In a substantial opinion, ANSES raises awareness on the effects and interactions of Curcumin. Beyond the precautions, an exhaustive reminder of the virtues of the molecule.
ANSES is a French organization that assesses health risks related to the environment, work and food.
The agency has received reports of adverse effects from taking dietary supplements turmeric, including liver damage. In response, it initiated an expert review of the risks associated with turmeric consumption. She wanted to gather the available scientific evidence on the plant, its potential risks and benefits as well as the exposure of the French population to turmeric through food before making recommendations
The study first discusses the commercial availability of curcumin, which is a mixture of curcumin (the majority component) and its two analogues, demethoxy and bisdemethoxy. It then notes that the use of synthetic curcumin is not allowed according to the definition established by the FAO.
The study then discusses the essential oils of turmeric plants, which contain volatile substances that constitute essential oils. These oils are composed primarily of sesquiterpenes, but monoterpenes are also present (including 1,8-cineole). The composition of the essential oils of different species of turmeric varies considerably, which may be due to factors such as genetics, variety, climate, growing practices, etc.
The study also addresses the subject of the very low absorption of Curcumin at the intestinal level, of its low "life span" in the plasma system.
On the central topic of the risk of hepatotoxicity:
The ANSES review is based on the examination of 15 cases of liver damage possibly caused by dietary supplements containing curcuminoids (more particularly curcumin). Of these 15 consumers (75% women), 12 had pre-existing pathologies and were taking other medications concomitantly. The doses of curcumin consumed ranged from 10mg/d to 1.2g/d (median 186mg/d). 7 of the 15 products concerned had an improved bioavailability thanks, among other things, to the association with black pepper...
The results of this study are not surprising given that curcuminoids are known to be hepatotoxic at high doses (i.e., >1g/day) (1,2). However, it is important to note that the vast majority of cases reported here were mild (severity 1 or 2) and resolved without lasting liver damage. In addition, it should be noted that most users had pre-existing medical conditions that may have predisposed them to liver damage.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25131822
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26596704
The reasoning of the ANSES
In the case of pre-existing conditions or liver diseases (ANSES cites Chrone's disease in particular), such an improvement in function is regarded as suspicious and the potential partial cause of the hepatitis to which the pharmacovigilance system has linked the consumption of dietary supplements Curcumin-based.
Therefore, ANSES concludes that although the evidence is very weak, curcumin supplements should be used with caution in people with liver disease.
Can we conclude that there is a link between the use of curcumin and liver problems?
A study published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that curcumin can increase liver enzymes in people with liver disease.
She showed that curcumin was able to increase the production of enzymes such as glutathione-S-transferase and quinone reductase. These enzymes play an important role in the detoxification of the liver by helping to eliminate harmful toxins.
The ability of Curcumin to act on the liver function is therefore largely proven and established but does not tend to establish negative effects specifically.
On the contrary, some research suggests that curcumin is effective in treating Crohn's disease. A study published in the journal Gut in 2010 found that people with Crohn's disease who took curcumin-based supplements had a significantly reduced risk of dying from the disease. Another study published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in 2013 found that people with Crohn's disease who took curcumin supplements had a lower rate of infection with the bacteria that causes the disease.
Therefore, even if certain conditions or diseases predispose to the adverse effects of curcumin, it is important to note that they can also frequently benefit from its use. Therefore, even in the most risky cases, there is a need to estimate the cost-benefit ratio of the use of this molecule, under medical supervision, of course.
An impartial ANSES report based on tenuous statistical data:
This press release from the French health agency ANSES summarizing the risks of curcumin is accurate and unbiased. The agency states that curcumin can cause gastrointestinal upset, liver problems and fatigue, and that it can interact with certain medications. The agency warns that curcumin supplements can be toxic in high doses and advises caution when taking them.
Curcumin can cause gastrointestinal upset, liver problems and fatigue, and it can interact with some medications.
Yes, consumers should be aware of the potential risks before taking curcumin supplements.
While the benefits of curcumin supplements outweigh the risks for most people, some people may be more sensitive to the side effects of curcumin, so everyone needs to be careful.
An interpretation based on precaution.
We encountered several errors that could potentially mislead readers. For example, it is stated that "curcumin is undetectable in serum for doses administered from 500 to 8000 mg" (Lao et al. 2006), but it is not mentioned that this was observed in only two of 24 participants. It also states that "after oral administration of 3.6 g/d, plasma curcumin concentration was 11 ng/mL one hour after ingestion" (Prasad, Tyagi, and Aggarwal 2014), but does not mention that this was only observed in one out of four participants.
The agency underlines the fact that studies on curcumin are sometimes financed by companies selling dietary supplements curcumin-based products, is this argument valid?
