Quick answer
- The UK's Committee on Toxicity concluded in 2024 that there is reasonable evidence of a link between turmeric supplements and liver toxicity, including rare cases below the acceptable daily intake.
- Curcumin has no authorised health claim in the UK or EU. Italy banned all health claims for turmeric in 2022 and requires a liver warning on the label.
- EFSA's acceptable daily intake for curcumin is 3 mg per kg of body weight, about 210 mg for a 70 kg adult. Many products exceed it.
- Piperine (black pepper extract) and "high-absorption" formulas raise blood levels a lot; Germany's BfR says such products should not be presumed as safe as ordinary curcumin.
- Trials in knee osteoarthritis show modest pain relief. Avoid turmeric supplements if you have liver or gallbladder problems.
Key numbers
- UK assessment (COT, 2024)
- Reasonable evidence of a liver link
- Rare and unpredictable; worse with absorption boosters.
- Authorised claims (UK and EU)
- None
- Acceptable daily intake (EFSA, curcumin)
- 3 mg/kg body weight
- About 210 mg a day at 70 kg.
- France (ANSES advice)
- max. 153 mg/day
- For a 60 kg adult.
- Liver cases in Italy (2018–2019)
- ~20 hepatitis cases
- No contaminants found; considered individual susceptibility.
What these terms mean: NRV upper levels (NHS, EFSA) maximum levels by country daily dose
How to choose
- Look for mg of curcuminoids per daily dose, not the weight of turmeric root or "extract": root powder contains only a few percent.
- Compare that dose with 3 mg per kg of your body weight, the EFSA acceptable daily intake.
- Be extra careful with piperine or enhanced-absorption formulas (phytosome, micellar, colloidal): the same mg can mean far more in your blood.
- Prefer brands that state standardised curcuminoids and test for heavy metals such as lead.
- Remember that turmeric in food is not the issue; the concerns are about concentrated extracts.
Turmeric products compared
| Type | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Turmeric root powder | Ground root | Low curcuminoid content; similar to cooking turmeric |
| Extract, 95% curcuminoids | Standardised extract | Check mg of curcuminoids per daily dose |
| Extract + piperine | Curcumin with black pepper extract | Much higher absorption; watch the dose and medicines |
| Enhanced-absorption formulas | Phytosome, micellar or colloidal curcumin | Higher blood levels; regulators assess these case by case |
| Turmeric + ginger “complexes” | Blends with other plants and probiotics | Doses per ingredient often low or unclear |
What the evidence says
Curcumin on its own is poorly absorbed, which is why most products add piperine or use special formulations. Trials in knee osteoarthritis suggest pain relief comparable to mild painkillers in some studies, but they are small and use concentrated extracts.
The safety picture has shifted. Italy recorded about 20 cases of hepatitis linked to turmeric supplements in 2018–2019 and now requires a label warning; France’s food agency recorded over 100 adverse-event reports, 15 involving hepatitis, by 2021 and advises at most 153 mg of curcumin a day for a 60 kg adult. Germany’s BfR says total curcumin should not exceed EFSA’s acceptable daily intake, and in 2024 the UK’s Committee on Toxicity found reasonable evidence of a link with liver injury. See our table of approved health claims for why botanical products cannot make authorised claims.
What the label may legally claim
Authorised claims (GB and EU registers)
- None. Botanical claims have been "on hold" in the EU since 2010, and Great Britain kept them on hold.
Not authorised in GB or the EU
- Anti-inflammatory
- Joint health or less joint pain
- Liver or digestive health ("detox")
- Antioxidant protection
How health claims work (UK & EU): health claims claims on hold (plants)
Products we have checked
Label data checked by NutriMetrics for products sold in Spain and Germany. UK product checks are next. Sorted alphabetically, not ranked.
| Product | Per daily dose | Sold in | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Natural Kurkuma-Extrakt + Piperin1 capsule a day | 150 mg · with 5.3 mg piperine | Germany | Source |
Who should be careful
- Liver, bile duct or gallbladder problems, or gallstones: don't take turmeric supplements.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: not recommended.
- Medicines, especially blood thinners: piperine can also raise blood levels of medicines. Stop and see a doctor if you notice yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or tiredness.
FAQ
Is turmeric safe to take as a supplement?
For most people, moderate doses appear well tolerated, but rare liver-injury cases have been reported in Italy, France and elsewhere. Stay within EFSA's acceptable daily intake of 3 mg per kg of body weight and avoid it with liver or gallbladder problems.
Do I need black pepper (piperine) with turmeric?
Piperine raises curcumin absorption considerably, which is why it is added. It also means a higher effective dose and can affect how some medicines are absorbed.
Does turmeric help joint pain?
Trials in knee osteoarthritis suggest modest pain relief, but they are mostly small and use concentrated extracts. No joint claim is authorised in the UK or the EU.
Sources
- COT (2024) — Statement on the potential risk to human health of turmeric and curcumin supplements
- DHSC — Great Britain nutrition and health claims (NHC) register
- NutraIngredients — How turmeric supplements brought bioavailability and idiosyncrasy into regulatory focus (2026)
- FoodNavigator — Italy prohibits all health claims linked to turmeric, issues warning for labels (2022)
- EFSA (2010) — Scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of curcumin (E 100) as a food additive
- NIH NCCIH — Turmeric
- European Commission — EU Register of nutrition and health claims
Information only, not medical advice. No product on this page is a paid placement.