Yellow Feet in a Patient with Breast and Thyroid Carcinoma, Due to Oral Intake of Turmeric

Yellow discoloration of the skin may be caused by several etiologies, including jaundice, hypervitaminosis, drug reaction or chemical exposure. Herein we describe a 68-year-old woman with a history of breast and thyroid carcinoma, presenting with a yellow discoloration of her soles, after ingestion of one capsule a day of turmeric root extract (Bluebonnet Turmeric Root, 500 mg, Vcap), taken for its anti-cancer properties, for 4 months. After drug cessation, the yellow hue disappeared completely. A Naranjo assessment score of 5 was obtained, indicating a probable relationship between the patient’s symptom and her use of the drug. Curcumin, a mixture of diferuloymethane derivatives known as curcuminoids, is a yellow pigment present in the spice turmeric. Topical application of curcumin to the human skin is joined by orange-yellow discoloration. To the best of our knowledge, yellow skin discoloration after oral intake of turmeric is not mentioned in the medical literature.