Turmeric and Increased HDL Cholesterol Levels

Research synthesisLow evidenceSmall effect4 studies · 2 beneficial · 2 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 4 studies, turmeric/curcumin supplementation showed a mixed effect on HDL cholesterol, with 2 studies reporting beneficial effects (small to moderate) and 2 finding neutral results. The two beneficial studies were meta-analyses showing statistically significant increases in HDL, while the two neutral RCTs found non-significant trends or no change. The median study duration was 87 days (approx. 12 weeks) among the 2 RCTs that reported duration. The most studied populations were clinical groups (Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hemodialysis, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome).

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

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 4 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests. The two neutral RCTs used specific clinical populations with comorbidities, which may limit generalizability to healthy adults. Doses and forms varied across studies and were not consistently reported.

Generated Jun 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.