Are Turmeric Supplements Absorbed?
Turmeric, a spice that gives foods like mustard a yellow color, may also have some health benefits, including potentially helping treat indigestion and arthritis. It acts as an anti-inflammatory and may be beneficial in preventing cancer, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. However, the curcumin in turmeric, which is thought to be responsible for these benefits, isn't well absorbed in people.
A dose of 3.6 grams of curcumin per day was able to increase blood levels of curcumin in a study published in "Alternative Medicine Review" in 2009. Smaller doses didn't cause a measurable increase in blood levels of study participants, and might not have any potential health benefits. While turmeric isn't well absorbed into the blood, it does absorb into the cells lining your colon, or large intestine, which is why curcumin is being studied for its potential to decrease colon cancer risk, according to the American Cancer Society.
Time Before Cleared From Body
Curcumin appears to be both rapidly metabolized and rapidly excreted by the body. Because of this, it doesn't take long for noticeable traces of curcumin to be gone from the body. Peak levels in the blood occur within one to two hours of taking curcumin and then drop quickly, according to a 2009 "Alternative Medicine Review" article.
You may need to take quite a large dose of curcumin before any effects are noticeable in the body. Doses of between 3 grams and 6 grams may help limit your risk for ulcers, according to Drugs.com, while smaller doses of 0.5 grams to 3 grams may help relieve gas. Many people can take curcumin doses of up to 10 grams per day for a few weeks without experiencing problems with side effects, notes the American Cancer Society.
Turmeric is sometimes combined with black pepper, since the piperine in the pepper causes a 20-fold increase in curcumin absorption. However, some supplements consisting of turmeric encapsulated in nanoparticles are even more effective for increasing absorption, according to a study published in June 2009 in the "European Journal of Pharmaceutical Science," which found this type of supplement was absorbed nine times more effectively than turmeric combined with piperine. Other potential ways to increase absorption include using curcumin combined with a compound called a phospholipid or using a compound that has a structure almost the same as that of curcumin, according to a 2007 "Molecular Pharmaceutics" article.
- MedlinePlus: Turmeric
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Turmeric
- American Cancer Society: Turmeric
- Drugs.com: Turmeric
- European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences: Nanoparticle Encapsulation Improves Oral Bioavailability of Curcumin By at Least 9-Fold When Compared to Curcumin Administered With Piperine As Absorption Enhancer
- Molecular Pharmaceutics: Bioavailability of Curcumin: Problems and Promises
- Alternative Medicine Review: Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Curcumin, a Major Constituent of Curcuma longa: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Research