Taking turmeric with other supplements, and which pairs to check first

A kitchen cupboard of supplements builds up gradually, one sensible purchase at a time, and hardly anyone stops to ask how the bottles get on with each other.

Taking turmeric with other supplements depends on which ones. Iron is the pair with the clearest concern, because curcumin binds iron, and herbs that may affect clotting need a check too. NHS advice also says not to exceed 100 micrograms of vitamin D a day, so add up your labels. A pharmacist can check the list.

Key takeaways

• Most concerns about turmeric relate to concentrated curcumin extracts at medicinal doses, and direct evidence on drinks is limited.
• Curcumin binds iron, so anyone taking iron should ask a pharmacist about timing.
• Ginkgo, garlic, Panax ginseng, and ginger may add to any effect on clotting.
• Vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc all have NHS limits, and they can turn up in more than one product you take.
• Take every label to your pharmacist, including your shot.

What should you know about taking turmeric with other supplements?

Most combinations haven't been studied, so the answer depends on what's in the rest of your cupboard.

A supplement interaction is defined as one product changing how another behaves in your body, or adding to its effects. The Welsh Medicines Advice Service is our main guide here, and the dose comes first in its thinking. Nearly all reported or theoretical interactions relate to medicinal doses of turmeric or concentrated curcumin supplements. Our shots are juiced whole-food drinks that carry far less curcuminoid than an extract capsule.

The evidence itself is limited, mostly lab and animal work that may not apply to people, and very little of it looks at drinks. So the safest habit is to tell a pharmacist what you take, as the NHS advises before adding a herbal product to any other medicine.

Can you take turmeric with iron?

Ask first, because this is the pair with a known mechanism.

Curcumin is an iron chelator, meaning it binds iron, and our guide to turmeric and iron absorption goes through that evidence. If you take iron tablets, the NHS says to leave a gap between them and other medicines, and to ask your doctor or pharmacist how long. It doesn't give a figure for turmeric. It also asks you to mention supplements containing calcium, magnesium, or zinc. If you've been told you're anaemic, read our page on turmeric and anaemia as well.

Which supplements may add to a blood-thinning effect?

The Welsh service lists angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginkgo, ginger, Panax ginseng, and willow.

Turmeric may affect clotting when taken in large amounts, and those herbs might have anticoagulant or antiplatelet effects of their own, so it advises caution with the combination. A review of 78 foods and herbs found ginger and ginkgo among those that may raise bleeding risk with warfarin, while noting that most can be taken safely in moderation. If you're on warfarin or a similar medicine, see our page on turmeric and warfarin.

If you have a planned operation coming up, the Welsh service's advice on adverse effects is to stop medicinal turmeric at least two weeks before, and your surgeon will want to know about anything else you take.

Can you take turmeric with ashwagandha?

We couldn't find a trial of the pair, and the cautions that apply to each still apply.

Ashwagandha should be avoided in pregnancy, and anyone who's breastfeeding, on thyroid medication, sedatives, or anxiety or sleep medicines, or who has an autoimmune condition or liver problem should ask a GP or pharmacist first. Our guide to ashwagandha for stress and sleep explains why. Both ingredients have rare reports of liver injury, and our page on turmeric and liver health covers the turmeric side.

Raw Turmeric & Ashwagandha already contains KSM-66 ashwagandha extract at 0.8% alongside turmeric at 8%. So if you take an ashwagandha capsule, mention both before doubling up.

Can you take turmeric with vitamin D?

Yes, but count your total if the shot contains it.

The NHS says 10 micrograms a day is enough for most people and suggests considering a supplement in autumn and winter. Adults shouldn't take more than 100 micrograms a day, since too much over a long period can raise calcium in the blood and may damage the kidneys and heart. Some conditions lower that safe amount, so check with your doctor if you have one.

Raw Turmeric & Vitamin C & D3 contains vitamin D3, so add the figure on its pack to your multivitamin and any separate tablet. Our article on vitamin C and D3 has the background.

What about magnesium and zinc?

Check the amounts on the labels, as both have NHS limits.

The NHS says 400mg or less of magnesium a day from supplements is unlikely to cause harm, and that more than 400mg for a short time can cause diarrhoea. It also says not to take more than 25mg of zinc a day unless advised by a doctor, since high doses reduce how much copper you absorb. Several of our shots list added magnesium, and Raw Turmeric & Ashwagandha and Raw Turmeric & Pro-Collagen list zinc. Our article on magnesium and muscle function covers why people take it.

Can you take turmeric with a multivitamin?

Usually the concern here is overlap.

A multivitamin may already carry vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, and iron, which is where a second product can push you closer to a limit, and any iron in it brings the question above. Our comparison of wellness shots and multivitamins looks at what each does.

Where does a shot fit?

Alongside what you take, once you've added it to the list you show your pharmacist.

If you want the simplest label to check, Raw Turmeric Original has the shortest in our range, with raw turmeric root at 30% in a cold-crushed, whole watermelon-based blend with pineapple, lemon, magnesium, and vitamin C, plus our trade-secret BioMax Uptake Blend®, which includes black pepper, at a 0.1% inclusion. It contains no ginger, which takes one item off the clotting list. And if you already take a turmeric capsule, ask before adding a shot, since the Welsh service notes piperine's effect on absorption may have safety implications.

The takeaway

Taking turmeric with other supplements is mostly a matter of knowing which pairs deserve a question. Iron and anything that may affect clotting come first, then the totals for vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc.

Once your pharmacist has seen the list, a single Raw Turmeric Original each morning is the easy, one-bottle way to keep turmeric in your day.

Frequently asked questions