Curcumin (Turmeric)
CAM (antioxidant, antiinflammatory)
- Major Depression2
- Particularly depression age > 40, inflammation, medical illness (obesity, DM, pain), postpartum.
- Cognition2
- Arthritis
- Long COVID
- Prevents dementia2
Features
Dosing
Start 500 mg qd for 1 week, then 1000 mg qd. Max 1500 mg qd. The version with bioperine we recommend is better absorbed (Doctor’s Best or Kirkland)
Management
Ideal in obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and older age depression.
Improves memory after age 45. Many patients have benefits in arthritic pain even if not depression.
Medical benefits include arthritis, weight loss, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, fatty liver disease, COVID, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, menopausal hot flashes, premenstrual syndrome, indigestion, dry eyes, and prevention of cancer and dementia.
Rare risk of hepatoxicity (athough, paradoxically, can improve liver health). Otherwise it is well tolerated though increases risk of oxalate renal stones, $14/mth
EMR Text
Depression
Curcumin use based on multiple randomized controlled trials in depression, where it improved mood and cognitive function (Wang Z et al, J Affect Disord. 2021;289:179).
Curcumin’s side effects, including liver risks, reviewed with patient.
Cognition
Curcumin use based on multiple randomized controlled trials in cognition, including age-related cognitive decline and cognitive symptoms of depression (Wang W et al, Front Nutr, 2025;12:1549509).
Curcumin’s side effects, including liver risks, reviewed with patient.