Ministry of Health. Warnings for turmeric supplements. Not recommended in case of impaired liver function

The Ministry of Health communicates the amendment to the decree of 10 August 2018 on the use of e plant preparations in food supplements, which introduces an additional warning for the labeling of supplements containing ingredients derived from Curcuma longa and spp

The interdisciplinary group of experts specifically set up, in light of the persistence of cases of hepatotoxicity, deemed it necessary to expand the specific warning inserted in 2019 for supplements containing extracts and preparations of Curcuma longa and spp to protect consumers.

The decree of 28 July 2022 provides for the introduction of the following additional warning for the labeling of supplements containing ingredients derived from Curcuma longa and spp:

“AVVERTENZA IMPORTANTE In caso di alterazioni della funzione epatica, biliare o di calcolosi delle vie biliari, l’uso del prodotto è sconsigliato. Non usare in gravidanza e allattamento. Non utilizzare per periodi prolungati senza consultare il medico. Se si stanno assumendo farmaci, è opportuno sentire il parere del medico.”

Furthermore, the aforementioned decree eliminates from the ministerial guidelines the physiological effects previously foreseen for Curcuma longa and spp, which, therefore, can no longer be used.

Food business operators are required to comply with the labeling of food supplements containing extracts and preparations of Curcuma longa and spp no later than 31 December 2022.

MdS – 3 agosto 2022

The press release from the Ministry of Health

Note

Curcuma longa L. is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, widely spread in southern Asia, particularly in the Indian region, for this reason it is also known as Indian saffron. This perennial plant reaches a height of about one meter, has long leaves and a typical spike-shaped inflorescence; it also has a fruit consisting of a capsule divided into three lodges.

The drug is represented by the tuberized rhizome, deprived of the roots and dried; through cleaning and drug processing procedures a powder with a typical yellow-orange colour, aromatic odor and bitter taste is obtained. This preparation has found wide use both in the culinary field, for example in the preparation of curry, but also as a textile and food dye, in fact the Curcuma longa extract is the first among the food additives codified by the European Union (E100).

The different biological activities of turmeric can be traced back to the components of the essential oil and to the curcuminoids. The latter, however, are characterized by low intestinal absorption.

Turmeric is a drug with great potential, as evidenced by the numerous clinical studies in the literature. The main action of curcumin is to limit the production of free radicals from oxidative stress, induced by various causes

Its properties also make it an interesting anti-inflammatory, whose activity is however limited by the difficulties of absorption. Many efforts have been made to improve the bioavailability of the active ingredient, for this reason it is important to confirm the activities of these new formulations with further quality clinical studies.

TAmong the most commonly found properties we find benefits in the field of arthritis, metabolic syndromes, choleretic effect, etc., while the data in terms of inflammatory skin pathologies are also very promising.

It is underway at the Mario Negri Institute one study to evaluate its anti-inflammatory benefits