Curcumin and Turmeric Explained
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 11:41 am
Curcumin and Turmeric and Curry.
Curcumin in a nanoparticulate formulation labeled Theracurmin has been demonstrated to remove amyloid and tau plaque in a UCLA RCT (randomly controlled trial).
That is a very BIG deal so it is important to first get our terminology correct. Turmeric is a root known for centuries throughout Asia for health benefits. It is used in preparing curry. Curcuminoids are minor components of Turmeric. One of the curcurminoids is curcumin. Curcumin by itself has been extensively studied for many health benefits. It is well known that different preparations of curcumin have different bioavailability and have different effects. A decent summary can be found at: https://www.superfoodly.com/best-turmer ... upplement/.
In the interests of this forum see UCLA comments on Apoe4 at https://alzheimer.neurology.ucla.edu/Curcumin.html.
A recently completed UCLA trial is the most significant. The trial was headed by Dr. Gary W. Small, et al, "Memory and Brain Amyloid and Tau Effects of a Bioavailable Form of Curcumin in Non-Demented Adults: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled 18 Month Trial," (UCLA), Am. J. of Geriatric Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1016/japg.2017.10.010 (see also Forbes, Jan 23, 2018). UCLA used: “the commercially available curcumin supplement Theracurmin: six capsules, containing 30 mg of curcumin each, per day (180 mg total curcumin/day) for 18 months.” "Exactly how curcumin exerts its effects is not certain, but it may be due to its ability to reduce brain inflammation, which has been linked to both Alzheimer's disease and major depression," said Dr. Small. An initial clue that has steered researchers towards curcumin spice is the lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in India. Compared to the United States, the rate of people age 70-79 with Alzheimer’s in India was 4.4 times less. Dr. Dale Bredesen also recommends curcumin to control inflammation without specifying nanoparticulate formulations.
Possible mechanisms of action in which curcumin modifies AD pathology include:
- inhibits the formation and promotes the disaggregation of amyloid-β plaques
-attenuates the hyperphosphorylation of tau and enhances its clearance,
-binds copper,
-lowers cholesterol,
-modifies microglial activity,
-inhibits acetylcholinesterase,
-mediates the insulin signaling pathway,
-and is an antioxidant
(The Mechanisms of Action of Curcumin in Alzheimer's Disease, Tang M1, Taghibiglou C1., J Alzheimers Disease, 58(4), p1003-1016, 2017) .
Curcuminoids have been approved by USDA as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS). Good tolerability and safety profiles have been shown by clinical trials, even at doses between 4,000 and 8,000 mg/day. The Joint United Nations World Health Organization and the European Food Safety Authority report the Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) as 0-3 mg/kg.
Like Dr. Small’s study (above), “bioavailability” is a key parameter distinguishing various commercial sources of curcumin. Dr. Small demonstrated Theracurmin (Theravalues, Tokyo Japan), to be the most bioavailable form of curcumin for the brain. He compared it to Meriva by Indena (Italian Corp). Both formulations, and others, utilize nanometer sized particles of curumin (not tumeric) encased in lipid particles.
Longvida, is a patented nanoparticle formulation by other researchers at University of California Los Angeles which has been used in numerous studies. Longvida is currently in a RCT conducted by UCLA and the U.S. Veterans Affairs (NIH CLINICAL TRIALS.GOV NCT01811281).
Curcumin in a nanoparticulate formulation labeled Theracurmin has been demonstrated to remove amyloid and tau plaque in a UCLA RCT (randomly controlled trial).
That is a very BIG deal so it is important to first get our terminology correct. Turmeric is a root known for centuries throughout Asia for health benefits. It is used in preparing curry. Curcuminoids are minor components of Turmeric. One of the curcurminoids is curcumin. Curcumin by itself has been extensively studied for many health benefits. It is well known that different preparations of curcumin have different bioavailability and have different effects. A decent summary can be found at: https://www.superfoodly.com/best-turmer ... upplement/.
In the interests of this forum see UCLA comments on Apoe4 at https://alzheimer.neurology.ucla.edu/Curcumin.html.
A recently completed UCLA trial is the most significant. The trial was headed by Dr. Gary W. Small, et al, "Memory and Brain Amyloid and Tau Effects of a Bioavailable Form of Curcumin in Non-Demented Adults: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled 18 Month Trial," (UCLA), Am. J. of Geriatric Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1016/japg.2017.10.010 (see also Forbes, Jan 23, 2018). UCLA used: “the commercially available curcumin supplement Theracurmin: six capsules, containing 30 mg of curcumin each, per day (180 mg total curcumin/day) for 18 months.” "Exactly how curcumin exerts its effects is not certain, but it may be due to its ability to reduce brain inflammation, which has been linked to both Alzheimer's disease and major depression," said Dr. Small. An initial clue that has steered researchers towards curcumin spice is the lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in India. Compared to the United States, the rate of people age 70-79 with Alzheimer’s in India was 4.4 times less. Dr. Dale Bredesen also recommends curcumin to control inflammation without specifying nanoparticulate formulations.
Possible mechanisms of action in which curcumin modifies AD pathology include:
- inhibits the formation and promotes the disaggregation of amyloid-β plaques
-attenuates the hyperphosphorylation of tau and enhances its clearance,
-binds copper,
-lowers cholesterol,
-modifies microglial activity,
-inhibits acetylcholinesterase,
-mediates the insulin signaling pathway,
-and is an antioxidant
(The Mechanisms of Action of Curcumin in Alzheimer's Disease, Tang M1, Taghibiglou C1., J Alzheimers Disease, 58(4), p1003-1016, 2017) .
Curcuminoids have been approved by USDA as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS). Good tolerability and safety profiles have been shown by clinical trials, even at doses between 4,000 and 8,000 mg/day. The Joint United Nations World Health Organization and the European Food Safety Authority report the Allowable Daily Intake (ADI) as 0-3 mg/kg.
Like Dr. Small’s study (above), “bioavailability” is a key parameter distinguishing various commercial sources of curcumin. Dr. Small demonstrated Theracurmin (Theravalues, Tokyo Japan), to be the most bioavailable form of curcumin for the brain. He compared it to Meriva by Indena (Italian Corp). Both formulations, and others, utilize nanometer sized particles of curumin (not tumeric) encased in lipid particles.
Longvida, is a patented nanoparticle formulation by other researchers at University of California Los Angeles which has been used in numerous studies. Longvida is currently in a RCT conducted by UCLA and the U.S. Veterans Affairs (NIH CLINICAL TRIALS.GOV NCT01811281).
