Curcumin Complex Capsules

Product Description

Curcumin is the primary active ingredient of the spice Tumeric.  Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) contains 80% curcumin (1).  Pure Nootropics’ Curcumin Complex is  combined with BioPerine®, the active component of black pepper, to enhance bioavailability.  The addition of piperine enhances Curcumin by 2000% (2).

Curcumin Benefits

• Anti-inflammatory (ref)*
• May reduce biological inflammation after exercise (ref)*
• Promotes healthy aging of the brain (ref)*
• Supports healthy cognition in healthy adults (ref)*
• Supports mood in healthy adults (ref)*
• Lowers triglyceride levels (ref)*
• GRAS substance (Generally Recognized as Safe) by U.S. FDA (ref)*

The following are examples of dynamics associated with Curcumin through the animal model and may not be representative of the effects in the human body:

• May increase serotonin (in mice)(ref)*
• May increase dopamine (in mice) (ref)*

Curcumin Mode of Action

Curcumin is a polyphenol, yellow pigment found in the spice turmeric.  It is one of the three curcuminoids (chemical constituents found in curcumin) which include bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and cyclocurcumin.  It has been isolated and used as a yellow industrial food colorant (1).

Curcumin is poorly absorbed in the intestinal tract because it is a fat-soluble supplement (1). It is often combined with black pepper’s active ingredient, piperine, to enhance bioavailability, and it enhances it by 2,000% (2).

Curcumin is a common supplement for its anti-inflammatory effects because it inhibits NF-kB, the protein that causes the genetic code that releases inflammatory cytokines.  Curcumin can also reduce pro-inflammatory enzymes such as COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase-2), LOX, iNOS, and Phospholipase A2.  Curcumin can also suppress immune system macrophages from being directed to sites of inflammation (1).

Curcumin can also support healthy brain aging by reducing beta-amyloid protein concentrations (3).  Beta-amyloid proteins can form amyloid plaques in the brain, which is an abnormal clump between neurons that can cause neurodegeneration, especially in brain regions involving memory (4).

Curcumin also has direct antioxidative effects and can fight superoxide radicals.  An unusual benefit from Curcumin supplementation is the enhanced synthesis of DHA in the brain and liver, which makes it a good alternative for those people who do not supplement with fish oil or fish consumption (1).

Curcumin Dosage

Pure Nootropics’ Curcumin Complex provides 500 mg of Tumeric root (standardized to >95% Curcuminoids; Bisdemethoxy Curcumin 2.5-6.5%; Demethoxy Curcumin 15-19%; Curcumin 75-81%) and 10 mg of BioPerine® (Black pepper fruit extract) per 1 capsule.   Suggested use for adults is 1 capsule by mouth daily, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.

Curcumin Side Effects & Toxicity

If you are taking any medications, please consult with your healthcare practitioner before beginning supplementation.  Curcumin can make the effects of some medicines stronger.

The Allowable Daily Intake (ADI)–set by the Joint United Nations, the World Health Organization Expert Committee, and the European Food Safety Authority—is 0-3 mg of Curcumin per kilogram of body weight (2).

Curcumin is well tolerated and has been studied in many trials.  Some side effects do occur in high doses (500 to 12,000 mg) and included diarrhea, yellow stool, headache, and rash (2).

If you are taking blood-thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix) and others, Curcumin can increase the risk of bleeding (5).

If you are taking antacid medications, such as Pepcid (famotidine), Tagamet (cimetidine), Zantac (ranitidine), Omeprazole, Nexium (esomeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole) and others, curcumin may interfere with the antacids and result in an increase of stomach acid (5).

If you are taking anti-diabetes medications to lower blood sugar, curcumin can make the effects of the medications stronger and increase the risk for blood sugar that is too low (hypoglycemia) (5).

For further information, please see our References Tab above.