Best Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements and Spices, According to ConsumerLab Tests

White Plains, NY, October 2, 2025 – Recent ConsumerLab tests of popular turmeric and curcumin supplements showed products vary widely in amounts of curcuminoids (curcumin compounds) they contain, and some contain far less than one might expect from their labels. These compounds are thought to be responsible for turmeric’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, such as for joint pain from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Big Differences in Curcumin Compounds – And Why It Matters

“There is a significant difference in the amount curcumin compounds provided by supplements on the market, with some providing very little” said ConsumerLab's President, Tod Cooperman, M.D. Among the turmeric and curcumin supplements ConsumerLab selected, purchased, and tested, amounts of curcuminoids in a daily serving ranged from ranged from just 14 mg to more than 2,000 mg per serving. In contrast, Dr. Cooperman noted, “Clinical trials showing benefits with turmeric extracts have generally used a dosage of curcuminoids ranging from approximately 500 mg to 2,000 mg per day.”

Lead Contamination Still An Issue, But Not Common

ConsumerLab also tested for contamination with toxic heavy metals in five ground turmeric spices for cooking, as well as in any supplements made from turmeric powder. One of the products was found to contain three times the strict California Prop 65 limit for lead, above which a warning label is required in that state. Lead contamination is a known concern with turmeric powders.

ConsumerLab’s Top Picks

Among supplements that passed testing and were Approved for quality, ConsumerLab selected three Top Pick Turmeric/Curcumin Supplements that provide clinically significant amounts of curcuminoids at relatively low cost, some of which include bioavailability enhancers to boost the amount of curcuminoids in the bloodstream – although one can also achieve this by taking turmeric or curcumin with a meal containing several grams of fats or oils. 

ConsumerLab also identified two Top Picks for Ground Turmeric Spice, including an organic and non-organic option, that provide the best quality and value. 

Access the Full Report:

ConsumerLab’s full Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements and Spices Review can now be accessed online by ConsumerLab.com members –currently over 100,000 individual subscribers and thousands more with access through libraries, schools, and medical centers.

The Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements and Spices Review includes test results and comparisons for 15 turmeric and curcumin supplements and five ground turmeric spices. Nineteen products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab: A1 Vitality Turmeric Curcumin, Doctor's Best High Absorption Curcumin, Frontier Co-Op Organic Turmeric Root, Great Value [Walmart] Ground Turmeric, Integrative Therapeutics Theracurmin HP, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Ground Turmeric, Kirkland Signature [Costco] Turmeric 1,000 mg, Life Extension Curcumin Elite, New Chapter Zyflamend - Herbal Pain Relief, NOW CurcuBrain, Pure Encapsulations CurcumaSorb, Qunol Extra Strength Turmeric, Root2 Turmeric Extract Curcumin C3 Complex, Simply Organic Turmeric, Spice Islands Turmeric, Terry Naturally CuraMed, Thorne Curcumin Phytosome, Youtheory Turmeric, Swanson Turmeric & Black Pepper. One additional product passed the same testing and was Approved through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program: Life Extension Super Bio-Curcumin.

The review summarizes the clinical evidence for turmeric and curcumin supplementation and discusses the typical dosage for specific uses, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, depression, ulcerative colitis, and others. It also explains the best way to take turmeric and curcumin supplements to increase absorption and the evidence for formulations designed to enhance absorption and/or bioavailability, such as those with black pepper extract (Bioperine), BCM-95, C3, CurcuWin, Longvida, Meriva, NovaSol, and Theracurmin, as well as how to increase absorption when taking turmeric. The review discusses potential side effects and drug interactions with turmeric and curcumin, and black pepper extract.

A video that explains ConsumerLab’s findings and provides expert tips for selecting and using turmeric supplements and spices is freely available.

Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. It has tested and reviewed over 7,000 products and has published Product Reviews covering nearly every popular category of dietary supplements and health foods.

Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to continually updated reviews of nearly every popular type of dietary supplement and health food, answers to reader questions, and product recalls and warnings. ConsumerLab also provides independent product testing through its voluntary Quality Certification Program. The company is privately held and based in New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.

Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements Tested - Here's What We Found