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<\/a><\/p>\nBegin with the idea that\u00a0inflammaging is one of the four programs of self-destruction<\/a> which take over our bodies later in life. \u00a0Quelling the body\u2019s inflammation is one of the best anti-aging strategies we have, and curcumin is the most effective herbal anti-inflammatory agent we know. \u00a0It couldn\u2019t be clearer\u2026<\/p>\n But look below the surface, and things are more ambiguous, more complicated as usual. \u00a0Yes, I believe that curcumin has a place in a longevity program, but how much to take? and in what form? \u00a0These are questions that only get more difficult in the light of hundreds of studies, some with results that are contradictory in crucial ways.<\/p>\n The first mystery about curcumin is that there is a long tradition of turmeric root in Ayurvedic and Oriental medicine, yet hardly any curcumin is absorbed from the stomach. \u00a0Are there other compounds in the turmeric root that facilitate absorption of curcumin? \u00a0Or maybe curcumin is not the only beneficial ingredient in turmeric. \u00a0There is a lot of literature documenting the metabolic effects of curcumin, but only one study<\/a> I could find that compared curcumin to whole turmeric (and some of its reported findings were so strange that it makes me suspicious of everything in this paper).<\/p>\n First, the benefits:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anti-inflammatory<\/strong><\/p>\n Curcumin acts by a similar mechanism to aspirin and other NSAIDs, inhibiting COX chemistry that promotes inflammation. \u00a0In addition, curcumin suppresses the action of NFkB, a signaling chemical that promotes inflammation, and increases in prevalence as we age, to our detriment. \u00a0This is theoretical ground for believing that curcumin can do something that aspirin does only weakly, so curcumin may have benefits even for those who are already taking daily aspirin or ibuprofen. \u00a0There are also some rodent experiments [ref<\/a>, ref<\/a>] suggesting that aspirin + curcumin is better than aspirin alone.<\/p>\n I have written<\/a> that anti-inflammatory supplements are the easiest and surest longevity program currently available. \u00a0Surely curcumin finds a place in this program.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Anti-Cancer Activity<\/strong><\/p>\n Curcumin has been demonstrated to kill cancer cells grown in the lab [ref<\/a>, ref<\/a>, ref<\/a>, ref<\/a>]. \u00a0In mice and rats, oral curcumin has been shown to prevent cancer [ref<\/a>, ref<\/a>, ref<\/a>], and in humans there have been some small epidemiological studies. \u00a0A search of ClinicalTrials.gov produced 97 studies, about a third of them involving cancer. \u00a0Cancers of the digestive tract are most likely first targets, because of the difficulty of getting curcumin into the bloodstream.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alzheimer\u2019s Disease<\/strong><\/p>\n Evidence that curcumin protects against AD is even stronger than for cancer. \u00a0There has been extensive experimentation with cell cultures [ref<\/a>] and with rodents [ref<\/a>], and in addition there is the human epidemiology, linking consumption of curry spices to protection against AD. \u00a0Age-adjusted incidence of AD is far lower in India than in America ([Ref<\/a>] compiled separately for people with different alleles of the gene APO-E) and the difference has been statistically linked to eating curry [Ref<\/a>]. \u00a0Often I am skeptical of cross-cultural comparisons, because so many differences are difficult to untangle, but in this case, understanding of the underlying biochemistry is so strong that I think the attribution to curry is probably warranted.<\/p>\n Since turmeric is only about 10% of curry, and curcumin is only a few percent of turmeric, and curcumin absorption in blood tests is less than 1%, it would be predicted that the amount of curcumin that is absorbed by people who eat curried foods ought to be too small to matter, and yet it does<\/i><\/b>matter. \u00a0I take this to mean that there is something we don\u2019t yet understand about turmeric\u2019s mechanism of action. \u00a0In addition, there is at least one known synergy between turmeric and other spices that might be eaten with it: black pepper increases the staying power of curcumin in the bloodstream (more below).