Supplements
curcumin decreases blood lipids
In plain terms: Does turmeric lower cholesterol?
Part of: 🧪 turmeric & curcumin
A little. Across many trials curcumin produces small reductions in total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides — real and fairly consistent, but modest, and mostly with absorption-enhanced formulations.
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-15 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
How the studies fall
What the evidence shows
Curcumin produces a modest improvement in blood lipids — small reductions in total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (and a slight HDL rise) — but the effect is heterogeneous across trials, larger in people with metabolic disease, and seen mostly with bioavailability-enhanced formulations, not dietary turmeric.
The evidence (11)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poolsup N, Suksomboon N, Kurnianta PDM, Deawjaroen K 2019 · PLoS One | meta-analysis | tested-null | low | Meta-analysis in prediabetes/T2DM: effects on lipid parameters were inconsistent across trials. |
| Fang F, Qin D, Li Y, Liu F, Wu J 2025 · Frontiers in nutrition | meta-analysis | mixed | low | 11 RCTs, n=662, metabolic-disease patients: curcumin significantly reduced TG (-16.76 mg/dL) and TC (-10.59) and BMI, but random-effects models showed NO significant effect on HDL-C or LDL-C (heterogeneity I2 67-83%). |
| Behboodi HR, Najafi M, Ansari M, Ebadi M, Samadi F 2026 · Poultry science | animal | supports | low | Aged breeder roosters (n=30, 5 groups) fed curcumin or niosomal curcumin 15-30 mg/kg: 30 mg/kg groups showed increased HDL-chol and lowest triglyceride, cholesterol, VLDL-chol, and LDL-chol vs control. |
| Altobelli E, Angeletti PM, Marziliano C, Mastrodomenico M, Giuliani AR, Petrocelli R 2021 · Nutrients | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Meta-analysis in uncomplicated type-2 diabetes: curcumin improved lipid parameters. |
| Amgain K, Shah R, Md Noh SM, Shrestha S, Aryal B, Joshi LR, Neupane S, Rahman SA 2025 · J Nepal Health Res Counc | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Meta-review of 13 SR/MAs covering 63 unique RCTs, n=3706, T2DM/hyperglycemia patients: curcumin significantly reduced LDL-C (-5.95 mg/dL) and TG (-12.88), increased HDL-C (+1.46); no significant effect on total cholesterol. |
| Hosseini H, Ghavidel F, Panahi G, Majeed M, Sahebkar A 2023 · Phytother Res | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Meta-analysis of RCTs: curcumin (with piperine) improved lipid parameters across metabolic conditions. |
| Tian J, Feng B, Tian Z 2022 · Evid Based Complement Alternat Med | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Meta-analysis in type-2 diabetes: curcumin improved lipid profile (total/LDL cholesterol, triglycerides). |
| Miao R, Zhang B, Zhou D, Kang M, Tian J, Zhao L, Tong X 2025 · Phytotherapy research : PTR | meta-analysis | mixed | low | Bayesian network meta-analysis, 17 studies/1337 T2DM patients comparing curcumin, resveratrol, silymarin, berberine; resveratrol (not curcumin) was the top performer for TC/TG/HDL/LDL; curcumin's distinct advantage was BMI reduction, not cl |
| Karimi M, Javadi M, Sharifi M, Kazemi K, Jahangiri S, Shirsalimi N, Asbaghi O, Bassami M 2026 · Lipids | meta-analysis | mixed | low | 16 RCTs, n=1038, curcuminoids+piperine co-supplementation: significantly reduced TG (WMD -18.64 mg/mL) and TC (-6.58), increased HDL-C (+1.51), but LDL-C reduction was NOT statistically significant. |
| Bahari H, Malekahmadi M, Shahraki Jazinaki M, Asadi Z, Soltaninejad K, Golafrouz H 2026 · Lipids | meta-analysis | supports | low | 27 RCTs, 31 arms, adults with prediabetes/T2D: curcumin/turmeric significantly reduced TG (WMD -13.73 mg/dL), TC (-5.24), LDL-C (-5.72), and increased HDL-C (+2.14). GRADE certainty low for all outcomes, I2>80%. |
| Musazadeh V, Roshanravan N, Mohammadizadeh M, Kavyani Z, Dehghan P, Mosharkesh E 2022 · Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis | meta-analysis | supports | high | Umbrella meta-analysis whose units are meta-analyses: '19 articles were met the qualified for inclusion in the umbrella meta-analysis'; reports TC, TG, LDL-c reductions and HDL-C rise ('ES: 1.34 mg/dl, 95% CI: 0.37, 2.31, p = 0.007'), high heterogeneity. Re-pools the same trials the curcumin MAs already count — review, zero weight. |
Disagree, or know a study we missed?
We grade by evidence, not opinions. The way to weigh in is to point us to a study we haven't cited (check the evidence table above first), or to flag a problem with one we have. Every submission is reviewed; if it holds up, the grade updates and shows in Science Changes Its Mind.
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Educational only, not medical advice. Grades and scores reflect published evidence weighted by study design and quality; see the methodology.