. I have GI problems and wonder if I should avoid turmeric and curcumin? >>
  
  
•  After taking a curcumin supplement, I started getting chronic diarrhea which went away when I stopped taking it. Can curcumin supplements cause diarrhea?  >>
  
  
•  I recently read that turmeric is only effective if it is combined with black pepper. Is this true? >>
  
  
•  Is Theracurmin better absorbed than other curcumin formulas - and can it really help lower my blood pressure? >>
  
  
•  Is Rhodiola rosea effective for depression and does it have other uses? Will ConsumerLab.com be testing these supplements? >>
  
  
•  I take ubiquinol to replenish CoQ10 depleted by my statin. I also take curcumin (from turmeric). Since they both manage free radicals, do I need to take the curcumin?  >>
  
  
•  Do any supplements help with nerve pain, like sciatica or diabetic neuropathy? >>
  
  
•  How does turmeric spice compare to turmeric (curcumin) in supplements? I sprinkle it on my foods and wonder if that's equivalent to taking a supplement. >>
  
  
•  Which supplements can help to lower blood pressure? >>
  
  
•  Can curcumin help prevent or improve symptoms of Alzheimer's disease? >>
  
  
•  What is phytosomal curcumin? Does it have better absorption than other curcumin formulations? >>
  
  
•  I use a brand of curcumin and the most recent bottle contained capsules a few shades lighter than what I am accustomed to taking. Is this color change an issue to be concerned about? >>
  
  
•  How should curcumin dose be adjusted if using formulations with enhanced bioavailability such as Meriva, BCM-95, CurcuWin, Theracurmin, Bioperine, and C3?  >>
  
  
•  Are there drug interactions with curcumin or turmeric? >>
  
  
•  Is it true that taking turmeric/curcumin with food can reduce iron absorption from food? >>
  
  
•  How does regular black pepper compare with black pepper extract used in supplements? Will sprinkling it on food with turmeric help increase the bioavailability of curcumin compounds from turmeric? >>
  
  
•  Is it safe to take Bioperine (which contains piperine from black pepper)? >>
  
  
•  Which supplements can help with indigestion and/or heartburn? >>
  
  
•  Do turmeric and curcumin supplements contain significant amounts of oxalates? Can this increase my risk of kidney stones? >>
  
  
•  I take 1000 mg of a high-absorption curcumin extract. It seems to be working, but would it be safe to take a larger dose? >>
  
  
•  Does taking curcumin and boswellia together increase their individual anti-inflammatory effects? >>
  
  
•  Is it safe to take curcumin or turmeric supplements for a long period of time? >>
  
  
•  Which supplements can help lower or control my blood sugar? >>
  
  
•  What is the best way to take curcumin? Is it better to take it all at once or in divided doses? >>
  
  
•  I've heard it's best to take fat-soluble supplements, like CoQ10, curcumin, and vitamin D, with fats or oils to increase absorption. Would taking them with a fish oil capsule be enough? >>
  
  
•  Which supplements help to improve energy and decrease fatigue? >>
  
  
•  Which supplements help for osteoarthritis of the hip? >>
  
  
•  Which supplements can cause diarrhea? >>
  
  
•  What are the effects of curcumin on the liver? >>
  
  
•  What are the side effects of curcumin and turmeric? >>
  
  
•  I read that aging lowers the body's capacity to produce vitamin D. Even regular sun exposure will not suffice and one may have to take a vitamin D3 supplement during old age to meet our body's regular requirements. Please comment on this. >>
  
  
•  I heard that Theracurmin, a form of curcumin, was shown to help with memory, but it's expensive. Does Theracurmin really improve memory and is it worth it?  >>