In 2013, I wrote about the burgeoning popularity of the spice turmeric as a medicinal herb. At the time, my conclusions were:
Overall, there is no compelling clinical evidence in humans supporting any use of curcumin or other turmeric compounds…There is virtually no clinical research in companion animals, and what there is does not support claims of benefit from turmeric compounds. Finally, the limited research to date suggests a few potential risks but the significance of these is unclear.
Since then, there have been many additional in vitro or lab animal studies, but no significant clinical trials in companion animal species. The pre-clinical research continues to find interesting biological activity of curcumin and other turmeric compounds which might, or might not, lead to clinically useful effects. At this point, there isn’t much new evidence that supports altering my previous conclusions.
However, one new review has looked at the biologic plausibility of curcumin, which is one factor in assessing the potential medicinal applications. This paper, somewhat surprisingly, suggests that the basic biochemistry of curcumin makes it unlikely to be a clinically useful remedy.
Nelson KM. Dahlin JL. Bisson J. et al. The Essential Medicinal Chemistry of Curcumin J. Med. Chem. 2017;60:1620?1637.
The authors review the pre-clinical and clinical trial literature for curcumin with an eye to features that would make the compound a better or worse candidate medicine. They conclude that its basic biochemical features make it unlikely to be useful but highly likely to generate false positive results if not tested with a clear understanding of its properties:
The likely false activity of curcumin in vitro and in vivo has resulted in >120 clinical trials of curcuminoids against several diseases. No double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial of curcumin has been successful. This manuscript reviews the essential medicinal chemistry of curcumin and provides evidence that curcumin is an unstable, reactive, nonbioavailable compound and, therefore, a highly improbable lead.
Curcumin…has shown excellent promise in early testing (in vitro), even though this testing may have been bedeviled by design problems that led to several misfires. The structure of 1 suggests that it might be unstable in a biological setting, and in fact, it is: both its in vitro and in vivo stabilities are abysmal…relative to commercial drugs.
To our knowledge, [curcumin] has never been shown to be conclusively effective in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial for any indication. Curcumin is best typified, therefore, as a missile that continually blows up on the launch pad, never reaching the atmosphere or its intended target(s).
While these failures would normally end further research on its use as a therapeutic, they apparently have not deterred researchers interested in its development.
Given its low systemic bioavailability, we remain highly skeptical that an oral dose of 1 can ever be effective in human clinical trials that are translated from reports of in vitro activity… the lack of any observed efficacy of oral curcuminoids in clinical trials where it was given in high doses does not bode well for these alternative hypotheses of therapeutic efficacy.
Unfortunately, no form of curcumin, or its closely related analogues, appears to possess the properties required for a good drug candidate (chemical stability, high water solubility, potent and selective target activity, high bioavailability, broad tissue distribution, stable metabolism, and low toxicity). The in vitro interference properties of curcumin do, however, offer many traps that can trick unprepared researchers into misinterpreting the results of their investigations.
While such an analysis does not entirely preclude curcumin eventually being a useful remedy, it does reduce the likelihood of this, especially given the failure of any dramatic clinical trial results suggesting a significant real-world benefit.
Strange then, that Royal Canin has based it’s Mobility C2P+ Diet off of turmeric.
https://www.royalcanin.co.uk/products/dog/canine-veterinary-diet/mobility-c2p/
Not really strange, just a company responding to a potential marketing opportunity. Even when the evidence is weak, or non-existent, supplements find their way into commercial diets, grain-free diets are widely marketed, and so on because companies respond to what consumers seem likely to want. Of course, as I’ve pointed out there is some pre-clinical evidence that turmeric might have anti-inflammatory effects, so it’s not out of the question it could be useful, it just seems unlikely based on what is known so far.
“Even when the evidence is weak, or non-existent, supplements find their way into commercial diets, grain-free diets are widely marketed, and so on because companies respond to what consumers seem likely to want.”
Yup my experience as well. But I also would like to add that Vets have kind of helped people “want” grain free diets because it’s easier for a Vet to say the dog is sensitive to grains then to explain that there may be so many other things making the patient itch or have loose stool and that the work involved to narrow it down takes time and effort.
So Vets have kind of helped move trends in what is added or subtracted to foods just by the virtue that they are Vets and people listen.
The worst thing is that since I don’t have the DVM behind my name my advice about nutrition and such for dogs is taken as less than a Vet even though I’ve done the work to get an MS in small animal clinical nutrition. But it’s just an issue I need to deal with.
Oh Paul I feel your pain ha ha. I had (still have) a PhD in Animal Nutrition nobody cared two cents for my opinion or knowledge on nutrition. So I went and got a DVM and although I learned nothing new now everybody listens to me. Except dog breeders and those who read the Whole Dog Journal. Cause as we know the devout dog lovers who write that know more than any medical or scientific professional.