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arthritis<\/strong><\/p>\n For the last decade, it has been acknowledged that osteo arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, is better described as an auto-immune disease than as a wearing-away of cartilage. \u00a0This would seem to be a natural application for curcumin, but study has just begun. \u00a0[Example<\/a>]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Curcumin and cardiovascular disease<\/strong><\/p>\n Also: whole turmeric is a vaso-relaxant [ref<\/a>]. \u00a0This means that eating turmeric might protect against heart disease in the near term. \u00a0In other columns<\/a>, I\u2019ve tried to make the distinction between slowing the aging process and cutting the immediate risk of mortality. \u00a0Of course, both are valuable. \u00a0Aspirin, for example, slows aging by damping inflammation, and also cuts the risk of stroke and heart attacks in the near term by reducing blood clots. \u00a0In that curcumin is an anti-inflammatory agent, it may slow the aging process. \u00a0To the extent that curcumin makes arteries more pliable, curcumin might also lay claim to reducing mortality, and by a different mechanism from aspirin, so that we might hope the effects (aspirin + curcumin) are additive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Part of the mechanism by which curcumin kills cancer cells is to inhibit telomerase<\/a>. \u00a0Does curcumin also inhibit telomerase in healthy cells? \u00a0We need telomerase to keep our stem cells healthy into old age, so this is potentially a pro-aging<\/i> function of curcumin. \u00a0 Life Span Experiments<\/strong><\/p>\n There is exactly one (\u05d0\u05d7\u05d3) (\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043d) (\u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f)\u00a0(1.000) study in which mice fed curcumin** lived 10% longer [2007<\/a>]\u00a0and one (\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03c2) (\u0627\u06cc\u06a9) (I) (\u0b92\u0ba9\u0bcd\u0bb1\u0bc1) study which found no effect on mouse\u00a0life span [2013<\/a>]. \u00a0There are many possible reasons the two well-respected research groups might have obtained different results.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Absorption and the fundamental mechanisms of action<\/strong><\/p>\n It seems to be a common experimental finding that, after dosing a subject with turmeric or curcumin, no curcumin can be detected in the blood \u2013 and yet the full therapeutic benefit is being realized [Examples 1<\/a>, 2<\/a>, 3<\/a>]. \u00a0In some studies, curcumin could easily be found in urine samples, but was undetectable in the blood. \u00a0This situation suggests to me that something basic may be missing from our understanding of the metabolic chemistry of turmeric and curcuminoids. \u00a0Curcumin was identified more than 200 years ago as the active ingredient in turmeric, and most research up to this date has been designed and interpreted as though nothing else mattered but delivery of curcumin into the blood and thence into the body\u2019s cells. \u00a0But perhaps there are metabolites that we have yet to identify, or perhaps a combination of chemicals acts synergistically.<\/p>\n A great deal of work has been done in recent years that is narrowly focused on delivery strategies that raise measured levels of curcumin in the blood. \u00a0This activity is commercially motivated. \u00a0Here is a promising herb that is cheap* and un-patentable, so companies are clamboring \u00a0to distinguish their products with proprietary processing for increased absorption. \u00a0But it may be that we don\u2019t know enough yet to be sure that curcumin is all that matters, or that higher blood levels for longer times translate into better effectiveness.<\/p>\n Two issues of bioavailability are discussed in this this 2007 review<\/a>: \u00a0First, inability to cross the stomach lining into the blood; second, the liver efficiently removes curcumin from the blood and breaks it down before it can be effective. \u00a0Liposomes address the first issue. \u00a0A liposome is a microscopic bubble of edible oil (\u201clipid\u201d) which can carry a small quantity of chemical payload across the stomach wall. \u00a0Piperine<\/a> (a chemical constituent of ordiary black pepper) addresses the second issue [ref<\/a>], slowing breakdown of curcumin in the liver. \u00a0A phytosome is a liposome that contains a payload of multiple chemical species, and phytosomes are commercially available that combine curcumin with piperine.