Can curcumin lower hemoglobin, hematocrit, and / or platelet levels?
All my other numbers remain steady, but my hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet levels have been on a slow decline.
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Re: Curcumin & hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet levels
I've been on curcumin for 4 + years. My hemoglobin and red blood cell counts were on a very slow decline the first 20 months until I bumped up my iron intake via a supplement (with my oncologist's approval) and started eating more red meat back in July, 2014. My numbers then reversed over the past two years until the point where I am now back to the levels I was at when first diagnosed four years ago. You might find this thread to be helpful:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/counteracting-anemia-t3676.html
Everyone is different and diet isn't going to turn around this type of situation for everyone - but it may be worth a try.
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/counteracting-anemia-t3676.html
Everyone is different and diet isn't going to turn around this type of situation for everyone - but it may be worth a try.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Curcumin & hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet levels
Multibilly,
Just curious, what dose of iron are you taking? I'm on 4 g of curcumin, which I have been on since diagnosis in 2014 and my platelet count and hemoglobin have been trending downward over the same time period. I didn't put the two together until I started searching the forum today and now I vaguely remember that curcumin can affect platelets. I don't eat any meat at all, let alone red meat. I wonder if I need to start eating some liver occasionally!
All of my smoldering myeloma markers are stable. Actually, in fact, my IgG and M-spike have been trending downward over the past year. My kappa-lambda ratio is also virtually unchanged since diagnosis 3 years ago.
I will be getting my ferritin levels tested in a few weeks. My oncologist is not concerned as he says the drop so far is not clinically significant. He thinks it's diet-related and wants me to make sure I get enough iron in my diet. My GP is also not concerned and wants my iron level tested, so I think he thinks it's diet-related as well.
Also, how many months went by before you saw an improvement in your hemoglobin?
Just curious, what dose of iron are you taking? I'm on 4 g of curcumin, which I have been on since diagnosis in 2014 and my platelet count and hemoglobin have been trending downward over the same time period. I didn't put the two together until I started searching the forum today and now I vaguely remember that curcumin can affect platelets. I don't eat any meat at all, let alone red meat. I wonder if I need to start eating some liver occasionally!
All of my smoldering myeloma markers are stable. Actually, in fact, my IgG and M-spike have been trending downward over the past year. My kappa-lambda ratio is also virtually unchanged since diagnosis 3 years ago.
I will be getting my ferritin levels tested in a few weeks. My oncologist is not concerned as he says the drop so far is not clinically significant. He thinks it's diet-related and wants me to make sure I get enough iron in my diet. My GP is also not concerned and wants my iron level tested, so I think he thinks it's diet-related as well.
Also, how many months went by before you saw an improvement in your hemoglobin?
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FingersCrossed - Name: FingersCrossed
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Oct 2014 (Smoldering)
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Curcumin & hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet levels
FC,
I take 65 mg elemental iron daily, which is equivalent to 325 mg ferrous sulfate USP. Specifically, I take NatureMade iron that I buy at Costco. I cleared this with my hematologist before starting on it.
If you do the research, you will find that there are several different kinds of iron preparations (different ferrous salts, etc) on the market and lots of discussion on the absorption rates of each. Beware that some of these articles are the usual pseudo-scientific junk written by folks trying to promote a product (as you often find with various curcumin articles). I didn't really agonize over my choice of which iron supplement to take and was content in just getting "some" additional iron into my diet by taking the ferrous sulfate preparation.
I take 65 mg elemental iron daily, which is equivalent to 325 mg ferrous sulfate USP. Specifically, I take NatureMade iron that I buy at Costco. I cleared this with my hematologist before starting on it.
If you do the research, you will find that there are several different kinds of iron preparations (different ferrous salts, etc) on the market and lots of discussion on the absorption rates of each. Beware that some of these articles are the usual pseudo-scientific junk written by folks trying to promote a product (as you often find with various curcumin articles). I didn't really agonize over my choice of which iron supplement to take and was content in just getting "some" additional iron into my diet by taking the ferrous sulfate preparation.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Curcumin & hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet levels
Thanks,
Are you still eating red meat once a week?
I don't know if curcumin is a contributing factor to my myeloma stability, but I would hate to not be able to take it (I feel like it's helping, but who knows). That said, I wonder if I can cut back to 1-2 g and still get the same impact on my multiple myeloma markers.
Are you still eating red meat once a week?
I don't know if curcumin is a contributing factor to my myeloma stability, but I would hate to not be able to take it (I feel like it's helping, but who knows). That said, I wonder if I can cut back to 1-2 g and still get the same impact on my multiple myeloma markers.
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FingersCrossed - Name: FingersCrossed
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Oct 2014 (Smoldering)
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Curcumin & hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet levels
I eat red meat at least once a week and often a couple of times a week (and love it) 
But I do try to eat organic and/or grass-fed beef when I do eat red meat.
Not sure I can help you with your question about dialing down your curcumin dose.
But I do try to eat organic and/or grass-fed beef when I do eat red meat.Not sure I can help you with your question about dialing down your curcumin dose.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Curcumin & hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet levels
I've been taking 1,000 mg of turmeric every day since shortly after diagnosis, 3-1/2 years (with my doctor's blessing).
My hemoglobin and hematocrit are above normal, and my platelets hover around low normal or slightly below normal, depending where I'm at in my chemo cycle. Occasionally, my hematocrit starts to edge up to 49 (50 means phlebotomy). I often wondered if this is from the turmeric, but my myeloma is under control, so I keep taking it.
My hemoglobin and hematocrit are above normal, and my platelets hover around low normal or slightly below normal, depending where I'm at in my chemo cycle. Occasionally, my hematocrit starts to edge up to 49 (50 means phlebotomy). I often wondered if this is from the turmeric, but my myeloma is under control, so I keep taking it.
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Janet1520
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