FINDING THE RIGHT CURCUMIN FORMULATION
Nowadays, it can be highly confusing when one is looking to buy something as simple as the ancient spice in supplemental form. A large selection of different brands, each offering a different formulation, with varying standardisations, efficacy, level of research behind them and factors including their equivalent doses measured in active curcuminoids, compared with other formulations on the market.
There are major differences in different Curcumin formulations which can be as major as the difference between a product with little to no therapeutic value versus one which is comparable with a more well established synthetic medication.
More importantly, some forms have shown to significantly perform better than placebo for certain conditions. At least in the case of commonly used and well-studied types of some Curcumin products.
Two formulations, including “Meriva”, a lipid based formulation with up to 29 times the bioavailability and in terms of the capability to reach and maintain peak plasma concentrations.
Another notable formulation called Theracurmin, which has a similar but not a statistically significant benefit over Meriva, especially given its price and noble formulation, likely being up to 27 times more bioavailable, which at therapeutic doses typically used can enable a larger portion of the active curcuminoids to cross the BBB.
Such formulations have shown at least some mild-to-moderate benefit over placebo over most other types of formulas used which likely has to do with the method of making the poorly absorbed spice medicine more readily absorbed and effective for treating different conditions. Especially when compared to formulations which have curcumin as the only compound present.
Other well-known formulations include BCM-95, which increases the bioavailability of the curcuminoids by the addition of Piperine, a chemical constituent found in black pepper, with known, albeit weak MAOI properties.
This has been shown to have the ability to significantly increase curcumin absorption and its oral route efficacy especially for cognitive conditions, without the relative cost involved with production of the other two formulations mentioned.
Longvida is another less known version of the spice in dietary supplement products and is thought to have the advantage of being longer acting, despite not reaching the same level of plasma concentrations at similar comparative doses. compared to some of the other formulations discussed here.
There’s less data general efficacy for treating either cognitive disorders, digestive complications, and anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Despite this however, due to its formulation, this form can sustain free levels of curcuminoids in the body for up to 24 hours and may allow for higher BBB penetration.
Another formulation called “CurcuWin” is standardized to 20% active curcuminoids and uses a UltraSOL nutrient technology to enhance bioavailability and absorption by a molecular dispersion process creates a significantly more water soluble formulation.
Though this is a less known formulation but has some significant advantages over several types of patented forms of curcumin. One advantage appears to be its statistically relevant different in bioavailability over the aforementioned formulations.
The specific technique used in this particular formulation is to convert the oil soluble curcuminoids in the extract into water-dispersible compounds which can have an easier time being absorbed, and with some preliminary evidence showing a higher likelihood of this form in crossing the BBB, which may make it more suitable for cognitive indications, rather than solely for digestive or anti-inflammatory properties alone.
More research is needed before any conclusions can be made regarding each formulation’s general efficacy, especially since bioavailability of a product isn’t necessarily the only factor to consider.
For example, despite the advantage of getting a more bioavailable product in the case of CurcuWin, the duration of action has shown to be almost half that of the Longvida form, at up to 12 hours.
It appears that there’s certainly a variance in the bioavailability, absorption rate, duration of action and general efficacy of different formulations of curcumin across the board.
Though further research is desperately needed to establish high quality comparative studies between the currently available options, it seems that specific formulations including, CurcuWin, Meriva, Theracurmin, and in some particular cases, Longvida or BCM-95 are generally more efficacious than regular non-formulated curcumin (with the latter for reasons including its affordability over many other forms).
In the end, its likely that the efficacy of some products over many others is definitely worth the extra cost, considering their ability to significantly outperform another through a more efficient delivery technique and/or standardisation method.
For others, paying a significantly higher cost may not be worth a relatively lower statistically relevant different between two well-researched formulations, both of which have shown at least some efficacy despite one being slightly superior by a small margin.
One thing’s for sure. And that’s that any curcumin is likely between than no curcumin. There’s also a massive different in terms of the effectiveness of various formulations in available to consumers.
So even if one is only using the compound in its naturally occurring forms including powdered turmeric, ingesting the spice with black pepper and a fatty meal, which may positively affect its absorption and therapeutic value.
