Turmeric Warning: Australian Health Authority Links Curcumin Supplements to Liver Damage

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a warning regarding the use of turmeric and curcumin found in various medications and dietary supplements. According to local media, the authority received reports of one death, another severe case, and 16 additional cases of liver problems among individuals who had taken herbal medicines or dietary supplements containing turmeric or curcumin.

Curcumin is the main active ingredient found in turmeric. In recent years, turmeric has gained popularity not just as a spice but also as a dietary supplement due to its health benefits. In alternative medicine, it is often used to treat digestive issues and to provide general body support.

Following these severe cases in Australia, the TGA clarified that these incidents are rare. In nine of the cases, there was sufficient evidence to suggest that liver damage was caused by turmeric (Curcuma longa) or its active compound, curcumin. In four of the cases, no other ingredients that could potentially damage the liver were identified.

“The evidence indicates a rare risk of liver injury due to the use of turmeric and/or curcumin in therapeutic doses. The risks may be higher in products with enhanced bioavailability, bioactive properties, and/or high dosages,” the TGA stated in its announcement.

The agency did not specify the names of particular supplements or herbal remedies, but it emphasized that liver-related risks are linked to ingredients such as natural curcumin, aromatic turmeric, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, and Curcuma zedoaria. According to the TGA, over 600 therapeutic products in the Australian register contain these ingredients.

Symptoms of liver issues include yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, extreme fatigue, and weakness.

The TGA added that individuals with existing or previous liver conditions may be at greater risk of developing such adverse effects and that “there is not yet enough information to definitively identify which specific products caused the incidents.”