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Several cases of hepatitis have been reported in France and Italy following the intake of turmeric-based food supplements. Faced with this risk, the National Food Safety Agency warns of the risk of adverse effects. A very common spice, turmeric is not only used in cooking but also exists in food supplements. It is in this form that ANSES calls on the general public to be vigilant, because of the adverse effects they can cause.
On June 27, the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) warned against food supplements containing turmeric, potentially dangerous to health.
A report from the Italian authorities
Asked by Doctissimo, the head of ANSES’s nutrition risk assessment unit, Aymeric Dopter said: “We received a report from our Italian counterparts, who had identified several cases of hepatitis linked to the consumption of food supplements containing turmeric“.
By working on the subject, the same problem is then detected in France. Between 2009 and 2021, about fifteen cases of hepatitis linked to these products are identified.
Virtues that remain to be demonstrated
Many virtues are attributed to turmeric, such as anti-cancer properties, which have yet to be demonstrated by large-scale studies in humans. This may explain its appeal and its consumption in the form of food supplements.
Remember that consumed as a spice in the diet, turmeric does not present any risk. It is in high doses, as a food supplement and in particular in a formulation which increases the bioavailability of curcumin – the active principle of turmeric – that this can pose a problem.
A public health message
Aymeric Dopter wishes to recall certain recommendations: “The message we want to convey is that the consumption of food supplements containing turmeric is not trivial. As with all other food supplements, you must be sure of the need to take them and beyond the relevance of taking them, especially knowing if your state of health allows it.“.
For this, Aymeric Dopter advises to “talk to your doctor or pharmacistFinally, he recalls the serious consequences of taking these food supplements in certain patients, such as biliary damage or a drop in the effectiveness or safety of certain anticoagulant, immunosuppressive or anticancer treatments.