What Happens to Your Body When You Take Turmeric and Fish Oil Together

Turmeric is a spice from the ginger family that contains a high amount of curcumin, while fish oil is a supplement packed with the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both are often taken for their combined health benefits.

Jump to Key Takeaways.

1. Your Heart Health Could Benefit

Fish oil and curcumin (the main component of turmeric) may help improve certain factors that affect heart health.

In a 2024 clinical trial, participants with diabetes were assigned to one of the following four groups:

• Fish oil (two capsules of 200 milligrams [mg] DHA and 500 mg of EPA)
• Nano-curcumin, a modified form of curcumin (80 mg)
• Combination of fish oil and nano-curcumin
• Placebo (nontherapeutic substance)

Overall, the results showed that fish oil and nano-curcumin helped decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.

Fish oil supplements have also been shown to reduce heart rate, increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, and improve triglycerides. However, some studies suggest that adding curcumin to fish oil provides no additional benefit to these outcomes.

Overall, taking these supplements, either separately or together, could provide some heart health benefits.

2. Your Brain Function May Get a Boost

In a 16-week study, fish oil and curcumin improved certain markers of brain function.

Compared to a placebo, fish oil supplements improved processing speed, especially in middle-aged to older males. Relative to placebo, curcumin showed improvement in a working memory test, particularly the verbal memory test in males.

While both fish oil and curcumin had independent effects on cognitive performance, the combination did not seem to result in additional benefits. Since the effects were primarily in males, the study authors concluded that further clinical trials are necessary to understand response differences between the sexes.

3. You May Have Better Blood Sugar Control

In a small 2018 study, 16 volunteers were randomly assigned to one of the following before a standard breakfast meal.

• Fish oil (1.2 grams of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)
• Curcumin (180 mg)
• Combination of fish oil and curcumin
• Placebo

The volunteers had four test days, each separated by one-week periods of no intervention. On the test day, the researchers took blood glucose (sugar), insulin, and triglyceride levels at certain intervals up to 120 minutes after the meal.

Compared to baseline at 60 minutes, post-meal glucose levels were lower among the curcumin and the combination groups. Relative to placebo, this change in blood glucose levels was not seen for fish oil alone. The change in post-meal insulin levels was also lower among the curcumin and the combination groups compared to the placebo.

4. Inflammation In Your Body May Drop

A 12-week study evaluating fish oil and nano-curcumin supplementation in people with diabetes showed that the combination may relieve inflammation and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when there aren’t enough naturally occurring antioxidants in your body to attack unstable molecules known as free radicals.

Participants took either fish oil (200 mg of DHA and 500 mg of EPA) or nano-curcumin (800 mg), a combination of both, or a placebo.

Those who took the combination supplement had a significant decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. CRP levels typically rise in response to inflammation.

5. You Might Notice Less Joint Pain or Stiffness

Fish oil has also been shown to reduce osteoarthritis (OA)-related pain, a degenerative joint disease that causes pain, stiffness, and inflammation. One 16-week study showed that taking fish oil supplements reduced OA pain compared with a placebo. Curcumin, with or without fish oil, provided no added benefits.

Is It Safe to Take Turmeric and Fish Oil?

In some clinical trials that studied turmeric and fish oil, most side effects involved the digestive system. Examples include:

• Bloatedness
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Nausea

Side effects were not statistically significant among different groups, including the placebo.

When taken on its own, turmeric can cause:

• Itching and hives when used on the skin
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach upset
• Liver damage

Side effects of fish oil are generally mild and can include:

• Bad breath
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Sweat that smells

When taking omega-3s, it’s important to consider maintaining a balanced dietary ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats—ideally between 1:1 and 1:4—to support overall health and reduce the risk of certain conditions.

Key Takeaways

• Some studies suggest fish oil and turmeric can benefit heart health, brain function, inflammation, and blood sugar. Overall, however, many of the studies were small and short.
• Additional high-quality and long-term studies with more study participants are still warranted to better understand the possible effects of combining fish oil and curcumin.
• Talk to your healthcare provider before starting or combining any dietary supplements.