A pharmacokinetic study and critical reappraisal of curcumin formulations enhancing bioavailability
Maurice A G M Kroon, Hanneke W M Van Laarhoven, Eleonora L Swart, Olaf Van Tellingen, E Marleen Kemper
iScience, doi:10.1016/j.isci.2025.112575
This independent crossover study assessed curcumin bioavailability and excretion in nine healthy males receiving three formulations (AOV, Longvida, NovaSOL) at about 570 mg, while AOV was also tested at 2280 mg, with and without piperine. Plasma levels of unconjugated curcumin remained below 2 nM in most cases, including high-dose AOV and piperine combinations. NovaSOL achieved the highest levels (6.7-38 nM at 30 min), but these rapidly declined and were still 100-fold lower than concentrations used in vitro to show biological effects. Curcumin conjugates exceeded 10 nM with all formulations, particularly NovaSOL, which showed 100-fold higher levels. Fecal recovery mainly included unconjugated curcuminoids and was high, except for NovaSOL, suggesting better intestinal absorption. However, even when using a formulation with enhanced uptake, plasma levels of unconjugated curcumin remained minimal. Piperine addition provided no benefit. The findings underscore that bioavailability claims should be based on unconjugated curcumin and not on its poorly membrane permeable conjugates.
Resource availability Lead Contact: Further information can be directed to the lead contact: Olaf van Tellingen (o.v.tellingen@nki.nl)
Materials Availability This study did not generate new unique reagents
Author Contributions Conceptualization, M.K., O.V.T., and E.M.K.; Methodology, M.K., O.V.T., and E.M.K.; Formal Analysis, M.K., O.V.T., and E.M.K.; Investigation, M.K.; Resources, M.K. and O.V.T.; Writing -Original Draft, M.K.; Writing -Review & Editing, M.K.,H.V.L., E.L.S, O.V.T., and E.M.K.; Visualization, M.K., O.V.T., and E.M.K.; Supervision, H.V.L., E.L.S, O.V.T., and E.M.K.; Project Administration, M.K., O.V.T., and E.M.K.; Funding Acquisition, E.M.K.
Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests.
METHOD DETAILS
Study procedures Participants were instructed to visit the AMC fasted (fasted for at least 4 hours before t=0) in the morning of day 1 (around 8:00 AM). They were allowed to consume water. Two hours after the curcumin intake, foods and beverages were provided by the investigators to prevent consumption of products containing curcumin/piperine. Blood samples were collected at t=0 (h), t=0.25 (h), t=0.5 (h), t=0.75 (h), t=1 (h), t=1.5 (h), t=2 (h), t=4 (h), t=8 (h), and t=24 (h) after intake. For the final blood and urine sample participants returned to the site at the t=0 (h) the next day. Urine was collected from t=0 (h) until 24 hours after intake, and feces were collected until 48 hours after intake. Participants were..
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