This is not a valid argument. The fact that some studies on curcumin are funded by companies that sell curcumin supplements does not mean that all studies are biased. There is ample scientific evidence to support the health benefits of curcumin from numerous studies regardless of their funding sources.
Anyone who has ever participated in a study requiring the recruitment of patients knows that it is unimaginable due to the variety of stakeholders and the multiplicity of responsibilities (Hospitals, University Hospitals, Medical Schools) to imagine corrupting the data or influencing the results.
It is therefore neither fair nor honest to mention this fact as if it were likely to cast a shadow on the results extracted from the studies concerned. This amounts to discrediting any research work since the actors are likely to be influenced or polluted in many different ways. The urgency to publish, and the pressure to publish on topics that open the door to funding, are equally problematic.
Does this raise the question of the existence of a bias of the health authorities towards food supplementation and phytotherapy?
There is no clear reason why a health agency would want to exaggerate the side effects of curcumin. It is possible that the agency is concerned about the safety of curcumin supplements and wants to warn people about potential risks. It is also possible that the agency has a preconception against dietary supplements in general and is trying to discourage people from taking them. The best counter-argument would be to point out that the side effects of curcumin are generally mild and temporary, and that the benefits of curcumin far outweigh the risk. Curcumin is a safe and effective supplement with a wide range of health benefits.
CONCLUSION
ANSES has done a particularly appropriate job of collecting and analyzing the information, without the use of style or sensationalism. The synthesis of the positive effects of Curcumin and the reminder of the duties and obligations of the actors of our industry are the two sides of the same subject and the call to legitimate vigilance.
In the end, the potential benefits of curcumin outweigh the risks for the vast majority of USERS, given the number of studies attesting to its safety. However, it is advisable to choose and identify safe and effective supplements that present the essential guarantees of safety, particularly with regard to pesticides and heavy metals, and of course to take advice from health professionals when you are suffering from a pathology or are using treatments (anti-platelet aggregation drugs) with which curcumin could interact.
*Phycocyanine, due to the diversity of its action modalities, was quickly studied in the context of the prevention of neurological dysfunctions, the stimulation of astrocytes, and the reconfiguration of the cerebral environment."
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ANSES and Curcumin: great powers, great responsibilities.
1. Article
2. Video TMIC - ANSES
Curcumin: more power means more responsibility.
In a substantial opinion, ANSES raises awareness on the effects and interactions of Curcumin. Beyond the precautions, an exhaustive reminder of the virtues of the molecule.
ANSES is a French organization that assesses health risks related to the environment, work and food.
The agency has received reports of adverse effects from taking dietary supplements turmeric, including liver damage. In response, it initiated an expert review of the risks associated with turmeric consumption. She wanted to gather the available scientific evidence on the plant, its potential risks and benefits as well as the exposure of the French population to turmeric through food before making recommendations
The study first discusses the commercial availability of curcumin, which is a mixture of curcumin (the majority component) and its two analogues, demethoxy and bisdemethoxy. It then notes that the use of synthetic curcumin is not allowed according to the definition established by the FAO.
The study then discusses the essential oils of turmeric plants, which contain volatile substances that constitute essential oils. These oils are composed primarily of sesquiterpenes, but monoterpenes are also present (including 1,8-cineole). The composition of the essential oils of different species of turmeric varies considerably, which may be due to factors such as genetics, variety, climate, growing practices, etc.
The study also addresses the subject of the very low absorption of Curcumin at the intestinal level, of its low "life span" in the plasma system.
On the central topic of the risk of hepatotoxicity:
The ANSES review is based on the examination of 15 cases of liver damage possibly caused by dietary supplements containing curcuminoids (more particularly curcumin). Of these 15 consumers (75% women), 12 had pre-existing pathologies and were taking other medications concomitantly. The doses of curcumin consumed ranged from 10mg/d to 1.2g/d (median 186mg/d). 7 of the 15 products concerned had an improved bioavailability thanks, among other things, to the association with black pepper...
The results of this study are not surprising given that curcuminoids are known to be hepatotoxic at high doses (i.e., >1g/day) (1,2). However, it is important to note that the vast majority of cases reported here were mild (severity 1 or 2) and resolved without lasting liver damage. In addition, it should be noted that most users had pre-existing medical conditions that may have predisposed them to liver damage.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25131822
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26596704
The reasoning of the ANSES
In the case of pre-existing conditions or liver diseases (ANSES cites Chrone's disease in particular), such an improvement in function is regarded as suspicious and the potential partial cause of the hepatitis to which the pharmacovigilance system has linked the consumption of dietary supplements Curcumin-based.