But, Paul, don’t you know that vets only receive an hour’s worth of animal nutrition in their entire careers? (say the clients and woomeisters on the net)
I never understood that disparaging Vets about nutritional knowledge. I follow a raw feeding blog, because I have to see what new hells come from raw feeders so I can be ready to debunk them when customers ask, that always rails against “traditional” vets and their nutrition education. But anyway.
I wish I had the time, and the stomach to do dissection, to just get my DVM just so I can say, “Hey, You SHOULD listen to me, I have a DVM too!” But alas I might have to finally break down and get my MS in small animal nutrition and display it prominently in my shoppe.
I will say overall the vets in my area, barring a few who are close to being quacks, are quite good when it comes to overall practice and don’t always offer crappy advice. lol
How interesting, thank you for this!
The comment below, sorry it’s so long, was written by me last year. It was a dreadfully distressing time for us all. Sadly my elderly girl passed away 3 weeks ago, peacefully in her sleep, due to a brain aneurysm. A shock but happily she didn’t suffer, her stomach ulcer had healed nicely and she no longer showed any ill effects, but it could so easily not have been this way:
‘I’ve been giving golden paste to my older dogs for 8 months, both choc labs.
A week ago my 10 year old suddenly started vomiting and went off her food, which isn’t her at all. She was also crying and very lethargic and had a runny tum. I took her to the vet and they ran blood tests which showed she had high liver enzyme values and a problem with her red blood cells indicating internal bleeding, she was also dehydrated but had no fever. They put a drip in and she had an overnight stay. I told them she’d had some acid reflux recently, so they prescribed Ranitidine.
Back home she really didn’t improve much so she was booked in for sedation so they could scan and X-ray her to see if there was some sort of obstruction. Nothing was found. They changed her meds to Omeprazole as Ranitidine can cause nausea and said they thought she had a stomach ulcer. A week later he redid the bloods and found exactly the same problem with the results. She was booked in for 3 weeks time to check them again, our vet said if they were no better she’d have to have an exploratory operation to see if there was a tumour on her liver.
Two days after this our other choc lab boy started vomiting too, exactly the same symptoms as our girl. I was confused, worried…well more than worried, was this some weird viral thing that presented without a fever? Unlikely!
I was thinking about what was happening whilst cooking our dinner and my eyes were drawn to the turmeric powder. We’d used a new supplier and it was a much deeper shade, more of an orange than the last mustard colour powder we’d used before. I decided to google dangers of turmeric on dogs and came up with this about humans, I’ve only copied what applied to us but there were several other warnings:
‘2. Gallbladder Problems
Research suggest that normal turmeric is helpful for the normal functioning of gallbladder by stimulating the release of different digestive mediators that stabilize the functioning of gall bladder ducts; however, high turmeric intake is also associated with aggravation of liver and gall bladder conditions. This includes inflammatory conditions of gallbladder (acute Cholecystitis) and gall bladder stones or duct obstruction. It is advisable to seek the help of a healthcare provider before using turmeric (even in recommended dosages) in all such cases to prevent pain and discomfort.
3. Stomach and Gastrointestinal Problems
Turmeric (also known as Indian saffron) usually does not cause any gastric irritation or inflammatory reaction when consumed as part of cooked curry (suggesting a small dose); however, individuals who consume turmeric for management of chronic inflammatory systemic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and aching joints can develop turmeric induced gastric issues. Turmeric is slightly acidic in nature and is widely considered as a stimulant of gastric acid secretion. If you have a current history of dyspepsia or hyperacidity, it is strongly suggested to avoid turmeric in high doses. Individuals who smoke or use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are especially vulnerable to the side effects of turmeric (leading to dyspepsia, heartburn, indigestion, gastro esophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcers). It is indicated to consume a lot of water to minimize the accumulation of turmeric in high doses within the gastric lining. For best results, consume with food only.
4. Bleeding
Turmeric may inhibit platelet aggregation, and thus, theoretically, may increase the risk of bleeding. It also affects the production of clotting factors from the liver and therefore must be avoided in patients who have a bleeding tendency or inborn error of clotting.
5. Liver Problems
High turmeric intake is associated with liver dysfunction that may present with indigestion and jaundice. Research studies in animals have confirmed the toxic effects of turmeric on animal hepatocytes and although no human study is currently available to suggest the possible mechanism of development of complications, it is recommended by healthcare provider to limit the intake under recommended dosages only. If you are suffering from a current medical illness that involves liver, it is better to avoid or totally eliminate turmeric from your diet.’
