Smith Thomas J, Ashar Bimal H
Oncology, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, USA.
Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, USA.
Cureus. 2019 Jan 9;11(1):e3858. doi: 10.7759/cureus.3858.
Turmeric is increasingly studied as an anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent. It binds to ferric iron in the gut and causes iron deficiency in mice. We report here a possible case of iron deficiency anemia in a human taking turmeric. A 66-year-old physician treated himself for an osteoarthritis flare after steroids with six turmeric extract capsules (538 mg) daily, to help with inflammation. During this time, his hemoglobin never rose above 12 and his iron and ferritin levels were consistent with iron deficiency. Upper and lower endoscopy and Hemoccult™ studies were negative. Two weeks after stopping the turmeric and continuing his usual iron supplement, his hemoglobin had returned to normal, with normalizing iron studies. Turmeric was associated with significant iron deficiency anemia, consistent with the binding of available iron in the gut and the prevention of absorption. This resolved after the turmeric was stopped, consistent with animal studies. This may be the first case of documented iron deficiency anemia in people due to turmeric supplements. Given the widespread use of turmeric and curcumin supplements across many illnesses, further attention is warranted.
姜黄作为一种抗炎和抗肿瘤药物，正受到越来越多的研究。它与肠道中的三价铁结合，导致小鼠缺铁。我们在此报告一例服用姜黄的人类可能出现缺铁性贫血的病例。一名66岁的医生在使用类固醇治疗骨关节炎发作后，每天服用六粒姜黄提取物胶囊（538毫克）来缓解炎症。在此期间，他的血红蛋白从未升至12以上，铁和铁蛋白水平符合缺铁情况。上消化道和下消化道内窥镜检查以及潜血试验结果均为阴性。在停止服用姜黄并继续服用常规铁补充剂两周后，他的血红蛋白恢复正常，铁研究指标也恢复正常。姜黄与严重的缺铁性贫血有关，这与肠道中可利用铁的结合以及吸收受阻一致。停用姜黄后贫血症状缓解，这与动物研究结果相符。这可能是首例因服用姜黄补充剂导致人类缺铁性贫血的记录病例。鉴于姜黄和姜黄素补充剂在多种疾病中的广泛使用，有必要进一步关注。
