Turmeric and Increased HDL Cholesterol Levels

Research synthesisLow evidenceMixed effect size3 studies · 2 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, 2 reported beneficial effects on HDL cholesterol and 1 found a neutral effect. Effect sizes were mixed (small to moderate). Most studies enrolled clinical populations with metabolic or thyroid conditions. Median study duration was 84 days (12 weeks), though only 1 study reported duration.

Studied populations: people with metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, hyperglycemia, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or related disorders

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. The only RCT was not statistically significant (p=0.053), while the meta-analyses reached significance with modest effect sizes.

Generated May 14, 2026

Doses used in studies

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

Time to effect

Median: 2.8 months · IQR 2.8 months–2.8 months · Range 2.8 months–2.8 months — Reported in 1 of 3 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

3 of 3 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
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.

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.