<\/p>\n Three formulations of curcumin with enhanced bio-availability are sold as Mervia<\/a>, BCM-95<\/a> and Longvida<\/a>. \u00a0All three use liposome microencapsulation, and include different proprietary ingredients and processes. \u00a0Dr Trutt<\/a> describes the three, and recommends Longvida, based on indirect reasoning: Longvida has the most credible data for getting curcumin into the bloodstream, and only curcumin has been shown in lab tests based on cell biology to protect against Alzheimer\u2019s Disease. \u00a0He may be right, but I would like to see some human or animal studies, since there are often surprises in the inference from cell culture to whole animal.<\/p>\n I wish<\/strong><\/p>\n I wish there were more research on components of turmeric, together and separately; less on curcumin in isolation. \u00a0I wish there were more research with health and longevity as measured outcomes, less emphasis on blood levels of curcumin.<\/p>\n Until we have much better understanding, I\u2019m going to suggest that whole turmeric with black pepper is the most conservative path to supplementation. \u00a0It tastes great with eggs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The bottom line<\/strong><\/p>\n Turmeric, with its main active ingredient curcumin, is a potent anti-inflammatory agent with evidence suggesting that it can lengthen human life span, while protecting against cancer and Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and possibly cardiovascular disease as well. \u00a0Most of the benefits overlap with aspirin\/NSAID. \u00a0For those who prefer not to take NSAIDs because of stomach issues or because of a preference for \u201cnatural\u201d products, turmeric provides unequivocal benefits. \u00a0And even if you are already taking NSAIDs, there are probably some additional benefits from turmeric.<\/p>\n Large quantities of turmeric are the most conservative and the cheapest form. \u00a0If you\u2019re thinking in terms of daily supplementation, teaspoonsful of turmeric may be the least convenient form; but if you like Indian cooking, it may be the most convenient way to dose yourself with turmeric.<\/p>\n Turmeric has a long and venerable history, and it is not entirely clear how the different chemical components of turmeric might interact. \u00a0Eating turmeric with a small quantity of black pepper greatly increases the body\u2019s uptake.<\/p>\n There is research to indicate that curcumin is the most important active ingredient, and concentrated curcumin can be taken conveniently in a pill that is twenty times smaller than the portion of whole turmeric from which it is derived. \u00a0Absorption into the body is still an issue, and there are various commercial formulations of curcumin that claim to have resolved this issue, supported mostly by in-house studies.<\/p>\n If you are taking telomerase-activation supplements, then there is potential for curcumin to interfere with their action. \u00a0Whether this is a serious problem is not known, but to be safe you may want to alternate telomerase activation with curcumin, for example on a cycle of 3 to 8 weeks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Acknowledgment<\/b><\/p>\n Thanks to Steve Ellis of Edible Science<\/a> for suggesting that I look into curcumin, and providing references and links. \u00a0The views expressed here are mine and not his.<\/p>\n ————————-<\/p>\n * $4 per pound<\/a> of turmeric in bulk. \u00a0This works out to about 25c per gram of curcumin. \u00a0Even the liposomal product BCM95 is still only about $2.00\/g retail<\/a>.<\/p>\n **\u00a0Actually a metabolite of curcumin, called tetrahydrocurcumin, which seems to have borrowed the\u00a0abbreviation THC from a better-known substance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Warning: Telomerase inhibitor<\/strong><\/del><\/p>\nI have found no data on the effect of curcumin on telomerase expression in healthy, non-cancerous cells<\/del>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Note: after having written the above, I learned today that\u00a0 Curcumin does not inhibit telomerase in healthy cells<\/strong>. \u00a0My sources are Bill Andrews, whose company, Sierra Sciences<\/a> has assayed hundreds of thousands of substances for telomerase activity in vitro,<\/em> and Jim Green, whose story<\/a> I wrote about a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n