My husband had just got home, I told him what I’d found and I googled some more during the evening whilst mopping up vomited water on a regular basis. Our boy, at 11.30 at night, suddenly vomited more water (another sign seems to be excessive drinking) but this time there was blood in it!
Terrified I rang the vet, explained that my boy had the same symptoms as our girl and that I’d seen online that turmeric could be the problem (they know me and our dogs well lol) and we rushed to the out of hours surgery. Once there the vet said she’d been searching on her vet sites and this was a known problem and was getting more common as more people dosed their dogs on turmeric. She gave him an anti sickness injection in order to start giving him omeprazole straight away, declared him well hydrated and we came home at 1.00am. Apparently the bleeding wasn’t too much of an issue, it was caused by the stomach ulcer, she also asked me how long I’d been giving it, 8 months, but asked if I’d changed supplier at all, I said yes a month ago!
So it seems both my dogs have a stomach ulcer directly due to giving turmeric!
Part of me is cross with myself for not checking for dangers earlier, this stuff is actively being pushed as a cure for all despite no studies having been done. Luckily neither dogs were taking NSAIDS as well, the vet told me things would have been much worse if they had been. I stupidly got caught up in the hype!
Another part of me is extremely thankful that I googled it and realised what was going on, if my boy hadn’t shown his symptoms when he did my girl could have had to suffer going through an operation for no reason, not good at any age but at ten there could have been serious complications.
Another part of me is sad because I’ve had to see them suffer so much over the last week or so! I love my dogs, they are a part of my family and I, like anyone else who does so, hate seeing them so poorly! My boy is not eating much at all but I understand that he feels sick, even my girl, although much improved, is still occasionally vomiting up her food, she did so this morning. They both have weeks of meds to allow their ulcers to heal, it will be a slow progress, with more vet visits to check on bloods.
The last part is annoyance that I’ve been lumbered with almost £1,000 of vets bills so far, if my girl had had the exploratory operation it would have been much more!
Basically turmeric seems to work well as an anti-inflammatory, they were very sprightly whilst on it, but those that give it to their dogs, in order to prevent the liver problems associated with NSAIDS, should be made aware that because it works *it too* can cause the same problems! At least you know the tablets have a specified strength, with golden paste you have no such assurance! I was giving one teaspoon twice a day with their food, and my dogs are big labs, not fat (well my girl is a bit, although has lost weight recently of course) but big, chunky show types; my boy is 50.9kg and the vets say he isn’t overweight, he’s like a brown bear with the most enormous head. Goodness knows what would have happened if I’d given it to my 7 month old pup!
I’m copying and pasting this reply on as many turmeric sites as I can find; if I only stop one dog going through what mine have been through then it will be well worth my time!
Oh and the turmeric is now in the bin! ‘
I have been copying this onto the numerous turmeric loving sites, but usually when I check back it’s been taken off. I really think more should be done to inform people about these dangers in both animals and in humans, I’m hoping you leave this on for all to see please.
Thank you.
Hi SkeptVet, I came to your blog hoping you might have written about circumin. My rehab Vet – – whom I love and did such a great job with my sports dog when she had a bone spur – – recently prescribed PhytoprofenVet to support her kidneys . Active ingredients are: Bromelain, Circumin Phytosome, Ginger Extract, Indian Frankincense.
Thanks for the above research on Circumin. I must admit, I didn’t speak up when she prescribed it. I came home and started to research it once I realized it was some kind of Chinese herbal medicine. Your website is invaluable for accurate information. Thank-you! And now I’ll have to figure out how and what to say to my Vet the next time I see her.
As a follow-up to my comment above, I wrote to Thorne Research, the makers of PhytoprofenVet asking for the research to support their claims. Below is the response I got today. While I did not expect to even receive an answer, I thought it was interesting they used the fact that many studies are behind pay walls as a reason as to why they couldn’t cite them. It makes it sound like there are supportive studies – if only I could get to them.
Once again, thanks SkeptVet for your blog and your science-based approach to veterinary science. Carol
******************************************************************
“Carol, unfortunately we do not have any studies that we can share. Some of them although published, we can not publicly share. However, your Vet will have more access to some research through their professional account. You can reach out to them. Or if you are familiar with research you can use the following site to search for articles using these ingredients.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/
Home – PubMed – NCBI
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Best,
Dr. Heather DeLuca, ND
Customer Support Specialist
Thorne Research, Inc.”
Well, any specific studies could certainly be cited, even if they couldn’t give you the full text of the paper, so that’s BS. Also, interesting that the response comes from a naturopath; always a bad sign since the majority of what they are taught and practice is not science-based.
My cat, Stormy, has a skin condition that won’t go away. I’m concerned because it is now close to his eye. I’ve been to 3 vets and they haven’t been able to get it to go away. He’s had two tubes of Mupirocin 2% and there was another ointment, but don’t have any of that left. There have been 2 cultures done and they say it just shows skin condition.
