Curcumin supplementation during high-altitude exposure modulates body composition and its relationship with gut microbiota: a randomized controlled trial.

Researchers randomly assigned adults spending time at high altitude, where the air is thinner, to take curcumin or a look-alike placebo. They measured body composition, meaning the amounts of body fat and muscle, and gut microbiota, the community of microorganisms living in the intestines. The curcumin group showed different changes in body composition and gut bacteria compared with the placebo group. The study also found links between the body-composition changes and changes in gut bacteria, but this does not prove that one caused the other.

What this means for you: This is not strong evidence that curcumin improves health or longevity. The study was limited to high-altitude exposure and measured short-term body and gut changes, so most people can ignore it when deciding whether to buy curcumin.