Curcumin: to Supplement or Not? /
An insight into the health benefits of curcumin
Kate Davidson offers an insight into the health benefits of curcumin, the active component of turmeric, and explores why it is one of the biggest supplements of the moment.
Curcumin is a polyphenol and is the active component of turmeric, a spice that has been used extensively in cooking as well as medicinally by many cultures of the world. It comes from the plant Curcuma longa, a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant derived from the ginger family. Curcumin, if ingested on its own, has poor bioavailability which means the body cannot easily utilise its health benefits. It can be combined, however, with other substances such as black pepper to enhance its bioavailability.
Curcumin is an antioxidant. It works to neutralise free radicals, unstable molecules which damage our bodies and can increase the risk of an array of diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, inflammatory joint disease, asthma, diabetes, senile dementia and degenerative eye disease.
In addition, curcumin works in several ways to reduce inflammation attributed to disease. Oxidative stress caused by free radicals or generally any Active Oxygen Species (AOS) is closely linked with inflammatory processes in the body with one leading to the other. Inflammation is implicated in many diseases such as endometriosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, cancer, allergies, asthma and bronchitis. Menopause can also induce a pro-inflammatory state.
When choosing whether to supplement or not, it should be noted that supplementation always comes second to a healthy diet. Supplementation is recommended when there is an increased need of a particular nutrient that an individual or a subgroup of the population may not be able to obtain from their diet. A well-known example is folic acid, recommended for pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects in the developing foetus.
Generally, evidence-based research focuses on investigating nutrients, often at higher levels than found in food, and their effects on subjects who are suffering disease. On this premise, curcumin could be of benefit for any of the conditions mentioned above whereby oxidative stress and inflammation are components of the pathology. One study investigating the benefits of curcumin supplementation in healthy subjects generated mixed results – some biological molecules linked to atherosclerosis increased. Just like with western biomedicine, the pros and cons need to be analysed for any nutritional supplement. In light of the study mentioned, those with a family history of heart disease may want to err on caution.
Curcumin is available as a supplement in both capsule and powder form. Be aware, supplements are not subject to the same strict legal regulations as food. Some curcumin supplements will be of higher quality than others. Often, if taking advice from a qualified health professional, practitioner-only supplements will be prescribed. These are not available to the general public and are of high quality due to extensive qualitative testing. Always seek the advice from a qualified health professional before starting any new supplementation regime. Sometimes no matter the health benefits, a particular supplement may not agree with certain individuals.
It is well worth investigating curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which are often the basis of many diseases. With the aid of a qualified health professional, together you will be able to determine if this supplement could be of benefit.