Turmeric and Increased HDL Cholesterol Levels

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size4 studies · 2 beneficial · 2 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 4 studies (2 RCTs, 2 meta-analyses), 2 reported beneficial effects (small to moderate) on HDL cholesterol, while 2 found neutral effects. The median study duration was 87 days (~12 weeks). Most evidence comes from clinical populations with metabolic or inflammatory conditions, but the beneficial effects were observed primarily in meta-analyses, whereas individual RCTs showed non-significant trends.

Studied populations: clinical populations with metabolic or inflammatory conditions (Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hemodialysis, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and related disorders)

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 4 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. The two individual RCTs (sample sizes 57 and 11) found no significant improvement, while two meta-analyses reported significant increases in HDL. However, one meta-analysis has low evidence quality (score 1). The discrepancy between individual RCTs and meta-analyses suggests possible publication bias or effect modification by population.

Generated Jul 15, 2026

Doses used in studies

g/week: 7.5 (median 7.5, IQR 7.5–7.5) — 1 study
mg/day: 1,320 (median 1,320, IQR 1,320–1,320) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 2.9 months · IQR 2.9 months–3 months · Range 2.8 months–3 months — Reported in 2 of 4 studies

Safety in these studies

blood pressureNo significant difference
No significant effects were observed on total cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood urea nitrogen, or creatinine levels.
from: Antidiabetic and Metabolic Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) in Patients with Type 2 Dia
blood urea nitrogenNo significant difference
No significant effects were observed on total cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood urea nitrogen, or creatinine levels.
from: Antidiabetic and Metabolic Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) in Patients with Type 2 Dia
body mass indexNo significant difference
No significant effects were observed on total cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood urea nitrogen, or creatinine levels.
from: Antidiabetic and Metabolic Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) in Patients with Type 2 Dia
creatinineNo significant difference
No significant effects were observed on total cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood urea nitrogen, or creatinine levels.
from: Antidiabetic and Metabolic Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) in Patients with Type 2 Dia
Overall tolerabilityReported
No significant effects were observed on total cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, blood urea nitrogen, or creatinine levels.
from: Antidiabetic and Metabolic Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) in Patients with Type 2 Dia
Overall tolerabilityReported
No explicit adverse events or safety findings are reported in the abstract.
from: Clinical Potential of Curcuma longa Linn. as Nutraceutical/Dietary Supplement for Metaboli

4 of 4 papers

The Combined Effects of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Curcumin Supplementation on Thyroid Function and Lipid Profile in Patients With Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: A Double Blind Randomised Clinical Trial.
- 2026-01-01
- RCT · n = 57
- Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism 9(1)
- - Fatemeh Bourbour
  - Behnam Mahdavi
  - Niayesh Naghshi
  - Zahra Yari
  - Seyedsina Moghimnejad Hosseini
  - Saeid Kalbasi
  - Golbon Sohrab
- PubMed: 41329567
- DOI: 10.1002/edm2.70138
3 Insights on
- Increased HDL Cholesterol Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
Additionally, HDL-C levels showed a non-significant trend toward improvement in the curcumin group (p = 0.053), whereas other lipid parameters remained unchanged.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
1320 mg/day
Effects of turmeric extract supplementation on the lipid and lipoprotein subfraction profile in hemodialysis patients: A randomised, double-blind, crossover and controlled trial.
- 2023-04-12
- RCT · n = 11
- Phytotherapy research : PTR 37(8)
- - L Alvarenga
  - L F M F Cardozo
  - M Ribeiro-Alves
  - N R T Damasceno
  - A A Berretta
  - J A Lima
  - P Khosla
  - D Fouque
  - D Mafra
- PubMed: 37042623
- DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7814
5 Insights on
- Increased HDL Cholesterol Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
There was no statistical difference in the others parameters.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
2.5 g of Curcuma Longa extract per session, 3 times per week
Antidiabetic and Metabolic Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus or Hyperglycemia - A Systematic Meta-Review and Meta-Analysis.
- 2025-10-17
- Meta-Analysis
- Journal of Nepal Health Research Council 23(02)
- - Kapil Amgain
  - Richa Shah
  - Siti Munirah Md Noh
  - Shamsher Shrestha
  - Bijay Aryal
  - Lok Raj Joshi
  - Sujana Neupane
  - Shamima Abdul Rahman
- PubMed: 41319069
- DOI: 10.33314/jnhrc.v23i02.4708
10 Insights on
- Increased HDL Cholesterol Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (MD = 1.46 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.37, 2.56)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Clinical Potential of Curcuma longa Linn. as Nutraceutical/Dietary Supplement for Metabolic Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- 2025-12-24
- Review
- Foods (Basel, Switzerland) 15(1)
- - Samuel Abiodun Kehinde
  - Zahid Naeem Qaisrani
  - Rinrada Pattanayaiying
  - Bo Bo Lay
  - Khin Yadanar Phyo
  - Wai Phyo Lin
  - Myat Mon San
  - Nurulhusna Awaeloh
  - Sasithon Aunsorn
  - Ran Kitkangplu
  - Sasitorn Chusri
- PubMed: 41517125
- DOI: 10.3390/foods15010060
9 Insights on
- Increased HDL Cholesterol Levels
- Low evidence
- Clinical
elevating HDL cholesterol (SMD = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.65)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes

Turmeric and Increased HDL Cholesterol Levels

The Combined Effects of an Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Curcumin Supplementation on Thyroid Function and Lipid Profile in Patients With Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: A Double Blind Randomised Clinical Trial.

Effects of turmeric extract supplementation on the lipid and lipoprotein subfraction profile in hemodialysis patients: A randomised, double-blind, crossover and controlled trial.

Antidiabetic and Metabolic Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus or Hyperglycemia - A Systematic Meta-Review and Meta-Analysis.

Clinical Potential of Curcuma longa Linn. as Nutraceutical/Dietary Supplement for Metabolic Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.