Research synthesisModerate evidenceModerate effect5 studies · 4 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful
Across 5 studies, 4 reported beneficial effects of turmeric/curcumin on reducing C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, with moderate to large effect sizes observed in meta-analyses of clinical populations (rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome). One small neutral study in athletes found no significant change. The median study duration was 42 days, suggesting effects typically emerge over several weeks. The most-studied populations were adults with inflammatory or metabolic conditions.
- Studied populations: clinical — rheumatoid arthritis, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and related disorders
Caveats: Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). Most studies were meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials, but the highest-quality meta-analysis (evidence score 6) rated its own evidence as 'very low' certainty. Dosing information was limited across studies, making it difficult to identify a specific effective dose range. One small neutral study in athletes (n=15) suggests effectiveness may vary by population or baseline inflammatory status.
Generated Jun 12, 2026