Iron Deficiency Anemia Due to High-dose Turmeric.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Single-patient case report
PubMed 30899609 · doi:10.7759/cureus.3858
What was done
A case report evaluated a 66-year-old male taking six turmeric extract capsules (538 mg each) daily for an osteoarthritis flare. Clinical evaluation included serial hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin measurements, as well as upper and lower endoscopy and Hemoccult testing to exclude gastrointestinal bleeding. Turmeric was discontinued while iron supplementation continued, with repeat laboratory evaluation performed two weeks later.
What was found
While taking turmeric, the patient's hemoglobin remained below 12 g/dL with iron and ferritin levels consistent with iron deficiency, despite negative endoscopic and Hemoccult evaluations. Two weeks after stopping turmeric and continuing his iron supplement, hemoglobin and iron studies normalized. Exact baseline and follow-up numerical values for iron and ferritin were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This report suggests that high-dose oral turmeric supplements may bind iron in the gut and impede absorption in humans, leading to reversible iron deficiency anemia.
Limits
Findings are limited to a single individual (n = 1) with self-administered supplementation. The abstract does not provide exact numerical values or reference ranges for the iron and ferritin panels, and case reports cannot establish causality or determine the incidence of this interaction in broader populations.
Cited by
- supports Curcumin can bind/sequester iron and impair iron absorption in individuals with low iron levels.