Curcumin

What is Curcumin?

Curcumin is is the active constituent in turmeric. It is also used as a spice known as Borrie and Jeera and is commonly used in curry. It is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Curcumin is not well absorbed by the body which is why companies such as Solgar, NeoGenesis and Natroceutics use special formulations such as liposomes and full spectrum formulations to improve the absorption or bio-availability.

Some benefits include:

1. Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory

While acute, short-term inflammation is beneficial and attacks foreign intruders and heals the body, it can become a problem if it becomes chronic and attacks the body itself.

Chronically low inflammation can play a role in some diseases like heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and more (Gunnars, 2021).

2. Turmeric may increase the antioxidant capacity of the body

Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the reasons behind ageing and many diseases. (Gunnars, 2021) Curcumin is a strong antioxidant and may not only block the effects of free radicals but also rouse the action of other antioxidants.

3. Curcumin has benefits against depression

Curcumin has shown potential in the treatment of depression.
In a trial, 60 people with depression were divided into three groups. One group took Prozac (A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), another 1 gram of curcumin and the third group took both. After six weeks the curcumin-using group showed improvement similar to those using Prozac. The group using both showed the best improvement (Gunnars, 2021). There’s also some indication that curcumin can increase the brain neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.

4. Curcumin may lower the risk of heart disease

It is believed that the most important benefit curcumin has on heart health is that it improves the function of the lining of your blood vessels. Doing so improves the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure and blood clotting among others (Gunnars, 2021).

5. Turmeric may lower the risk of cancer

Curcumin has been calculated to be a helpful herb in cancer treatment and has been found to affect cancer development and growth (Gunnars, 2021). Studies have shown that curcumin can help to kill cancerous cells, reduce the formation of new blood vessels in tumours and decrease the spread of cancer. While it is not yet clear if high doses of curcumin with absorption enhancers may be used to treat cancer patients, it may help “prevent cancer from occurring in the first place, especially cancers of the digestive system” (Gunnars, 2021)

Possible side effects

While turmeric does not have any side effects it may be unsafe to use medicinal amounts during pregnancy as it may stimulate a menstrual period and put the pregnancy at risk.

Do not use turmeric if you have gallstones as they may worsen.
Turmeric may slow blood clotting, use it with caution if you have a bleeding disorder.
Curcumin may act like the hormone estrogen and may have effects on certain hormone-sensitive conditions (Anon., n.d.).

Natroceutics Curcumin Complete	Solgar Full Spectrum Curcumin
R 295.00 Description A perfect complement of curcumin and turmeric supplementation that delivers the best of modern science while overcoming the limitations of curcumin absorption. Further enhanced with the wisdom of nature and turmeric in its complete form.   Pack size 30 Vegetable Capsules	R590.00 Description Specifically developed to provide support for those managing advanced inflammatory conditions. Curcumin Fortified merges three actives that have been scientifically validated in the areas of inflammation and pain relief.   Pack size 60 Vegetable Capsules
Solgar Full Spectrum Curcumin	NeoGenesis Health Curcumigen
R572.30 Description Solgar Formula VM-75 Tablets is a tried and true multiple vitamin formula.  It contains a unique form of chelated iron (iron bi-glycinate) formulated for maximum absorption without gastrointestinal irritation or the constipating effects that often accompany iron supplementation. The "75" stands for 75mg of most of the vitamin B family, providing energy, and stress relief. The Vitamin C metabolites in Ester-C positively impact the retention of Vitamin C in the body’s cells, which offers additional benefits. Pack size 60 Tablets	R416.16 Description The world's most bioavailable curcumin.  Curcumigen provides curcumin in a complete turmeric matrix with PNS Technology® for superior absorption.  Unique curcumin complex with 10x higher bioavailability in terms of free curcuminoids. Pack size 30 Vegicaps

References

Anon., n.d. TURMERIC: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews. [Online]
Available at: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-662/turmeric
[Accessed 22 November 2022].

Gunnars, K., 2021. 10 proven health benefits of turmeric and curcumin. [Online]
Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric
[Accessed 21 November 2022].