Major Advance! New Highly Bioavailable Curcumin

For thousands of years, turmeric root has been used as a traditional Indian medicine.

The turmeric spice, which gives curry its golden color, has been recognized for wide-ranging health benefits.^1-5

The most beneficial compounds in turmeric are curcuminoids, which include curcumin and related compounds.

One animal study showed lifespan extension up to 26% with curcumin supplementation.⁶

But there’s been a major problem that limits practical use: curcuminoids have poor oral bioavailability.

That means a large portion of curcumin taken orally never gets absorbed into the bloodstream and doesn’t reach the tissues.

Scientists have made a major advance in solving this problem. They’ve perfected a patented form of curcumin that dramatically boosts its bioavailability.

This allows more curcumin to circulate throughout the body for a longer time.

For the first time, people have the opportunity to realize the potential of curcumin to benefit whole-body health, slow certain aging processes, and reduce risks for age-related disorders.

Major Advance in Curcumin Bioavailability

In its pure form, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream and is quickly metabolized into inactive forms or eliminated from the body.⁷

Normally, much of ingested curcumin is rapidly conjugated in the intestines and liver, which means it attaches to another compound. When this happens, most ingested curcumin is not biologically active and very little makes it into the body’s tissues. Studies show that only free curcumin, which remains unconjugated, is bioactive.

In a major advance, scientists used a water extraction process and combined curcumin with components of another traditional Indian medicinal spice, fenugreek. The fenugreek seed contains a unique form of fiber, known as galactomannan, which helps protect curcumin from modifications in the gut and greatly increases its bioavailability, or absorption into the bloodstream.

This novel formulation of curcumin, boosting its bioavailability and efficacy, has been validated in laboratory studies and human trials.

Improved Bioavailability Demonstrated

Researchers tested the new curcumin-galactomannan combination’s ability to enhance the bioavailability of curcuminoids in human volunteers.8 Fifty healthy adults were randomized to receive curcumin from either the new formulation or from a standardized curcumin extract.

The results showed that people who took the new formula had levels of free curcuminoids in the blood more than 45 times greater than those who took pure curcumin alone.

With the new formulation, more than 70% of the curcuminoids remained in the free, bioactive form even five hours after ingestion, allowing it to beneficially permeate tissues throughout the body.

An animal study also evaluated bioavailability and tissue penetration of the new curcumin formula.⁹ Like the human study, it demonstrated a major increase in blood levels of free curcuminoids and found that they remained in the bloodstream longer.

This study, done on rats, was able to delve deeper. By testing various organs following supplementation of the animals with this new curcumin, the researchers evaluated the penetration of free curcumin into various tissues. Brain, heart, kidney, and spleen levels were all dramatically enhanced compared with a standard curcumin supplement.

In the brain, curcumin from a standardized turmeric extract only penetrated the tissue in small amounts. With the new formulation, levels of free curcuminoids in the brain were 245% higher. This is vital, since curcumin is known to be one of the most neuroprotective compounds found in turmeric, helping to reduce the risk for age-related brain degeneration and cognitive decline.¹⁰

Together, the findings from the animal and human studies show that this new curcumin formulation significantly enhances its ability to circulate and work throughout the body.

Extending Healthy Lifespan

By improving the absorption and tissue distribution of free curcumin, it is now possible to maximize its benefits in fighting specific diseases. Perhaps the most remarkable ability curcumin has shown in research is to enhance longevity and prolong lifespan.

In animal studies, curcumin supplementation leads to longer life.^6,15-18 For example, a study of curcumin supplementation in fruit flies resulted in as much as a 26% extension of average lifespan.6

How does it work? In studies of longevity, a handful of key mechanisms keep coming up. Each of the following has repeatedly been shown to help slow the aging process and extend healthy lifespan:^2-4,19-22

- Reducing chronic, low-grade inflammation,

- Increasing activity of sirtuins, specialized proteins that regulate  cellular health,

- Decreasing activity of mTOR, a protein associated with rapid aging     and cancer

- Enhancing activity of the enzyme AMPK, which improves metabolism

- Boosting autophagy, the cellular “recycling” process that helps keep cells rejuvenated, and

- Protecting against tissue damage caused by glycation, when sugars attach to proteins and fats.

Curcumin positively affects every one of these targets.

Curcumin’s Effects on the Diseases of Aging

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Promising research shows that curcumin has protective effects against amyloid proteins, especially beta-amyloid and tau. A buildup of these sticky proteins is associated with several age-related neurodegenerative diseases and dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease.^23-29

In one study, curcumin supplementation in healthy, older adults resulted in immediate and long-term improvements in cognition, compared to a placebo.³⁰ Both attention and working memory tasks improved within one hour of intake, and tests of memory and mood showed long-term improvements as well.

