Turmeric and Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels

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

Across 4 studies, 2 reported beneficial moderate-sized effects on reducing interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, while 2 found neutral results with small or no effect. The predominant effect direction is beneficial, but effect sizes were mixed (moderate for beneficial studies vs. small for neutral studies). The most studied population was clinical (e.g., chronic lower back pain, knee osteoarthritis, metabolic syndrome), with a median study duration of 84 days, suggesting effects are typically observed at 8-12 weeks.

Studied populations: clinical populations (chronic lower back pain, knee osteoarthritis, metabolic syndrome, 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. Dosing was inconsistent, with only one study using a specific dose (300 mg CL20192 once daily) that showed benefit; other studies lacked sufficient dose detail or used fixed doses (e.g., 2g/day) with neutral results.

Generated Jun 15, 2026

Doses used in studies

g/day: 2 (median 2, IQR 2–2) — 1 study
mg/day: 300 (median 300, IQR 300–300) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 2.8 months · IQR 9 weeks–2.9 months · Range 6 weeks–3 months — Reported in 3 of 4 studies

Safety in these studies

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 papersPopulation:

Efficacy and safety evaluation of Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa extract combination in the management of chronic lower back pain: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.
- 2024-12-18
- RCT · n = 45
- Explore (New York, N.Y.) 21(1)
- - Anuradha Majumdar
  - Mungara Anjaneya Venkata Vara Prasad
  - Satish Reddy Gandavarapu
  - Kalakata Sudhir Kumar Reddy
  - Varun Sureja
  - Dharmeshkumar Kheni
  - Vishal Dubey
- PubMed: 39700654
- DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103099
9 Insights on
- Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
This group demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammatory biomarker levels (...interleukin-6...)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
300 mg CL20192 once daily
Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?
- 2025-01-14
- RCT · n = 15
- PloS one 20(1)
- - Sebastian Bańkowski
  - Ziemowit Bronisław Wójcik
  - Małgorzata Grabara
  - Dariusz Ozner
  - Tomasz Pałka
  - Agata Stanek
  - Ewa Sadowska-Krępa
- PubMed: 39808679
- DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317446
6 Insights on
- Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
- High evidence
- Athletes
The results showed no significant changes in ... interleukin-6 (IL-6)... due to curcumin supplementation.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
2g/day
Effect of Curcuma longa extract on serum inflammatory markers and MRI-based synovitis in knee osteoarthritis: secondary analyses from the CurKOA randomised trial.
- 2023-01
- RCT · n = 36
- Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology 109
- - Zhiqiang Wang
  - Tania Winzenberg
  - Ambrish Singh
  - Dawn Aitken
  - Leigh Blizzard
  - Mikael Boesen
  - Edwin H G Oei
  - Tijmen A van Zadelhoff
  - Venkat Parameswaran
  - Changhai Ding
  - Robert Jones
  - Benny Antony
- PubMed: 36610110
- DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154616
5 Insights on
- Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
Over 12 weeks, there were no between-group differences in change in hsCRP, IL-6, and TNFα levels.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
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
- Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
- Low evidence
- Clinical
IL-6 (SMD = -0.50; 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.29)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes

Turmeric and Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels

Efficacy and safety evaluation of Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa extract combination in the management of chronic lower back pain: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Does curcumin supplementation affect inflammation, blood count and serum brain-derived neurotropic factor concentration in amateur long-distance runners?

Effect of Curcuma longa extract on serum inflammatory markers and MRI-based synovitis in knee osteoarthritis: secondary analyses from the CurKOA randomised trial.

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