Curcuminoid Content and Safety‐Related Markers of Quality of Turmeric Dietary Supplements Sold in an Urban Retail Marketplace in the United States
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: SCOPE: Turmeric is a top selling dietary supplement (DS) in the United States with rapidly expanding usage. Therefore, turmeric DS formulations available for sale in an urban US retail marketplace are analyzed, and point of sale information is related to measures of quality relevant to safety. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-seven unique turmeric DS are identified; a majority (94%) contained turmeric-derived curcuminoid extracts (TD-CE), which are combined with other bioactives in 47% of products, including piperine (24%), an additive that could alter the metabolism of concurrent medications. While curcuminoid content is within 80% of anticipated for a majority of products analyzed (n = 35), curcuminoid composition (% curcumin) did not meet US Pharmacopeia (USP) criteria for TD-CE in 59% and is suggestive of possible unlabeled use of synthetic curcumin in some. Lead content is associated with the inclusion of turmeric root and exceeded USP limits in one product. Residues of toxic class 1 or 2 solvents, which are not needed for TD-CE isolation, are present in 71% of products, although quantified levels were within USP-specified limits. CONCLUSION: Assessment of turmeric DS quality at point of sale is difficult for consumers and may best be managed in partnership with knowledgeable healthcare professionals.
Institutions: University of Arizona, Vanderbilt University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Medicine
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Awards: Exploiting the Tumor Microenvironment to Block Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis, G2978018450, Oxidative activation of the dietary cancer chemopreventive agent curcumin, Curcumin-glucuronide as a pro-drug in inflammation, G6433342969, G7052756767, G9000221954, Molecular and Cellular Basis for Digestive Diseases, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center, Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant
OpenAlex ID: W2805156412