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Turmeric Liver Safety: Reports, Warning Signs and the 50 mg Dose
Turmeric liver safety is a real question: NCCIH says liver damage has been reported in some people using turmeric products, especially highly bioavailable curcumin. Each Nervecept capsule has 50 mg of turmeric root listed. That is a small amount, but a small dose does not prove safety. Know the warning signs and ask your doctor.
Written by the Nervecept label deskUpdated · 4 min read
Can turmeric supplements harm the liver?
Yes, in some people. NCCIH says liver damage has been reported in people using turmeric products, especially those made for high absorption (NCCIH, Turmeric).
Memorial Sloan Kettering also lists case reports of liver injury (MSKCC, Turmeric). These are reports, not a count of how often it happens. We do not know the rate.
NCCIH also says there is not enough evidence to conclude that turmeric helps any health problem (NCCIH, Turmeric). So the benefit is unclear while the risk is real.
What are the warning signs of liver trouble from turmeric?
NCCIH names fatigue, nausea, dark urine and yellow skin. If any appear, stop the product and contact a provider (NCCIH, Turmeric).
| Sign | What to do |
|---|---|
| Fatigue | Stop the product, call a provider |
| Nausea | Stop the product, call a provider |
| Dark urine | Stop the product, call a provider |
| Yellow skin | Stop the product, call a provider |
Stop
Put the capsules aside.
Call
Contact a provider and describe the signs.
Bring the label
Show the Supplement Facts panel.
These signs have many causes, and a supplement may not be the one. Let a clinician decide. Tell them every product you take.
What does 50 mg of turmeric root mean in Nervecept?
It means one capsule has 50 mg of turmeric root, listed as Curcuma longa (root). The label does not state a curcumin amount.
That is far below the dose in arthritis trials, which used about 1,000 mg of curcumin a day (J Med Food, turmeric meta-analysis 2016). Root powder and curcumin are not the same thing, so do not compare the two numbers directly.
The NCCIH concern centers on highly bioavailable curcumin products. Nervecept does not list that form. Even so, we found no study of liver safety at 50 mg, and a small dose does not prove it is safe. Ask your doctor, especially if you have any liver condition. Turmeric is also only one of eight lines in the capsule. The others have their own cautions, listed on our side effects page.
What other turmeric cautions should you know?
Turmeric can raise bleeding risk, and MSK advises against turmeric supplements with warfarin or other blood thinners (MSKCC, Turmeric). People prone to kidney stones should ask a physician first.
Tell your doctor if you have liver, gallbladder or kidney problems, take a blood thinner, are pregnant, or have surgery coming up. Supplements can affect surgery, so tell every provider what you take (NCCIH, Using Supplements Wisely).
Per NCCIH, turmeric supplements may not be safe during pregnancy (NCCIH, Turmeric). The Nervecept label also tells pregnant or nursing mothers to consult a physician.
Nervecept contains shellfish (crayfish), so it is not for people with that allergy. Keep taking all prescribed medicine. See the turmeric page for the full profile.
Animal studies show nerve effects in rats and mice, but not in people (Silveira et al., turmeric animal review). That is a reason for caution, not for more turmeric.
FAQ01
Nervecept questions people ask
How much turmeric is too much for the liver?
We found no safe or unsafe dose in our sources. NCCIH reports liver damage in some users, especially with high-absorption forms, so ask your doctor.
Is turmeric root the same as curcumin?
No. Curcumin is a compound studied from turmeric. Nervecept lists 50 mg of turmeric root and no curcumin amount.
Should I stop turmeric before surgery?
Ask your surgeon. Turmeric may raise bleeding risk, and NCCIH says to tell all providers what supplements you take before surgery.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a Nervecept licensed U.S. outlet, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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