Curcumin, Cancer, Bowel and Liver Disease

by | May 2, 2016 | 2014, Cancer, Colorectal (Colon), Curcumin, Digestive Health, Liver Health

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. This review covered several studies on the safety and possible use of curcumin in treating gastrointestinal disorders.  One of these studies showed a 16% reduction in the recurrence of active ulcerative colitis using curcumin compared to a placebo group.

Curcumin is the active component found in a traditional Indian spice called turmeric. Curcumin is a lipid loving molecule (lipophilic) that is mostly insoluble in water. Due to its bulkiness, administering curcumin has been a challenge. Routes of administration for this compound are primarily oral, but very little is taken up by the body. Few studies that examine uptake of curcumin have observed trace amounts in the liver, kidneys, and colorectal region.(1,2) Due to poor absorption of the molecule, various formulations have emerged to enhance uptake of curcumin by the body. Trials comparing traditional curcumin powder or capsule to new formulations that enhance absorption of curcumin have been positive. The most notable of these new formulations include curcumin phytosome, which demonstrates an 18-fold increase in absorption and 30-50 fold increase in the presence of curcumin related metabolites in the body. (3) In these studies also, significant levels of curcumin were found in the liver and intestine. (4)

Curcumin is generally safe with general complaints related to mild gastric disturbances, diarrhea, yellow stool, headache, and skin rash. (See Table 1) Common dosing for curcumin phytosome (the more bioavailable form) ranges between 1-2g. Long-term safety of curcumin still needs to be determined.

ParticipantsDosing DurationAdverse Effects
24 healthy adults (5)
500-12000mg Curcumin in a standardized turmeric extract
72 hoursYellow stool, headache, rash, and diarrhea in 30% of participants
15 patients with colorectal cancer (6)
450mg, 1800mg, or 3600mg/day Curcumin in a standardized turmeric extract

1-4 monthsNausea, diarrhea in 13% of participants
44 eligible smokers with precursors for colorectal cancer (7)
2g or 4g/day pure curcumin powder


30 daysDiarrhea, bloating, acid reflux in 61% of participants
25 cancer patients (8)500-1200mg Curcumin powder
90 daysNo adverse effects up to 8000mg/d; at 12000mg complaints about bulkiness of capsule and abdominal pain

Curcumin is a strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent.(9,10) Some studies have demonstrated anti-tumorigenic effects mainly due to its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities.(11-13) For this same reason, other potential uses of curcumin are being examined specifically its use in gastrointestinal related diseases. The authors of the current article presented the role of curcumin in treating symptoms related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer, and liver disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are two major forms of inflammatory bowel disease. Ulcerative colitis is marked by inflammation in the colon while Crohn’s disease is identified by inflammation in any part of the gastrointestinal system. (14) It is believed that these conditions arise from improper inflammatory response to microbes in the intestinal tract. (15) In both cases, due to curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties, it was proposed as a possible therapeutic agent. The authors cited two studies to date that were conducted in humans. In the first trial (a pilot study), five patients who were already taking medications for their ulcerative colitis were supplemented with 550mg of curcumin twice daily for one month and then three times daily for an additional month (total trial lasted 2 months). Within this same study, five patients with Crohn’s disease were given 360mg of curcumin 3 times daily for the first month and then 4 times daily for the second month. At the end of the trial, researchers observed significant improvement in patient symptoms in all 5 patients with ulcerative colitis (p<0.02). Four out of five patients with ulcerative colitis reduced their medications, while 4 out of 5 patients with Crohn’s disease saw an average 55 point decrease in scores on the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index. At the end, all patients improved after two months of supplementation as inflammatory markers decreased to normal levels. (16)

In the second human trial (a double-blind randomized placebo controlled study), 89 patients with inactive ulcerative colitis were assigned to receive 2g curcumin daily with medication or placebo with medication for 6 months. At the end of the trial, they found a significant reduction in recurrence of active ulcerative colitis in the patients supplemented with curcumin (4.65%; 2 out of 43 patients) versus placebo (20.51%; 8 out of 39 patients) (p<0.05). Curcumin also significantly improved symptoms related to ulcerative colitis as well as the tissue lining of the colon.  (17)

The authors believed that continued research into the use of curcumin for inflammatory bowel diseases may prove curcumin to be a very useful tool to improve the long-term health of patients suffering from these diseases.

Colorectal Cancer

Curcumin has already demonstrated in both animal and in vitro studies to inhibit metabolic pathways that affect the growth and spread of cancer. In one study researchers found that supplementation with curcumin resulted in a reduction of markers of cancerous activity in the body. (6) Other research showed that 3.6g of curcumin reduced inflammatory proteins that stimulate cancer growth. (6) In yet another study examining a condition known as Familial adenomatous polyposis or FAP (a definite precursor to colorectal cancer), combined treatment with 480mg of curcumin and 20mg of quercetin three times daily for 6 months resulted in 60% reduction in the number of polyps and an average 50% reduction in the size of polyps in all patients (p<0.05).(18) Further data also reported a reduction in abnormal growth of tube-like glands in the colon called aberrant crypt foci. These abnormal growths are also precursors to colorectal cancer. (19) Research on the effects of curcumin on ACF observed 40% reduction in these abnormal growths when curcumin was given at 4g/d for 30 days (p<0.005). (7)

Liver Disease

There are very few human studies assessing the effects of curcumin on liver diseases. However, curcumin is known to stimulate bile production and secretion even up to 62%. (20). Curcumin has also been shown to prevent liver fibrosis by inhibiting proteins that cause the disease. Also curcumin, due to its antioxidant effects, has been shown more effective than vitamin E and C in neutralizing oxidative species, especially attacking liver cells. (21)

In all, with the current evidence available on the effects of curcumin on different digestive disorders, the authors believe that curcumin is a viable tool to treat and combat the effects of gastrointestinal disease—especially since the current treatments used have not been very successful. Since, much research has already been done to evaluate the various capabilities of curcumin, applying this nutrient as a treatment to gastrointestinal disorders should be the next step in medical research. Furthermore, with new formulations that enhance the absorption of curcumin, researchers believe that curcumin might be a more favorable option to conventional treatments for gastrointestinal disorders.  However due to the high level of adverse events reported in some studies, those using it should be cautious and aware of these effects.

Source: Wilson, Valerie K., et al. “Relationship Between 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 62.4 (2014): 636-641.

© 2014, Copyright the Authors, Journal compilation © 2014, The American Geriatrics Society

Posted June 27, 2014.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

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