I’ve tried coconut oil and that doesn’t work either, he has this condition on his back in two places on two of his legs under his chin and under his left eye.
He’s been taking cosequin in his wet food for about a year.
He has a great appetite, drinks lots of water and seems healthy. Also, all three vets gave him an antibiotic shot every two weeks. I need help.
I forgot, Stormy will be 16 May 5th. He’s a pure bred Persian.
I’m sorry your cat is having this trouble, but of course I can’t offer medical advice on the internet, and you really are better off finding a vet you can work with personally. If the problem has been persistent, I would consider a dermatology specialist or even the nearest veterinary medical college for he most advanced diagnostic and treatment options available. If it is truly this challenging a problem, it isn’t going to be solved by the internet.
Could you comment on this study please?
Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2012 Jun 30;147(3-4):136-46. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.04.001. Epub 2012 Apr 26.
Transcriptome modification of white blood cells after dietary administration of curcumin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in osteoarthritic affected dogs
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22591841
Sure. Basically, giving NSAIDs or curcumin altered the level of activity of a number of genes in white blood cells, both in dogs with arthritis and dogs without arthritis. This tells us that these substances might alter white blood cell function in ways that could influence inflammation or other functions of these cells. What it doesn’t tell us is what clinical effect, if any, this has on dogs with or without arthritis, for good or for ill. Such studies are a starting point for identifying potential actions of drugs, both beneficial and harmful. However, it is clinical trials which ultimately show us what the effects of such drugs are. The potential effetcs seen in such preliminary, pre-clinical research sometimes come to fruition in clinical studies and more often don’t. Time (and research) will tell.
Thanks. The significance of that one to my everyday doggie world was far from crystal clear. I should be cured of abstract searching syndrome by now, since it always leads to frustration one way or another, either via conflicting evidence of lack of appropriate knowledge to discern what this, that, or the other thing proves. Sadly, I seem unable to help myself. I am at it time and again checking for the true value of references given or searching for a basis for some outlandish claim for a canine remedy. Your blog is very informative but may increase my time on pubmed. 🙂
I’m curious as to what you’d make of this study on curcumin bound to phosphatidylcholine in order to increase bio-availability and its effects on osteoarthritis patients? A lot of my normally quite skeptical circles seem to put a lot of stock into curcumin, though explicitly only with things that help increase its availability (like taking with piperine, or a formula bound to phosphatidylcholine like Meriva, or in a liposomal encapsulation like Longvida) and I figured I’d check here to see your opinion of it ;P
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21194249
My biggest concern is that it was an unblinded study, which means patients and their doctors knew who was getting the supplement and who wasn’t. Also, each patient was managed differently at the discretion of their doctor. The risk of placebo effects is very high in a study like this, especially with subjective outcome measures like pain scores. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t work, of course, but easy to get falsely positive results with this kind of procedure.
Doesn’t say anything about randomization or blinding, which raises the risk of bias and placebo effects significantly, especially when measuring subjective outcomes such as behavior scores. Could be a useful line of research, but with no clear potential mechanism for how a probiotic would have this effect and a single study at high risk of uncontrolled bias and error, I remain unconvinced. 🙂
I have been looking into the use of turmeric for my dog. She was prescribed prednisolone for itchy ears. She is having side effects including incontinence, excessive thirst & is very lethargic and this is after just 3 days of being on the drug. I would normally stop administering it right away but I can’t do that so she is getting a lower dose until weaned off it.
I would never have allowed her to be put on prednisolone if I was aware of these side effects. The vet told me it was an anti inflammatory drug but no mention of it being a steroid.
You cannot blame people for wanting to look for more natural alternatives when drugs meant to help their pets cause horrible side effects & just mask the symptoms.
I don’t blame people for wanting alternatives, only for giving pet owners misinformation that misleads them. “Natural” doesn’t have much meaning, and it certainly doesn’t mean “safe.” Anything that does anything at all has side-effects, and “natural” remedies are often less safe that established drugs because we haven’t tested them to understand their risks. There are lots of therapies for allergies in dogs besides prednisone, but there is no evidence that turmeric is one of them. I would consider talking to your vet, or even a board-certified veterinary dermatologist, rather than searching online for answers.
Here is some evidence discussing some of the options available:
Evidence-Based Canine Allergy Treatment
@ Sarah
Ask your vet about Apoquel, my little dog with environmental allergies is stable on it.
Her dermatologist prescribes it. A regular vet can prescribe it too, if it is not within your means to consult a veterinary dermatologist.
The “natural” stuff doesn’t work. Fish oil may help with dry skin but it won’t stop the pruritus and ear infections. Don’t be fooled.