SOURCE — 5 min
Your Guide to Curcumin Absorption
Native to Southeast Asia, turmeric has been used for health, culinary, and ceremonial purposes for almost 4,000 years – it has at least 53 different names in Sanskrit. [1] Its scientific name is Curcuma longa.
This flowering plant is a member of the ginger family and possesses a root-like stem that produces a brilliant golden yellow spice. Since ancient times, its bright color and widespread use as fabric dye and cooking spice earned it the nickname “Indian saffron,” although the plant is unrelated to true saffron.
Today, the popularity of turmeric has reached celebrity status, with widespread rumors and misinformation to match. Here’s what you need to know about turmeric, and its key active constituent, curcumin, to really benefit from this ancient and ever-popular botanical.
Curcumin Research Revealed
With such a long history of use, it’s not surprising that turmeric has been the subject of thousands of scientific papers. More than 100 components have been isolated from turmeric, the most attention grabbing of which is curcumin.[1]
The technical and far less catchy name for the golden yellow pigment of curcumin is diferuloylmethane. The health benefits that people seek from turmeric really come from this compound, which is well established as an effective antioxidant and for its unparalleled ability to promote a healthy inflammatory response.*
When it comes to promoting a healthy inflammatory response, curcumin is no one-trick pony. Once absorbed, curcumin works on multiple pathways, including transcription factors, cytokines, protein kinases, adhesion molecules, and enzymes.
It helps maintain a stable balance of signaling molecules. In turn, this aids in mitigating the cascade of biological compounds responsible for occasional discomfort.*
As for oxidative stress, curcumin defends against both fat- and water-soluble free radicals. [2] Since free radicals play a role in most health conditions, curcumin is a shining star of well-being and health resilience.*
Curcumin Myths Debunked
There is usually some erroneous hearsay around anything highly sought after; curcumin is no exception. One of the most prevalent curcumin myths is that you can reap the benefits of curcumin by just sprinkling a little on your food, enjoying a turmeric latté, or eating curry occasionally. The truth is, in its natural state, curcumin is a large, complex molecule that is simply not readily absorbed in the human digestive tract. In other words, it naturally has low bioavailability.
In clinical studies, 10–12 g of curcumin was administered by mouth, and participants showed little change in blood levels.[3] The benefits of curcumin are only realized through enhanced absorption, and how best to achieve this is the most common source of misinformation.
The single biggest myth about curcumin is that it requires black pepper as a synergist to help improve absorption. Everyone has heard this; it is the subject of memes and even a few stand-up comedy routines. This particular misinformation is based on a 1998 study in which researchers explored ways to overcome curcumin’s notoriously low absorption.
As expected, study participants given standard curcumin had basically undetectable blood levels of curcumin. Participants given curcumin and black pepper extract (piperine) achieved blood levels that were just barely detectable, and this was deemed a significant increase in absorption over standard curcumin![4] However, the absolute value of the blood levels in the curcumin and black pepper group was nothing to celebrate, yet the advice has unfortunately stuck.
Curcumin Absorption at Last
If black pepper and lattés don’t work, then what does? Poor absorption is the main reason for limited results in some clinical studies using regular curcumin, even when given in substantial doses.
Curcumin absorption can be supported using a few methods, but they are not all equal. There is one enhanced-absorption form of curcumin, a standardized curcuminoid preparation, that has been used in the greatest number of published and ongoing clinical studies, called Theracurmin™.
Theracurmin™ is an advanced formulation that uses proprietary dispersion technology to create microscopic particles dispersed in a colloidal suspension for better absorption. Simply put, standard curcumin is ground into extremely fine particles, then blended with a plant-derived vegetable gum (gum ghatti) to prevent the tiny particles from clumping back together. This process dramatically increases curcumin solubility and bioavailability.
Theracurmin™ has been shown in studies to have greater bioavailability than standard curcumin powder, supporting higher measurable blood levels. Published studies comparing blood levels of curcumin formulations have shown that Theracurmin™ provides enhanced absorption compared to standard preparations.
Published clinical studies using Theracurmin™ suggest it supports joint comfort and mobility, healthy skin, liver function, cognitive health, and oral wellness.*
Curcumin Clarity for All
By now, you may be thinking, “but turmeric has been used for thousands of years; why do we need modern technology to benefit from it?” That’s a logical question. Indeed, the health of populations who consume turmeric regularly pointed toward its beneficial effects.
Modern clinical studies on advanced-absorption curcumin have demonstrated benefits beyond those observed in population-based studies of turmeric consumption. So, enjoy curry regularly. But if you want additional support, reach for Theracurmin™.
When it comes to curcumin, it’s not how much you take, but how much you absorb that matters. It can be difficult or impossible to judge how much of it will be absorbed from the amount of curcumin on a supplement label.
CurcuminRich® Theracurmin™ provides a convenient way to support wellness with this ancient spice.*
You can go back to drinking regular lattés now. You’re welcome.
‡ Scientific scrutiny revealed that Theracurmin™ was more bioavailable on a milligram-to-milligram basis than other leading enhanced and regular forms of curcumin.
**As measured by SPINS 2021 market data [5]
