The Benefits and Absorption Challenges of Curcumin

Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has garnered significant attention due to its numerous health benefits. This bright yellow compound is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, one of the major challenges with curcumin is its poor absorption in the body.

Health Benefits of Curcumin

Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Chronic inflammation is a key contributor to many diseases. Curcumin has been shown to inhibit molecules that play a significant role in inflammation. Studies have demonstrated that curcumin can be as effective as some anti-inflammatory drugs, without the side effects (Aggarwal & Harikumar, 2009).

Antioxidant Effects

Oxidative stress is another factor in the development of chronic diseases. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals, which are unstable molecules that cause damage to cells. Additionally, curcumin boosts the activity of the body’s own antioxidant enzymes, providing a double layer of protection (Menon & Sudheer, 2007).

Absorption Challenges of Curcumin

Despite its numerous benefits, curcumin has a major drawback: it is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. This poor bioavailability means that only a small amount of curcumin reaches the tissues where it could have the most impact.

Factors Affecting Absorption

Several factors contribute to the low bioavailability of curcumin:

• Rapid Metabolism: Once ingested, curcumin is quickly metabolized in the liver and intestines, reducing its concentration in the blood.
• Low Solubility: Curcumin is not very soluble in water, making it difficult for the body to absorb.
• Quick Elimination: Curcumin is rapidly eliminated from the body, which further limits its effectiveness (Sharma et al., 2005).

Solutions to Improve Absorption

Researchers are exploring various methods to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin:

• Black Pepper: Piperine, an active compound in black pepper, has been shown to increase the absorption of curcumin (Shoba et al., 1998).
• Heat: Cooking turmeric, particularly in combination with fat and black pepper (e.g., curry, turmeric chai latte), can increase the amount of curcumin available for the body to absorb.
• Fat: Consuming curcumin with fat can improve its absorption since it is fat-soluble.
• Formulations: Scientific improvements (e.g., reduced particle size, liposomal and phospholipid complexes, extraction methods, combinations with other botanicals) target increasing the absorption of curcumin from supplements (Anand et al., 2007).

Curcumin Supplementation

Unlike raw turmeric powder, curcumin extracts found in supplements deliver a much higher concentration of active compounds. However, even extracts are difficult to absorb. That’s where Sisu Full Spectrum Curcumin comes in!

This product uses patented micelle technology to improve bioavailability and absorption.* Micelles encapsulate the curcumin extract, making it water-soluble and allowing it to be readily absorbed into the bloodstream (Schiborr et al., 2013). This means faster absorption and more active curcumin available for the body to use. A simple, guaranteed potency solution, with just one softgel per day.

*Visit www.novasolcurcumin.com for more info on patented technology.
This product may not be right for you. Always read and follow the label.

References:
Aggarwal, B. B., & Harikumar, K. B. (2009). Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 41(1), 40-59.
Anand, P., Kunnumakkara, A. B., Newman, R. A., & Aggarwal, B. B. (2007). Bioavailability of curcumin: problems and promises. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 4(6), 807-818.
Menon, V. P., & Sudheer, A. R. (2007). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 595, 105-125.
Sharma, R. A., Steward, W. P., & Gescher, A. J. (2005). Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of curcumin. Advanced Experimental Medical Biology, 595, 453-470.
Shoba, G., Joy, D., Joseph, T., Majeed, M., Rajendran, R., & Srinivas, P. S. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Medica, 64(4), 353-356.
Christina Schiborr, Alexa Kocher, Dariush Behnam, Josef Jandasek, Simone Toelstede and Jan Frank. (2013). The oral bioavailability of curcumin from micronized powder and liquid micelles is significantly increased in healthy humans and differs between sexes. Nutr. Food Res. 2014, 0, 1–12
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