Turmeric and Black Pepper Supplements May Cause Liver Injury in Some People: Study

A study published in The American Journal of Medicine has found that turmeric supplements may be linked to several cases of liver injury.

Previous research and case studies have associated turmeric, or its active compound curcumin, with liver damage. The latest findings indicate that the incidence of liver injury related to turmeric supplementation may be on the rise.

Turmeric, derived from the roots of Curcuma longa, is a popular herbal product used to treat conditions like arthritis, respiratory infections, liver disease, and recently, COVID-19. The active component, curcumin, is believed to provide these benefits. While clinical trials have shown turmeric to be safe, rare cases of acute liver injury have been reported.

Turmeric supplements now often include piperine (black pepper) to increase curcumin's absorption. Piperine can boost curcumin's bioavailability by 20-fold, which may heighten the risk of liver injury.

For the current study, researchers assessed only high-confidence cases of liver injury related to herbal and dietary supplements, categorized as definite, highly likely, or probable. They analyzed demographic, clinical, biochemical, and histologic features. Researchers tried to obtain the specific supplements taken by patients and sent them to the National Center for Natural Products Research for ingredient verification and contamination testing. Available liver biopsies were reviewed and scored for various histological features and overall liver injury patterns.