Indena USA, Inc.

811 First Ave., Ste. 218, Seattle, WA 48104, www.indena.com

CURCUMIN–SOY INGREDIENT
Meriva from Indena is a proprietary blend of curcumin with soy phospholipids, which has been proven effective in relieving pain and increasing mobility in patients with osteoarthritis. Soy and curcumin are combined in a 1:2 weight ratio and two parts of microcrystalline cellulose are added to improve flowability. The overall curcumin content is 20%.

In a recently published study from Alternative Medicine Review, researchers gave 50 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) the “best available treatment”; another group of 50 patients were given Meriva (200 mg) plus this treatment. Overall, the Meriva-treatment group experienced less pain and better mobility than the other group. Also, they showed a reduction in various markers of inflammation; the other group experienced no such benefit.

Data from a separate study published this year in the Journal of Natural Products found that the curcumin in Meriva is absorbed very well. A group of volunteers was given a low or a high dose of Meriva; another group received the same amount of curcuminoids in a non-formulated curcuminoid mixture. The study found that overall curcuminoid absorption was 29-fold more in the Meriva group than the non-formulated group. Researchers also found a 50- to 60-fold increase in absorption for demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, two curcuminoids present in curcumin. According to the company, “The improved absorption, and possibly a better plasma curcuminoid profile, might underlie the clinical efficacy of Meriva at dosages significantly lower than unformulated curcuminoid mixtures.”

Meriva is offered in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, December 2011