People with severe obesity often experience gastrointestinal (GI) effects such as bloating, indigestion, stomach pain, acid reflux and altered bowel patterns. In a recent study, a group of women with severe obesity experienced a reduction in GI symptoms as well as body mass index (BMI, which is elevated in obesity) after consuming curcumin daily for 13 weeks compared with severely obese women who received a placebo.

“Despite the high prevalence of gastrointestinal disturbances among individuals with obesity, evidence regarding the impact of bioactive compounds, particularly curcumin, on gastrointestinal function in this population remains limited,” authors Fabiana Martins Kattah of Federal University of Goiás, Brazil and colleagues noted. “Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of curcumin supplementation on gastrointestinal symptoms in women with severe obesity prior to bariatric surgery.”

The pilot study included 24 women with a body mass index that was indicative of severe obesity. Twelve women were given capsules containing 250 milligrams of curcumin and were instructed to consume three with lunch and three with dinner for 13 weeks. The remaining 12 women received a placebo.

At the end of the study, women who received curcumin had significant reductions in total Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale scores, constipation and belching, while no significant symptom improvements occurred in the placebo group. Participants in the curcumin group also experienced a significant decrease in neck circumference and a significant average 4.0 kg/m² reduction in BMI, which did not occur among women who received a placebo.

“The present study demonstrated, for the first time, that curcumin supplementation alleviates gastrointestinal symptoms in women with severe obesity,” the authors concluded.

The findings were reported June 20, 2025, in the journal Nutrients.¹