Turmeric has been shown to have numerous health benefits, any I want them! The benefits around lessening inflammation and pain (along with the limited side effects) made me start taking turmeric capsules each day.
But, as with all supplements, I always wonder if the ingredients are accurate. How much turmeric is actually in my supplement?
Luckily, a new study came out that compares two methods of analyzing turmeric content and whether there is any synthetic turmeric present. Previous studies have found that turmeric has been mixed with other species of Curcuma, starches, chalk powder, cassava, dyes (including Metanil Yellow), synthetic curcuminoids, and lead chromate. With synthetic turmeric three times cheaper than true turmeric, adding synthetic turmeric is a cost-saving measure. Out of the 14 samples, 4 were found to have accurate labels.
In the study results, the authors provided a table with description about each of their samples. I knew immediately I wanted to try to identify some of the products so that I could find a product with an accurate label.
Some of the ingredients were more descriptive than others. For instance, one listed ingredients as “turmeric curcumin” while others were more specific about the ingredients and the amounts (“Turmeric Root Extract (Curcuma Longa) 1200 mg, Turmeric 95% Curcuminoids 100 mg, BioPerine (Black Pepper Extract) 10 mg, Methycellulose capsule”). I couldn’t confidently identify all of the products that were labeled correctly because they were too vague.
Samples with accurate turmeric labels
Sample Code | Price ($) | Ingredients | Sample format |
GCA002 | 9.99 | Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) Root Powder, Turmeric Extract 95% Standardized Curcuminoids, Black Pepper Fruit Extract | 90 capsules |
GCA003 | 18.95 | turmeric curcumin | 50 g (powder) |
GCA005 | 7.99 | Turmeric Curcumin, Black Pepper Bioprene, vegetable cellulose | 90 capsules |
GCA013 | 18.79 | Turmeric (Curcuma longa) root 1350 mg, Turmeric Extract (95% Standardized Curcuminoids) 150 mg, Black Pepper Fruit Extract (BioPerine) 10 mg, Vegetable Capsule | 90 capsules |
I think I found a match to an accurate turmeric supplement
The last sample GCA013, though…I think that’s specific enough that I found the turmeric. Based on this study, it looks like the BioSchwartz Turmeric Curcumin with BioPerine 1500mg has accurate labeling for turmeric content. The price and bottle size also lines up exactly with what was included in the study.
Study Ingredients for GCA013 | BioSchwartz Turmeric Curcumin with BioPerine 1500mg |
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) root 1350 mg Turmeric Extract (95% Standardized Curcuminoids) 150 mg Black Pepper Fruit Extract (BioPerine) 10 mg Vegetable Capsule |
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