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Turmeric – Potential Side Effects and Drug Interactions
Everyday more and more people are becoming aware Turmeric. It’s a spice that has been used in Indian cooking for many years and contains curcumin and other unique compounds called curcuminoids. Turmeric, and in particular curcumin, have been the subject of thousands of over 10,000 peer reviewed studies investigating the way they interact with our bodies.
As with any area of research, side effects and more importantly, interactions with other medicines, also need to be looked at and taken in to account in the results.
We believe passionately in turmeric but it is important to mention that supplementing it is not recommended for everybody. There’s a small minority that shouldn’t take turmeric supplements, that we’re about to discuss. As ever, if you’re unsure, it’s important to speak to your doctor.
Turmeric and pregnancy
Turmeric in high doses (i.e. as a supplement, not at levels added to cooking) has been linked to an increase in menstrual blood flow and uterine (womb) contractions in a small section of women (studies are continuing to understand the cause). Therefore, turmeric supplements are not safe to be used during pregnancy. It is also not recommended to consume turmeric while breastfeeding as it can affect milk production.
Gallbladder and kidney problems
Curcumin can cause the gallbladder to contract and increase the production of bile which is used to break down fats in digestion. However, if you have gallstones, you should avoid taking turmeric supplements. Gallstones can block the passage of bile so producing extra will mean it could build up and cause problems.
People who are known to form kidney stones should be cautious when taking regular doses of turmeric. Turmeric is thought to increase levels of a compound called oxalate, which in people with already high levels may cause kidney stones to form. Oxalate is normally excreted in our urine and lots of foods contain high levels including spinach, potatoes, beetroot and many others. There is research that suggests people with a tendency to form kidney stones should consume calcium at the same time as foods high in oxalate, as calcium binds to it and the body is able to excrete it. For anyone concerned the University of Chicago has a great article that explains in more detail http://kidneystones.uchicago.edu/how-to-eat-a-low-oxalate-diet/
Gastrointestinal side effects and antacid drug interactions
Antacid medications are prescribed to reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces. They’re used in people that suffer from heartburn and acid reflux problems. Concentrated forms of turmeric may interfere with the action of these drugs, therefore increasing the amount of stomach acid produced. It’s therefore recommended that you do not take turmeric or curcumin supplements if you’re taking these types of medications.
BUT what if some side effects that were not good for people on certain medications were actually beneficial to those of us not taking these medications? Could we have one group who needed to avoid turmeric supplements, and another actually benefitting from the same side effects? Turns out, quite possibly, yes…
Blood thinning medications and turmeric
Anticoagulant medications help to slow down blood clotting, helping to ‘thin’ the blood. If you’re at risk of getting blood clots that could potentially block blood vessels in the brain or heart and cause strokes and heart attacks, then you might be prescribed a ‘blood thinning’ medication, or anticoagulant, such as aspirin or Warfarin.
Turmeric has been shown to also slow down blood clotting, meaning that if taken at high doses such as in turmeric supplements at the same time as other blood thinning medications, it could result in the blood becoming to thin. This could lead to problems with excessive bruising and bleeding due to the extra ‘thin’ blood. So, it’s advised that if you’re on these kinds of medications that you don’t take turmeric supplements and speak with your GP first to assess the possible risk.
Diabetes medications and turmeric
Turmeric supplements have been shown to lower blood sugar levels. If you’re diabetic and you’re already taking medications to lower blood sugar, taking them at the same time as turmeric capsules could mean that your blood sugar gets too low, putting you at risk of hypoglycaemic crashes.
We would never advocate stopping any prescribed medications without full medical support so always speak with your GP.
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