Turmeric

Excerpt

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome contains curcuminoids such as curcumin. No data exist on the excretion of any components of turmeric into breastmilk. A small study found no adverse effects in infants exposed to turmeric in milk. Turmeric is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) as a food ingredient by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Turmeric is generally well tolerated even in high doses, but gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and diarrhea, and allergic reactions have been reported. Contact dermatitis has been reported after skin contact with curcumin-containing products.[1] Turmeric may increase the risk of bleeding in patients taking warfarin and antiplatelet drugs.

Curcumin was effective for reducing postpartum depression and decreasing anxiety in one well-performed study of postpartum women.[2] Turmeric has been used as a galactogogue in India and Indonesia;[3-6] however, no scientific data support this use. In fact, curcumin suppresses milk production in lactating mammary epithelial cells in vitro.[7] Galactogogues should never replace evaluation and counseling on modifiable factors that affect milk production.[8,9] In Thailand it is reportedly used as part of a topical herbal mixture to shorten the time to full lactation and also part of a topical herbal mixture used for breast engorgement.[10,11] In India turmeric is a component of a paste applied to the breasts for sore nipples, and one study in Iran of moderate quality found it more effective than breastmilk for this use.[12,13] Turmeric products often contain piperine to enhance the absorption of curcuminoids. Information on piperine in breastfeeding can be found in the LactMed record on Black Pepper.

Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information about dietary supplements is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.