Supplements in Review

  • Protein
  • Nootropic
  • Testosterone
  • Fat Loss
  • Pre-Workout
  • Vision
  • Sleep
  • More Categories…
    • Greens
    • Energy
    • Immune
    • Stress
    • Joints
    • Post-Workout
    • Growth Hormone
    • Multi
    • Brands
  • Blog
You are here: Home / Joints / Turmeric or Curcumin for Joint Pain: Which is Better?

Turmeric or Curcumin for Joint Pain: Which is Better?

February 7, 2024 By Valentino Muža Leave a Comment Last Updated: April 2, 2024

An image of turmeric on wooden table representing the topic of the article: turmeric or curcumin for joint pain

Article Summary

Between turmeric or curcumin, curcumin may offer more benefits for joint pain specifically. You need less curcumin to achieve the same effects as you would with a much higher dosage of turmeric. With that said, turmeric contains other compounds besides curcumin, such as turmerones which increase turmeric’s overall effectiveness for health, so the choice is ultimately down to what works better for you.

I will say, though, that whether you go with curcumin or turmeric powder, make sure to include black pepper alongside it – assuming you take a joint supplement that doesn’t contain it – as piperine that is found in black pepper dramatically increases curcumin’s absorption. 

Turmeric vs Curcumin Notes

Turmeric is a golden-yellow spice originating from India that is commonly used for cooking. While turmeric has been a part of traditional medicine in South Asia for thousands of years, its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving effects have only started getting recognized by scientific research relatively recently.

One of the main reasons for turmeric’s joint health effects, among many other benefits (including for the brain), is actually curcumin, a compound in turmeric.12

Curcumin is one of the best-researched compounds found in turmeric, but it’s not the only one. Turmeric also contains:

  1. emethoxycurcumin: This is similar to curcumin in its effects and molecular structure.
  2. Bisdemethoxycurcumin: Another compound present in turmeric with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but it’s less researched than curcumin. 
  3. Turmerones: These are volatile oils that, in addition to having their own antibacterial and neuroprotective effects, enhance the bioavailability (absorption) of curcumin.
  4. Cyclic Curcuminoids: Again, these molecules in turmeric are similar to curcumin in terms of their bioactivities.
  5. Nutrients: These include vitamins and trace minerals like iron and zinc. 

Generally, turmeric and curcumin share similar benefits, which include reduced inflammatory markers, less joint pain, enhanced brain health and cognitive well-being, improved gut health, and stronger immunity.

The Bottom Line on Their Differences

When it comes to joint health, there aren’t that many significant differences between turmeric and curcumin.

While turmeric contains a wide spectrum of healthful compounds, the most potent and studied one is curcumin. Curcumin, when taken in isolation, seems to have similar effects as taking turmeric.

The key is that curcumin needs to be paired with piperine (a compound found in black pepper) to enhance its absorption in the blood and hence provide the anti-inflammatory and joint health benefits. This shouldn’t be a problem when taking a quality turmeric or curcumin supplement as most of them contain piperine alongside it.

Further Reading: MSM and Turmeric: Can You Combine Them?

References

  1. Peng Y, Ao M, Dong B, Jiang Y, Yu L, Chen Z, Hu C, Xu R. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the Inflammatory Diseases: Status, Limitations and Countermeasures. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2021 Nov 2;15:4503-4525. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S327378. PMID: 34754179; PMCID: PMC8572027. ↩︎
  2. Daily JW, Yang M, Park S. Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. J Med Food. 2016 Aug;19(8):717-29. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2016.3705. PMID: 27533649; PMCID: PMC5003001. ↩︎

Filed Under: Joints

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Find us on Facebook

Supplements in Review

About the director

My name is Valentino Muza, and I am the managing director and lead author at Supplements in Review. I am responsible for content production of the website. Read more about Valentino...

Recently Added

  • My Performance Lab Omega-3 Review [Updated]
  • Top Nootropic Supplements for 2025
  • Salt Wrap Joint Clinic Review – Does it Work?
  • Joint Supplements for Active Seniors With Osteoarthritis
  • Zenwise Joint Support Review: Does it Work?
  • Omega XL vs Omega 3: Which is Better?
  • Life Seasons Mobili-T Review
  • Tailoring Joint Supplement Regimens for Advanced Osteoarthritis Management
  • Exploring Natural Joint Supplements for Osteoarthritis Relief
  • Exploring the Impact of Joint Supplements on Senior Osteoarthritis Relief

Book cover of Health Shining Bright by Valentino Muža

Sign up to my email newsletter and receive a free eBook: “Health Shining Bright.”

  • Amazon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Press contact information

valentino@supplementsinreview.com

info@supplementsinreview.com

Disclaimer

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned anywhere on Supplements in Review are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.

Copyright © 2025 · Supplements in Review · Contact Us · Disclaimer

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok