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SAN FRANCISCO — Curcumin supplements, which contain the primary active compound in the spice turmeric, may help reduce depressive symptoms when used alongside standard treatment for clinical depression.

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials showed that adults who received adjunctive curcumin supplementation experienced significantly greater reductions in depressive symptom severity than those who received placebo or standard care. 

Researchers also reported low between-study heterogeneity, suggesting consistent effects across diverse patient populations, including those with major depressive disorder, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

“I’d consider this a safe adjunctive option for clinicians, to be used alongside other medications that they normally prescribe,” co-investigator Malav Patel, MBBS, MPH, Boston University School of Public Health, told Medscape Medical News. 

He added that none of the studies included reported major side effects. 

The findings were presented May 16 at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2026 Annual Meeting. 

An Age-Old Ingredient 

Curcumin has previously been proposed as a potential treatment for psychiatric conditions because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It joins other phytoceuticals — including St John’s wort, saffron, and lavender — that have been studied as adjunctive therapies for mood disorders. 

Turmeric has been used for centuries in cooking and traditional medicine in South East Asia and many other parts of the world.

Patel said his team became interested in curcumin after seeing studies suggesting potential benefits for depression and anxiety and wanted to explore the evidence more thoroughly. He added that they were also interested in whether curcumin supplementation could represent a simple lifestyle-based intervention with possible neuroprotective benefits for patients. 

The systematic review and meta-analysis included five global randomized controlled trials conducted up to the end of 2025 and with a duration of at least 4 weeks. 

Among the adult participants, who were aged 18-65 years, 284 received 250-500 mg curcumin capsules and 261 received placebo or standard care.

The primary outcome was change in scores on validated depression measures such as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I² statistics.

A Nutritional Approach to Depression? 

Pooled results showed a significant reduction in depressive symptom severity for the curcumin vs placebo groups (standardized mean difference, -0.74; P < .00001). The researchers noted that this indicated a “moderate-to-large effect size.”

Furthermore, each of the five included studies independently showed superior outcomes for curcumin. Heterogeneity between the studies was also low (I² = 16%).

“No single study disproportionately influenced the pooled estimate, with the largest trial contributing the greatest statistical weight,” the researchers noted in their abstract. 

They added that the findings showed both a statistically and clinically significant decrease in depressive symptoms for curcumin supplementation, with large-scale studies now needed to identify the best dosing strategies, underlying mechanisms, and possible varying effects among depression types. 

“This evidence-based support for a natural compound aligns with increasing public and clinical enthusiasm for holistic and natural treatment approaches in mental healthcare,” the investigators noted. 

Patel added that he hopes to assess whether the spice itself is as effective as a capsule. 

“If so, I think that would be better to recommend to patients because, to their point of view, it’s not adding on an additional medication. They’re just adding a little bit of flavor to their food,” he said.

‘Clinically Meaningful’ 

Uma Naidoo, MD, director of nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who was not involved in the research, said the findings add to growing evidence supporting nutritional approaches as adjunctive treatment strategies in psychiatry. 

Although the meta-analysis included a relatively small number of trials, the results were consistent across the studies, she noted.

“Overall, this is a thoughtful and clinically meaningful analysis that adds to a growing body of literature examining the role of nutraceuticals in mental health,” Naidoo, who was not involved with the research, told Medscape Medical News. 

“What is particularly interesting, and somewhat surprising, is that these benefits were observed across diverse groups. This points toward shared underlying mechanisms, likely involving inflammation and metabolic dysfunction,” she said.

Naidoo noted that curcumin joins other plant-based compounds that have shown antidepressant effects in randomized trials, but it is “especially compelling because of its multi-system impact,” including not just anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties but also neurotransmitter-modulating ones. 

“This positions it not simply as a mood enhancer but as a compound that may target some of the underlying biological drivers of depression,” she said. 

Naidoo said the study findings are likely applicable across populations, including in the US, because the underlying biological pathways involved “are universal.”

Although a US population typically has higher rates of ultra-processed food consumption, metabolic dysfunction, and altered gut microbiome profiles, “these factors may make interventions like curcumin more relevant in US cohorts,” she added. 

Still, she urged caution when considering real-world application of the findings, especially because curcumin was used in capsule form and not as a spice in food.

“While culinary turmeric can certainly contribute to an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern and support long-term health, it is unlikely to achieve the same therapeutic concentrations seen in clinical trials,” Naidoo said. 

Patel and Naidoo reported no relevant financial relationships. Nadoo is also the author of the book, Calm Your Mind With Food.