Knowledge · Topics
Safety and Tolerability
What is known about tolerability, interactions, and limitations?
The most important question in practice — and the one least often asked. This page compiles what is known about tolerability, dosage, and documented adverse effects.
1. Which Substances Have Been Studied in This Context
The overview shows how many studies exist per substance and type of investigation. A single study may be assigned to multiple topics — the numbers are therefore not additive but describe each subset individually.
| Substance | in humans | of which controlled | human tissue | preliminary work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gut microbiome | 1020 | 187 | 69 | 1437 |
| Chronic inflammation | 949 | 112 | 24 | 819 |
| Vitamin D | 631 | 196 | 14 | 210 |
| Adaptogens | 374 | 189 | 51 | 612 |
| Turmeric and curcumin | 369 | 123 | 71 | 811 |
| Humic acid complexes | 28 | 18 | 9 | 156 |
2. All Substances and Therapies with Controlled Studies on Safety and Tolerability
142 substance and therapy pages assign controlled human studies to this area. The number comes from each page; one study can belong to several areas.
3. The Most Robust Studies
Ranked by evidential strength, not by popularity.
Controlled Human Study
- 1 Curcumin Combined with FOLFOX Chemotherapy Is Safe and Tolerable in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in a Randomized Phase IIa Trial (2019)
- 2 A prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of ashwagandha (2012)
- 3 Wisconsin Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) to improve cancer-related fatigue: a randomised, double-blind trial, N07C2 (2013)
- 4 Efficacy and safety of Curcuma domestica extracts compared with ibuprofen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multicentre study (2014)
- 5 Neuropharmacological review of the nootropic herb Bacopa monnieri (2013)
- 6 Short-term effects of highly bioavailable curcumin for treating knee osteoarthritis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study (2014)
- 7 Pilot study of Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) to improve cancer-related fatigue: a randomised, double-blind, dose-finding evaluation: NCCTG trial (2010)
- 8 An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (2019)
- 9 Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (2018)
- 10 Clinical Use of Curcumin in Depression: A Meta-Analysis (2017)
- 11 Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of liposomal curcumin in healthy humans (2015)
- 12 Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin and <i>Curcuma longa</i> Extract in the Treatment of Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials (2022)
- 13 Phytosome complex of curcumin as complementary therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer improves safety and efficacy of gemcitabine: Results of a prospective study (2018)
- 14 Vitamin D supplementation and clinical outcomes in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2022)
- 15 Body weight management in adults under chronic stress through treatment with ashwagandha root extract: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial (2017)
- 16 Effect of a herbal extract containing curcumin and piperine on midazolam, flurbiprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers (2013)
- 17 Safety and clinical effectiveness of Withania somnifera (Linn.) Dunal root in human ailments (2020)
- 18 The efficacy and safety of Curcuma longa extract and curcumin supplements in osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2021)
- 19 Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract in insomnia and anxiety: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study (2019)
- 20 Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial (2018)
Sources
- 1Howells LM, Iwuji COO, Irving GRB, Barber S, Walter H, Walter H et al. · 2019
- 2
- 3Barton DL, Liu H, Dakhil SR, Linquist B, Sloan JA, Nichols CR et al. · 2013
- 4Kuptniratsaikul V, Dajpratham P, Taechaarpornkul W, Buntragulpoontawee M, Lukkanapichonchut P, Chootip C et al. · 2014
- 5Aguiar S, Borowski T · 2013
- 6Nakagawa Y, Mukai S, Yamada S, Matsuoka M, Tarumi E, Hashimoto T et al. · 2014
- 7Barton DL, Soori GS, Bauer BA, Sloan JA, Johnson PA, Figueras C et al. · 2010
- 8Lopresti AL, Smith SJ, Malvi H, Kodgule R · 2019
- 9Haroyan A, Mukuchyan V, Mkrtchyan N, Minasyan N, Gasparyan S, Sargsyan A et al. · 2018
- 10Ng QX, Koh SSH, Chan HW, Ho CYX · 2017
- 11Storka A, Vcelar B, Klickovic U, Gouya G, Weisshaar S, Aschauer S et al. · 2015
- 12Zeng L, Yang T, Yang K, Yu G, Li J, Xiang W et al. · 2022
- 13Pastorelli D, Fabricio ASC, Giovanis P, D'Ippolito S, Fiduccia P, Soldà C et al. · 2018
- 14Pal R, Banerjee M, Bhadada SK, Shetty AJ, Singh B, Vyas A · 2022
- 15Choudhary D, Bhattacharyya S, Joshi K · 2017
- 16Volak LP, Hanley MJ, Masse G, Hazarika S, Harmatz JS, Badmaev V et al. · 2013
- 17Tandon N, Yadav SS · 2020
- 18Zeng L, Yu G, Hao W, Yang K, Yang K, Chen H · 2021
- 19Langade D, Kanchi S, Salve J, Debnath K, Ambegaokar D · 2019
- 20
Every statement on this page carries its evidence tier — proven, plausible or hypothesis — and leads to the original work. The decision in the individual case rests with the practitioner; we provide the connections.