Origin & tradition
Turmeric (姜黄) is used across Chinese and Asian medicine as a warming, blood-moving and anti-inflammatory herb.
Eastern tradition · Herbal Wellness
Curcumin (Turmeric) 姜黄素
A turmeric polyphenol with one of the largest trial bases in nutraceuticals, studied for inflammation, autophagy and healthspan — bioavailability is the catch.
390ClinicalTrials.gov matched
519PubMed RCT records
477Meta-analysis records
3+PubMed records
CurcuminKey active compound
Data definition. Matched records include all indexed medical endpoints for this intervention — not only longevity. Longevity-relevant records are screened separately and cited in the evidence summary below. Counts are matched-record volumes, not de-duplicated trials and not efficacy claims.
Why longevity buyers care
Key active: Curcumin (diferuloylmethane).
Curcumin is a polyphenol acting on NF-κB-driven inflammation, autophagy and senescence pathways. The honest caveat: native curcumin has poor oral bioavailability, so formulation matters and many trials use enhanced forms.
Effect summary
Studied health outcomes
Editorial summary — This table is curated by hand from published research consensus, not automatically calculated from our trial database. Grades reflect our interpretation of the literature. Treat as a starting point, not a definitive verdict. See the Evidence panel below for the underlying trial and paper counts sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed.
| Health outcome | Effect | Magnitude | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systemic inflammation (CRP, IL-6) | Decreases | Strong | A |
| Joint pain / osteoarthritis | Decreases | Strong | A |
| Depression scores (adjunct) | Decreases | Moderate | B |
| LDL cholesterol | Decreases | Minor | B |
| Cognitive function | Increases | Minor | C |
| Fasting blood glucose | Decreases | Minor | C |
Grade: A = robust RCTs · B = several RCTs / meta-analysis · C = limited or mixed RCTs · D = observational or early data
Dosage guidance
How Curcumin (Turmeric) is typically used
- Typical dose
- 500–2,000 mg/day curcuminoids
- Form
- Meriva (phytosome), BCM-95, or Theracurmin — standard curcumin has <1% bioavailability
- Timing
- with a fat-containing meal
Standard curcumin powder is nearly useless without a bioavailability enhancer. Meriva and BCM-95 are 7–30× better absorbed. Adding black pepper extract (BioPerine, 5–20mg piperine) boosts standard curcumin 2,000%, but can interact with medications metabolized by CYP3A4.
Informational only — not a prescription or personalised medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement or medication.
Evidence summary
What the research actually says
80Evidence confidence
Extensive human-trial evidence519 randomized controlled trials · 477 meta-analyses / systematic reviews
Very large trial base for inflammation; longevity endpoints mechanistic; bioavailability-limited
Curcumin is a polyphenol acting on NF-κB-driven inflammation, autophagy and senescence pathways. The honest caveat: native curcumin has poor oral bioavailability, so formulation matters and many trials use enhanced forms.
390registered clinical trials reference this intervention
2selected from 3+ PubMed papers (longevity / aging angle)
Key active: Curcumin (C21H20O6) · ChEMBL CHEMBL140 · max clinical phase 3 · natural product
According to PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov: trial counts from ClinicalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed literature from PubMed, compound data from EMBL-EBI ChEMBL. Counts auto-refresh weekly; last checked 2026-07-19. They include trials across many endpoints, not only longevity.
Informational only — not medical advice, a treatment claim, or a substitute for a qualified clinician. Evidence strength varies; we show mixed and null results on purpose.
Evidence collections
Curcumin (Turmeric) appears in
Compare the evidence
How Curcumin (Turmeric) stacks up
Suppliers