Therefore, ANSES concludes that although the evidence is very weak, curcumin supplements should be used with caution in people with liver disease.
Can we conclude that there is a link between the use of curcumin and liver problems?
A study published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that curcumin can increase liver enzymes in people with liver disease.
She showed that curcumin was able to increase the production of enzymes such as glutathione-S-transferase and quinone reductase. These enzymes play an important role in the detoxification of the liver by helping to eliminate harmful toxins.
The ability of Curcumin to act on the liver function is therefore largely proven and established but does not tend to establish negative effects specifically.
On the contrary, some research suggests that curcumin is effective in treating Crohn's disease. A study published in the journal Gut in 2010 found that people with Crohn's disease who took curcumin-based supplements had a significantly reduced risk of dying from the disease. Another study published in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in 2013 found that people with Crohn's disease who took curcumin supplements had a lower rate of infection with the bacteria that causes the disease.
Therefore, even if certain conditions or diseases predispose to the adverse effects of curcumin, it is important to note that they can also frequently benefit from its use. Therefore, even in the most risky cases, there is a need to estimate the cost-benefit ratio of the use of this molecule, under medical supervision, of course.
An impartial ANSES report based on tenuous statistical data:
This press release from the French health agency ANSES summarizing the risks of curcumin is accurate and unbiased. The agency states that curcumin can cause gastrointestinal upset, liver problems and fatigue, and that it can interact with certain medications. The agency warns that curcumin supplements can be toxic in high doses and advises caution when taking them.
Curcumin can cause gastrointestinal upset, liver problems and fatigue, and it can interact with some medications.
Yes, consumers should be aware of the potential risks before taking curcumin supplements.
While the benefits of curcumin supplements outweigh the risks for most people, some people may be more sensitive to the side effects of curcumin, so everyone needs to be careful.
An interpretation based on precaution.
We encountered several errors that could potentially mislead readers. For example, it is stated that "curcumin is undetectable in serum for doses administered from 500 to 8000 mg" (Lao et al. 2006), but it is not mentioned that this was observed in only two of 24 participants. It also states that "after oral administration of 3.6 g/d, plasma curcumin concentration was 11 ng/mL one hour after ingestion" (Prasad, Tyagi, and Aggarwal 2014), but does not mention that this was only observed in one out of four participants.
The agency underlines the fact that studies on curcumin are sometimes financed by companies selling dietary supplements curcumin-based products, is this argument valid?
This is not a valid argument. The fact that some studies on curcumin are funded by companies that sell curcumin supplements does not mean that all studies are biased. There is ample scientific evidence to support the health benefits of curcumin from numerous studies regardless of their funding sources.
Anyone who has ever participated in a study requiring the recruitment of patients knows that it is unimaginable due to the variety of stakeholders and the multiplicity of responsibilities (Hospitals, University Hospitals, Medical Schools) to imagine corrupting the data or influencing the results.
It is therefore neither fair nor honest to mention this fact as if it were likely to cast a shadow on the results extracted from the studies concerned. This amounts to discrediting any research work since the actors are likely to be influenced or polluted in many different ways. The urgency to publish, and the pressure to publish on topics that open the door to funding, are equally problematic.
Does this raise the question of the existence of a bias of the health authorities towards food supplementation and phytotherapy?
There is no clear reason why a health agency would want to exaggerate the side effects of curcumin. It is possible that the agency is concerned about the safety of curcumin supplements and wants to warn people about potential risks. It is also possible that the agency has a preconception against dietary supplements in general and is trying to discourage people from taking them. The best counter-argument would be to point out that the side effects of curcumin are generally mild and temporary, and that the benefits of curcumin far outweigh the risk. Curcumin is a safe and effective supplement with a wide range of health benefits.
CONCLUSION
ANSES has done a particularly appropriate job of collecting and analyzing the information, without the use of style or sensationalism. The synthesis of the positive effects of Curcumin and the reminder of the duties and obligations of the actors of our industry are the two sides of the same subject and the call to legitimate vigilance.
In the end, the potential benefits of curcumin outweigh the risks for the vast majority of USERS, given the number of studies attesting to its safety. However, it is advisable to choose and identify safe and effective supplements that present the essential guarantees of safety, particularly with regard to pesticides and heavy metals, and of course to take advice from health professionals when you are suffering from a pathology or are using treatments (anti-platelet aggregation drugs) with which curcumin could interact.
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*Phycocyanine, due to the diversity of its action modalities, was quickly studied in the context of the prevention of neurological dysfunctions, the stimulation of astrocytes, and the reconfiguration of the cerebral environment."
Join us on Instagram & facebook to discover the daily life, the universe and the research of the main ingredient company
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