Another study in older adults taking curcumin also demonstrated improvements in attention and memory.31 This study used PET scanning to evaluate the buildup of amyloid and tau in the brain over a period of 18 months. Scientists found that these accumulations were reduced or remained stable in the supplemented participants, but they tended to worsen in the group that did not receive curcumin.

Cancer

In addition to reducing chronic inflammation and oxidative damage caused by free radicals, both of which contribute to the development of cancer, curcumin has been shown to have anti-cancer effects. It helps prevent the formation of tumors, induce cell death in existing cancer cells, and block their spread in the body.^32-34

In a study on a strain of hairless mice, curcumin protected against the formation of skin cancer, even when the mice were exposed to UV radiation that would normally cause tumors.³⁵

In cell cultures and animal studies, curcumin has shown very promising results in reducing growth and causing cell death in various types of cancer.³⁴

Obesity

Being overweight increases the risks of developing conditions like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Obesity also creates excess inflammation in the body, accelerating the aging process.36

By improving metabolic function and reducing inflammation, curcumin helps ameliorate some of these effects. It has also been found to aid in weight loss, as seen with calorie-restricted diets and exercise.

A recent meta-analysis of 876 subjects randomized to receive curcumin supplementation showed a significant reduction in both body weight and body mass index (BMI).³⁷ On average, subjects lost about 2.5 pounds with curcumin supplementation alone.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of disorders, including elevated levels of blood sugar, abnormal lipid profiles, high blood pressure, and excess belly fat.³⁸ They can lead to type II diabetes and are risk factors for atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.

Curcumin has a powerful impact on metabolism, helping to reduce many of these risk factors.

A recent clinical trial evaluated a curcumin supplement in overweight adults with elevated glucose levels.³⁹ After eight weeks, many positive changes in markers of metabolic health were noted. Fasting insulin levels, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, and markers of liver damage were all reduced significantly, while HDL (“good”) cholesterol was elevated.

Cardiovascular Disease

Curcumin protects the heart and blood vessels in numerous ways. As noted, it can reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease, like obesity, high blood pressure, and abnormal blood lipid levels.

Curcumin also does much more. Research has shown that it can reduce pathological changes in the blood vessels and heart that contribute to atherosclerosis, aneurysm formation, and heart dysfunction.40 And when a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke does occur, curcumin can lessen the impact.

Arthritis

A powerful anti-inflammatory, curcumin is a way to treat painful ailments related to inflammation. One of the most common of these conditions is osteoarthritis, the degenerative joint disease that occurs frequently in older age.⁴¹

A recent analysis of several studies found that, on average, pain due to arthritis was reduced by curcumin supplementation.⁴² The WOMAC Index score, widely used in evaluating hip and knee osteoarthritis, was also reduced. That indicates improvement not only in pain control, but also in joint stiffness, limitations of physical functioning, and other symptoms.

Some of these studies compared curcumin to pain medications typically used for arthritis, particularly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. They found that there was no significant difference in pain control between curcumin and these medications. This is an important finding, since prolonged use of NSAIDs is associated with significant side effects, including gastritis, ulcers, and even kidney damage. In comparison, curcumin is generally considered safe, even at relatively high doses.

Depression and Anxiety

Several studies have found that curcumin can help control symptoms of major depression.⁴³

One study randomized patients to receive either 1,000 mg of curcumin daily or fluoxetine (Prozac®).⁴⁴ At the end of six weeks, those receiving curcumin had the same response rate to treatment as those receiving the drug, which can cause many side effects.

Some of these studies also evaluated symptoms of anxiety and found a positive response with curcumin as well.⁴³

Summary

Curcumin, the active component of turmeric root, has numerous health benefits.

It has been shown to reduce risk factors for many diseases, protect the function of various tissues and body systems, and bolster many core components of health, including those directly tied to the aging process.

The low bioavailability (how much is absorbed and circulates throughout the body) of curcumin has prevented its more widespread use to prevent and treat various conditions.

By combining curcumin with galactomannans from fenugreek seeds, curcumin’s bioavailability has been boosted to far higher levels than in previously available forms.

The results of lab and human studies demonstrate how this new form of curcumin penetrates diverse tissues in the body.

This provides a unique opportunity for aging individuals to realize the full potential of curcumin’s array of biological benefits aimed at helping to extend healthy lifespans.

Material used with permission of Life Extension. All rights reserved.