Does curcumin phytosome help knee osteoarthritis pain, and is there a liver safety concern I should know about?

Several small-to-moderate randomized trials suggest bioavailable curcumin, including lecithin phytosome (Meriva), may reduce knee OA pain scores versus placebo. Typical trial doses were about 500 mg of phytosome twice daily, which supplies roughly 100 mg of curcuminoids per capsule. Trial durations ranged from 8 weeks to 8 months. Some trials were industry-funded, sample sizes were modest, and effects often fall short of the clinically meaningful threshold. Safety matters too. LiverTox and published case reports describe rare turmeric-associated liver injury, mostly with high-bioavailability products or added piperine. Stop the product and call your clinician if you develop dark urine, jaundice, or persistent nausea. Consider baseline and 6-12 week ALT/AST checks if you take other hepatically cleared drugs or drink alcohol regularly. Curcumin can also add to bleeding risk when combined with anticoagulants or NSAIDs.