Rarely reported cases of hepatotoxicity associated with turmeric- and curcuminoid-containing dietary supplements: a comprehensive review by USP

Akhtar N, Barnes J, Gardiner P, Gurley BJ, Ko R, Koturbash I, Patel D, van Breemen RB, Roe AL · Pharmaceutical Biology

Sets the size of the signal. Numerous clinical trials report no organ toxicity or serious adverse events; published liver-injury cases usually involve concomitant medications, typically appear after 1 to 4 months of use and generally resolve on stopping, with acute liver failure rare. USP nonetheless added a cautionary label recommending people with a history of liver problems consult a clinician and stop on abdominal pain, dark urine or jaundice.

Population

Safety and toxicological literature reviewed by the USP Dietary Supplement Admission Evaluation and Labeling Expert Committee

Intervention

Turmeric and curcuminoid dietary supplements

Limitations

An expert-committee review rather than a systematic quantitative one; it establishes a labelling decision and the shape of the risk, not an incidence rate.