Curcumin is a supplement often recommended to weight lifters because it helps reduce inflammation and supports overall joint and muscle health.

Guys in the iron game tend to experience iron overload due to high red meat consumption. As I’ve mentioned before, curcumin can help reduce the build-up of iron in the blood (see here). Supporting studies include:

• Curcumin as a cancer chemopreventive and iron chelator
• Study on curcumin and inflammation
• Review of curcumin’s physiological effects

However, with the good comes the bad. Curcumin is also reported to have antiandrogenic activity. In plain English, it may lower testosterone levels—which might be counterproductive to your strength and hypertrophy goals.

Consider the following studies:

• Curcumin’s effect on androgen signaling
• Antiandrogenic and estrogenic effects of curcumin
• Impact on testosterone production

Bottom Line:

Don’t supplement blindly—you might be robbing Peter to pay Paul. Curcumin may offer benefits in the right context, but it’s not for everyone. Do your homework and weigh the pros and cons based on your individual goals and health profile. In the supplement world, context is everything.