Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “Do you know if curcumin has a lot of phosphorous? My dad has end stage kidney disease and the doctor said to avoid phosphorous. Curcumin is the best thing he’s used so far to help him with his pain, so he really wants to stick with it if he can. I buy the special absorption curcumin you always recommend. Thank you for your help!” —Kristy J., Reno, NV A. Dear Kristy, Sorry to hear about your father’s struggles. I am glad that curcumin is helping to ease his pain. As you know, end stage kidney disease is quite serious, so I encourage your father to speak with his doctor concerning incorporating dietary supplements into his daily regimen. His doctor may have some specific guidance on this issue. My advice should never replace the advice of his health care professional. Regarding your question, phosphorous is a mineral that poorly-functioning kidneys (or non-functioning kidneys on dialysis) cannot properly process and eliminate. Therefore, phosphorus can build up to a toxic level in the blood stream. That is why most people with little or no kidney function are strongly cautioned to avoid foods that contain high levels of phosphorus. This can be a struggle, because virtually every food contains some amount of this natural mineral. Because of this, people cannot eliminate it entirely and instead must focus on keeping intake low. Some foods with very high phosphorous are milk, cola, cheese, and processed meats, but there are others as well. A dietician or clinical nutritionist can help you with meal planning that avoids high levels of phosphorus. Curcumin is a dietary supplement and is not a food. If there is any trace of phosphorous in the product, the amount would be quite insignificant on a dietary basis. Therefore, it should not cause a problem for your father. Good luck to you both!