Research funded and authored by the multinational ingredient manufacturer Givaudan showed that fat-based formulations are particularly effective if they contain lipids in a suspended form or polar lipids, as seen in dairy products such as milk.
Of the five food matrices evaluated, the oat milk formulation demonstrated the greatest improvement in measures of bioavailability.
Unlocking curcumin’s potential: powerful benefits, poor absorption
Curcumin is the primary bioactive component of turmeric. The compound has received global attention for its multiple health benefits, primarily its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Consumer awareness and understanding of the botanical’s potential benefits are now very high, with data from the ITC Insights 2020 Consumer Survey showing that 86% of supplement consumers are familiar with curcumin/turmeric.
This knowledge is driving growth in the turmeric market, with European consumption and imports of turmeric forecast to increase at an average rate of 3% to 5% annually.
In the United States, turmeric is the third best-selling herb, with $133.3 million in sales, and is number one in the natural channel, with $37 million in sales, according to the most recent Herb Market Report from the American Botanical Council.
However, curcumin has limited solubility and absorption in the gut. Leading suppliers have therefore focused their attention on optimizing the delivery of curcumin and its metabolites for supplements and functional foods.
Turmipure Gold: a dried colloidal suspension of curcuminoids
The Givaudan study used a randomized, cross-over, and open-label design to test curcumin absorption by incorporating a turmeric formulation into five different food matrices.
This included an oat milk drink, pectin gummies, a probiotic drink, a ready-to-drink formula and a sports nutrition bar, which were compared to a control (capsules).
Each formula contained 300 mg of dried colloidal suspension of curcuminoids known as Turmipure Gold, which has been clinically proven to enhance the bioavailability of curcuminoids.
Thirty-five healthy adults were instructed to take each formula on six different days in a fasted state, with wash-out periods of at least one week in between. Standard meals were provided for dinner the previous evening and on the day of the experimental session.
Blood samples were collected at baseline and over 24 hours to measure plasma concentrations of curcuminoids.
Fat-based lipid turmeric formulations increased bioavailability and speed of absorption
The study found that the bioavailability of curcuminoids increased when the turmeric formulation was consumed with certain food matrices compared to the capsule form.
While the ready-to-drink and gummy formulations were found to be bioequivalent to the capsule form, the oat milk drink, sports nutrition bar and probiotic drink showed significant improvements in bioavailability at 76%, 40% and 35%, respectively.
“Curcuminoids have poor solubility in water, which limits their bioavailability,” the researchers explained. “However, trapping them in small particles such as micelles, liposomes, emulsions and solid lipid particles can enhance their intestinal absorption.”
Additionally, lipids increase the secretion of bile acids, which may further support the emulsification of curcuminoids.”
Consuming a turmeric formulation in liquid form may also reduce the time it takes for curcuminoids to reach peak plasma concentration. Indeed, the study reported marked decreases for the liquid food matrices at −46% for the probiotic drink and −41% for the oat milk drink.
Implications
Safety profiles of all products tested in this study did not show any serious adverse events related to the investigational product.
“The safety and tolerance of the investigated turmeric formulation have been previously established in a toxicological study and a clinical safety trial, which demonstrated the safety at a high dosage of 1,000 mg for up to 5 weeks of supplementation,” the researchers wrote.
The study therefore highlights the potential for food products, particularly those containing lipids, to be safe and effective vehicles for enhancing curcuminoid bioavailability.
Source: Food & Function. doi: 10.1039/d4fo03414g. “The influence of food matrices on the bioavailability of curcuminoids from a dried colloidal turmeric suspension: a randomized, crossover, clinical trial”. Authors: K. A. Schönenberger, et al.
