Theracurmin is a special advanced form of curcumin—the yellow pigment found in turmeric (Curcuma longa)—the chief ingredient in curry. Curcumin has demonstrated significant activity in many experimental and clinical studies, but its effects have been limited until now because of poor absorption. Studies indicate Theracurmin is by far the most bioavailable form of curcumin and represents a major breakthrough in the use of curcumin to promote health. Many of curcumin’s beneficial effects are attributed to its ability to act as an antioxidant and help to restore balance in certain cellular functions.
Enhancing the Benefits of Curcumin
What research has continually documented is that curcumin is highly pleiotropic, meaning it exerts multiple actions. Foremost is curcumin’s ability to exert significant benefits in many experimental studies in cell cultures and animals. While many preliminary studies show curcumin has great promise, a major issue limiting its use in humans has been that it is not very well absorbed. To address this issue, several types of curcumin products have now been developed to more effectively raise blood and tissue levels of curcumin.
Theracurmin is the most advanced of these techniques. This all-natural preparation utilizes advanced techniques to reduce the particle size of curcumin as well as dramatically increase its solubility. The first step in improving curcumin involves reducing its particle size. The average particle size of regular curcumin is 22.75 µm. In Theracurmin the particle size is 0.19–0.3 µm—a reduction of over 100 times. This reduced particle sized curcumin is then mixed with natural emulsifiers to suspend it in a highly bioavailable mixture that is then dried. The result of all this technology is a dramatic increase in the absorption of curcumin compared to all other commercial forms tested, including other enhanced forms of curcumin.
As the graph above demonstrates, Theracurmin is by far the most bioavailable form of curcumin. In a study published in Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, Theracurmin achieved blood levels far greater than any other form of curcumin to date. This study also showed a clear dose response, an effect not demonstrated in published studies with other curcumin preparations. What this means is that even small dosages of Theracurmin increase blood measurements of curcumin and as the dosage 
increases so does the blood level. This increase is linear, meaning that it increases in the blood in a parallel fashion to the dosage. This absorption profile is extremely important as the effectiveness of curcumin within the body requires achieving effective concentrations. Theracurmin is able to achieve necessary concentrations within the body that are not easily achieved, if at all, with other curcumin preparations.
Theracurmin Increases “Free” Curcumin
In addition to being poorly absorbed, curcumin is rapidly metabolized in the liver. When measuring levels of curcumin in the blood during absorption studies, the value of curcumin is based upon total curcuminoids including metabolites. In studies conducted at a major Japanese university, Theracurmin was the only form shown to increase the free curcumin content in the blood. As free curcumin is significantly more active than the metabolites, it is extremely likely that Theracurmin is not only better absorbed, but it also produces additional benefits compared to other supplemental forms of curcumin.
What Are the Health Benefits of Theracurmin?
Because Theracurmin enhances the absorption of curcumin, all the benefits associated with curcumin are also enhanced. Theracurmin has also been the subject of several clinical studies. These studies have shown Theracurmin to have positive health benefits such as supporting the body’s natural systems to reduce tissue damage as well as support liver and heart function. Currently, Theracurmin is being investigated for additional properties at some of the major universities and research centers in the world. The dosage recommendation of Theracurmin based upon the existing clinical evaluation is 300 to 600 mg per day.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Michael T. Murray, N.D., is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities in the field of natural medicine. He is a graduate, former faculty member and serves on the Board of Regents of Bastyr University in Seattle, WA and is the author of over 30 books including co-author of the best-selling, How to Prevent and Treat Diabetes with Natural Medicine, Hunger Free Forever and his latest book, What the Drug Companies Won’t Tell You and Your Doctor Doesn’t Know.
Key References
1. Sasaki H, Sunagawa Y, Takahashi K, et al. Innovative preparation of curcumin for improved oral bioavailability. Biol Pharm Bull. 2011;34(5):660-5. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/34/5/34_5_660/_article
2. Kanai M, Imaizumi A, Otsuka Y, et al. Dose-escalation and pharmacokinetic study of nanoparticle curcumin, a potential anticancer agent with improved bioavailability, in healthy human volunteers. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2012 Jan;69(1):65-70.
3. Shimatsu A, Kakeya H, Imaizumi A, Morimoto T, Kanai M, Maeda S, Clinical application of “curcumin”, a multi-functional substance. Anti-Aging Med 2012; March 30.
http://www.anti-aging.gr.jp/english/pdf/2012/9(2)7583.pdf
Published in WholeFoods Magazine, August 2012
