Woman hospitalised with liver damage after taking turmeric supplement: How much is safe for consumption?

57-year-old Katie Mohan was hospitalised for six days after she complained of stomach pain, nausea and fatigue. On investigating, the culprit was found. 

Mohan started taking turmeric pills daily after watching a doctor on Instagram speak highly of its benefits in reducing inflammation, among other advantages. 

According to NBC News, her blood work showed liver enzyme levels about 60 times the normal limit. She was just a step away from requiring a liver transplant. Doctors blame her condition on the intake of supplements.  

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How much turmeric is safe for consumption?

According to WHO, 0–3 mg per kg of body weight is the allowed level of curcumin. 

According to Healthline, research shows that turmeric has several potential benefits for the body and many of these benefits come from its main active ingredient, curcumin. 

“Natural does not mean safe. When you cook with turmeric, that could be really safe. But some of the supplements now are 2,000 mg-plus, which is a very high dose of turmeric,” said Dr Dina Halegoua-De Marzio, a hepatologist at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, to NBC News. 

Coupled with black pepper, “the liver now has to break down that supplement and it can’t. It could make it really sick," she added. 

According to a study by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, Herbal and dietary supplements (HDS)-induced liver injury accounted for 20% of cases of hepatotoxicity in the United States. 

Please consult a medical expert for more information. 

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