Controversial Thoughts: Turmeric is BS!

PS

Paul Saladino32m · 2021-10-29

Claims Made

71

Claims Supported

16

Support Rate

23%

Support rate

16 of 71 claims supported

16 supported55 partial / not

Claims from this content

58

Well SupportedFresh organ meats are preferable to desiccated forms for supplementation.Not SupportedPlant molecules like curcumin and sulforaphane may have damaging collateral side effects that are not always disclosed.Partially SupportedPiperine enhances curcumin absorption by inhibiting the body's detoxification enzyme, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT).Well SupportedTurmeric is high in oxalates, leading to greater urinary oxalate excretion and absorption compared to cinnamon.Not Supported

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A. Volkovreader

4h

Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

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N. Park

2d

Would love a "what would change this verdict" RSS feed. Sign me up if it exists.

Daily long-term use of ibuprofen can lead to stomach ulcers and kidney issues due to its effect on prostaglandin synthesis.

Well SupportedA carnivore diet can help reveal oxalate problems by eliminating plant-based oxalate sources, allowing the body to clear accumulated crystals.

Not SupportedTurmeric's anti-inflammatory properties do not fix the underlying problem causing inflammation.

Not SupportedHigh doses of curcumin, especially when combined with piperine, can be dangerous due to inhibiting UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and causing various side effects.

Not SupportedCurcumin has potential negative side effects in humans, including enzyme and lymphocyte toxicity, and can induce iron deficiency.

Not SupportedCurcumin is a supplement with no proven benefit and significant potential for harm, and should not be taken.

Not SupportedTurmeric is not beneficial and should be avoided.

Not SupportedCurcumin can cause idiosyncratic reactions like systemic toxicity, rashes, diarrhea, or nausea.

Not SupportedIn studies with gastric cancer patients, curcumin dosing was associated with negative cancer outcomes and no observed decreases in tumor markers or serum cholesterol.

Not SupportedConsuming high amounts of curcumin from supplements, powders, or golden milk is not advisable due to the high oxalate load.

Not SupportedThe beneficial effects of curcumin observed in in vitro studies likely do not translate clinically into meaningful effects for humans.

Partially SupportedTurmeric was found to cause dose and time-dependent induction of chromosomal aberrations in mammalian cell lines at concentrations of 10 micrograms/ml in 1976.

Well SupportedInflammation can be a beneficial physiological response and a signal that something needs correction.

Partially SupportedCurcuminoids have poor bioavailability and require encapsulation or lipophilic preparations to achieve physiological effects.

Partially SupportedPlant compounds like oxalates found in spinach and turmeric may be detrimental to health.

Partially SupportedA liposomal curcuminoid preparation (Curine) showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in knee osteoarthritis patients.

Partially SupportedAvoiding toxic plant parts while eating meat, organs, fruit, and honey can lead to thriving.

Partially SupportedCurcuminoids or turmeric at lower doses are likely benign.

Partially SupportedCurcumin is not a vitamin.

Partially SupportedAn animal-based diet, potentially including organs, may help resolve aches and pains and support energy and recovery.

Partially SupportedPlant chemicals like curcumin are defense mechanisms evolved by plants to deter consumption and can have negative side effects.

Not SupportedLong-term ibuprofen use can cause kidney damage, gastric mucosal damage, and delay wound healing.

Not SupportedCurcumin's efficacy as a pseudo-NSAID is questionable and unproven compared to ibuprofen.

Not SupportedMetabolically healthy, well-slept, and well-nourished individuals do not need curcumin to affect cancer.

Not SupportedTurmeric extract supplementation may prematurely resolve inflammation and hinder muscle growth and repair after a half-marathon by increasing IL-10 and decreasing myoglobin.

Not SupportedA double-blind placebo-controlled trial showed a reduction in knee osteoarthritis pain with curcumin, but side effects should not be ignored.

Not SupportedCurcumin shows cytotoxicity against normal human lymphocytes and may irreversibly modify thyroid oxygen reductase, turning it from an antioxidant to a pro-oxidant enzyme.

Not SupportedWhile curcumin may change serum cytokine levels in individuals with metabolic syndrome, this effect is not necessarily beneficial and may mask underlying inflammation.

Not SupportedCurcumin can inhibit cytochrome P450 and glutathione S-transferase, leading to impaired detoxification and potential drug-drug contraindications.

Not SupportedChanges in gut microbiota after curcumin supplementation with piperine do not necessarily imply clinical benefit.

Not SupportedCurcumin has been shown to not differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells, potentially harming healthy cells.

Partially SupportedCurcumin concentrations of 2.5 and 5 micrograms/ml have been shown to induce DNA damage to both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes in cells.

Partially SupportedThe chemical structure of curcumin, containing two alpha-beta unsaturated ketones, mediates a Michael addition reaction that can generate reactive oxygen species, irreversibly modify antioxidant enzyme thioredoxin reductase, induce topoisomerase II-mediated DNA damage, and inactivate the tumor suppressor gene p53.

Partially SupportedLarge doses (8-12 grams/day) of curcumin can cause adverse events like diarrhea, rash, and headache in up to 30% of participants, while lower doses are likely benign.

Partially SupportedMost curcuminoids in turmeric are not absorbed and may affect gut flora.

Partially SupportedInhibiting COX-1, COX-2, and 5-lipoxygenase enzymes with curcuminoids or ibuprofen leads to downstream consequences.

Partially SupportedCurcuminoids inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase enzymes, which can reduce knee arthritis pain but may also have side effects like delayed wound healing.

Partially SupportedCurcumin irreversibly modifies thioredoxin reductase, shifting the enzyme from an antioxidant to a pro-oxidant, which may explain its anti-carcinogenic activity by causing cell death.

Partially SupportedTurmeric may decrease hs-CRP and uremic pruritus in end-stage renal disease patients, but the benefit may not outweigh potential harms.

Partially SupportedAbrogating inflammation after strenuous exercise can lessen muscle growth and repair gains.

Not SupportedPiperine inhibits liver phase 2 detoxification enzymes, allowing other toxins into the body.

Not SupportedA compound beneficial in cancer cell line models may not be beneficial for healthy humans.

Not SupportedBlack pepper contains piperine and other problematic compounds, and is considered a seed, raising questions about its consumption.

Partially SupportedCurcumin is typically achieved at nanomolar concentrations with massive dosing, and micromolar concentrations are nearly impossible to achieve in the human body.

Not SupportedCurcumin supplementation had no effect on serum total LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL-C levels in a 2013 study.

Not SupportedCurcumin has variable and extremely low systemic bioavailability when dosed orally, even at maximum tolerated doses.

Not SupportedCurcumin showed no significant effect on psoriasis index in a prospective clinical trial that was not randomized.

Not SupportedNo double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of curcumin has been successful, according to a 2017 paper.

Not SupportedCurcumin has activity against the hERG channel, which is associated with potential cardiac toxicity.

Not SupportedCurcumin doses ranging from 0.9 to 3.6 grams per day for one to four months can cause adverse effects including nausea, diarrhea, and an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase.

Not SupportedA 2018 double-blind randomized placebo-controlled pilot study showed changes in the gut microbiota when turmeric was administered, but the clinical significance or benefit of these changes is unknown.

Not SupportedThe French health authority warns that turmeric-based supplements can disrupt the immune system by interfering with inflammatory defense mechanisms against infections.

Not SupportedCurcumin can act as a pro-oxidant, causing apoptosis and DNA damage, similar to chemotherapeutic agents.

Not SupportedTurmeric's benefits are unconvincing and it may negatively modify the immune system.