From the Guidelines
Turmeric is not recommended as a primary treatment for IBS due to limited and low-quality evidence supporting its effectiveness, and it should not replace conventional IBS management strategies. The active compound in turmeric, curcumin, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, but its use in IBS is not well-studied, and most evidence is based on its potential benefits in other conditions, such as ulcerative colitis 1.
For patients with IBS, dietary modifications are a primary treatment approach, and the low FODMAP diet is recommended as a second-line dietary therapy, with soluble fiber, such as ispaghula, being an effective treatment for global symptoms and abdominal pain in IBS 1. Regular exercise, stress management, and medications prescribed by healthcare providers are also essential components of IBS management 1.
While turmeric may be considered as a complementary therapy, its potential benefits and risks should be carefully evaluated, and patients should be advised to start with a lower dose and gradually increase to assess tolerance, and to take it for at least 8 weeks to evaluate effectiveness. However, the lack of high-quality evidence supporting the use of turmeric in IBS, and the potential for interactions with other medications, such as blood thinners and diabetes medications, should be taken into consideration.
Key points to consider when managing IBS include:
- Dietary modifications, such as the low FODMAP diet, as a primary treatment approach
- Soluble fiber, such as ispaghula, as an effective treatment for global symptoms and abdominal pain in IBS
- Regular exercise and stress management as essential components of IBS management
- Medications prescribed by healthcare providers as necessary
- Turmeric, if considered, should be used with caution and under the guidance of a healthcare provider, due to limited evidence and potential interactions with other medications.
From the Research
Turmeric in IBS
- Turmeric, particularly its active compound curcumin, has been studied for its potential therapeutic effects on Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies suggest that curcumin and turmeric may improve IBS symptoms, such as abdominal pain and quality of life, due to their anti-inflammatory effects 2, 4, 6.
- A systematic review of population-based evidence found that curcumin and turmeric alone or in combination with other medications could improve the severity of IBS and quality of life among people with IBS symptoms 2.
- A real-life, routine clinical practice settings-based study found that a combined oral berberine and curcumin supplement alleviated IBS symptoms, including abdominal discomfort, distension, and intestinal transit, and improved quality of life 3.
- A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials found that curcumin had a beneficial, although not statistically significant, effect on IBS symptoms, with a pooled standardized mean difference from baseline IBS severity rating of -0.466 4.
- Pilot studies have also shown that turmeric extract may improve IBS symptomology in otherwise healthy adults, with significant reductions in IBS prevalence and symptom-related quality of life 5.
- The combination of curcumin and fennel essential oil has also been found to improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with IBS, with a significant decrease in the mean relative IBS-SSS and improvement in all domains of IBS-QoL 6.
Key Findings
- Curcumin and turmeric may improve IBS symptoms, including abdominal pain and quality of life 2, 4, 6.
- The combination of curcumin and other compounds, such as berberine and fennel essential oil, may have synergistic effects on IBS symptoms 3, 6.
- Turmeric extract may be a useful addition to the treatment of IBS, with significant reductions in IBS prevalence and symptom-related quality of life 5.