Curcumin is poorly absorbed by the human digestive tract. The cells lining the intestine are equipped with enzymes that convert curcumin into other substances, and molecular pumps that pump curcumin and curcumin byproducts out of the intestinal lining back into the intestine. Less than 1% of the curcumin one consumes actually makes it into the bloodstream, and the liver rapidly destroys most of this.
Therefore, if you want to experiment with the effects of curcumin on the body — for example, as a treatment for an ailment — then you will probably want to inhibit some of these enzymes and molecular pumps.
Enzymes that destroy curcumin
The cells lining the human small intestine contain several types of enzymes that convert curcumin into relatively inactive substances:
These same enzymes are also found in the liver and other tissues.
Among the available substances that inhibit these enzymes are:
Molecular pumps
Cells in the intestinal lining and throughout the body are equipped with molecular pumps that remove curcumin and other substances from the interior of the cells. Since most of the potential health applications of curcumin require that it act on structures within cells, the activity of these molecular pumps prevents curcumin from reaching and acting upon these target structures. The pumps of interest here are called ‘Pgp’ (P-glycoproteins).
Among the substances that inhibit the activity of Pgp are piperine and quercetin.
A starting point for experimentation
Only one clinical study has been published that sheds any light on the practical use of curcumin bioavailability enhancers. In this study, done in India, 20 mg of piperine were used to enhance doses of 2 grams of curcumin.
Refs:
http://www.bioperine.com/Manual/ClinicalStudies7.htm
http://www.bioperine.com/Manual/ClinicalStudies8.htm
This study can be considered a starting point for further experimentation.
The problem of assessment
Ideally, we would like to be able to try out various doses of curcumin and enhancers and measure the amount of curcumin that reaches the bloodstream. Unfortunately, typical blood-testing labs are not set up for this particular test.
The alternative is to try a given combination of dosages and look for changes in the condition we are hoping to treat. For some conditions (for example, Alzheimer’s Disease) this may require an extended period of observation (months or years), and the experiment may be impractical. But for other conditions (such as Cystic Fibrosis), the results may be obvious within days or even hours. Furthermore, if we can find a combination of curcumin-enhancers that works for one of these rapidly-assessable conditions, the same combination will probably work for the hard-to-assess conditions, as well.
Experimental protocols
In searching for effective combinations of curcumin-plus-enhancers we have to balance efficiency with risk. How to balance these factors is a personal choice, and will naturally depend on the seriousness of the condition one wants to treat. There are no risk-free choices, however — even the choice of doing nothing at all still carries its own level of risk.
It is important to keep track of what combination and dosages we have tried, whether we are trying dosages at random or using a gradually escalating dosage regimen. It seems simplest, however, to use an organized approach rather than a random one.
Generally speaking, the enhancers should be consumed 15-30 minutes prior to the curcumin. It is not known whether these substances work better when consumed with just water or with food. The interval between experiments depends upon the condition being assessed. For Cystic Fibrosis this might be as little as a day or two.
A daily protocol for someone in a hurry for answers might run along the lines of the following:
Exp. 1: 2 grams curcumin + 20 mg piperine. (The Indian protocol.)
Exp. 2: 2 grams curcumin + 20 mg piperine + 500 mg quercetin.
Exp. 3: 2 grams curcumin + 20 mg piperine + 500 mg quercetin + 8 mg genistein.
Exp. 4: Same as Exp. 3 but done twice per day.
Exp. 5: Same as Exp. 3 but done three times per day.
Exp. 6: 3 grams curcumin + 30 mg piperine + 500 mg quercetin + 8 mg genistein, done 3 times per day.
A daily protocol for someone with more time to be cautious might go like this:
Exp. 1: 2 grams curcumin + 20 mg piperine. (The Indian protocol.)
Exp. 2: 3 grams curcumin + 20 mg piperine.
Exp. 3: 3 grams curcumin + 30 mg piperine.
Exp. 4: 4 grams curcumin + 30 mg piperine.
Exp. 5: 4 grams curcumin + 40 mg piperine.
Exp. 6: 3 grams curcumin + 30 mg piperine, twice per day.
Exp. 7: 3 grams curcumin + 30 mg piperine, three times per day.
Exp. 8: 2 grams curcumin + 20 mg piperine + 500 mg quercetin, once per day.
Exp. 9: 3 grams curcumin + 20 mg piperine + 500 mg quercetin, once per day.
Exp. 10: 3 grams curcumin + 30 mg piperine + 500 mg quercetin, once per day.
... etc.
These protocols are not recommendations — they are just two out of many obvious possibilities one might choose to try. There is nothing special about these two other than the fact that one moves rapidly to higher dosages and more components, while the other proceeds much more slowly.
Choice and risks
The choice of whether to self-experiment with curcumin and enhancers is entirely your choice. You are not being pressured into trying any of these things, neither by the author of this article nor the suppliers of the supplements involved. If you are looking for risk-free choices, you are not being realistic — there are no risk-free choices. Even the choice of not using curcumin at all carries a risk (the risk of missing out on possible benefits). For people who have medical conditions, or who are taking other supplements or drugs, all risks are elevated. The substances discussed here are known to interact with various drugs and supplements that are often used to treat medical conditions.
Be aware that there are no experts in the field being discussed in this article — too little is known about it for anyone to claim to be an expert. The author of this article is no exception. You must rely on your own judgement as to how to proceed, and you are responsible for the choices you make.
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