Curcumin or Free Curcumin: Which one should you choose for maximum wellness?
Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, provides various health benefits, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and joint health support. However, to achieve measurable benefits, a daily dose of 2-8 grams is needed due to its extensive metabolism in the gut and liver, where over 95% is converted into inactive metabolites either during absorption or after reaching the liver.
If for some reason, the metabolism of Curcumin is prevented, the Curcumin remains unmetabolized in the gut as well as in the liver. It will get absorbed in the blood plasma as unchanged Curcumin. Un-metabolized or unconjugated or unchanged Curcumin in blood plasma is called ‘Free Curcumin’.
Is the free form of Curcumin more bioactive?
Research shows that Curcumin’s metabolites, such as Glucuronides and sulfates, are biologically inactive. These metabolites are highly water-soluble, causing them to be quickly eliminated from the bloodstream into urine—typically within 2 hours, in contrast, Free Curcumin (unmetabolized) circulates in the blood for over 6 hours and retains its potent biological activity, as observed in cell-line studies. For Curcumin to exert its benefits, it must remain unmetabolized in the bloodstream as Free Curcumin, so that it’s being taken up by organs such as joints, brain, heart, eyes, etc. The bioactivity of Curcumin, or Curcumin benefits, is primarily attributed to the unmetabolized or free forms of Curcuminoids.
Why does the Curcumin bioavailability matter?
Curcumin bioavailability is crucial when it comes to supplements. If a compound is not easily absorbed, you won’t experience its full benefits. While Curcumin in its natural form has low bioavailability. Various formulations have been developed to increase Curcumin bioavailability. Most Curcumin pharmacokinetic studies measure and report total (free plus conjugated) Curcumin, not free, bioactive Curcumin as a result of enzymatic hydrolysis of plasma samples prior to extraction and analysis. Hydrolysis results in approximately a 10-fold overestimation of the number of total Curcuminoids in plasma and greater than a 10-fold overestimation of free, bioactive Curcumin, therefore producing a misrepresentation of the results.
What is the difference between Curcumin and Free Curcumin?
Turmeric extract contains three main bioactive: Curcumin, Demethoxycurcumin, and Bisdemethoxycurcumin, collectively called Curcuminoids. When consumed, these are metabolized in the gut and liver into conjugates (Glucuronides and Sulfates) via microsomal enzymes. If Curcuminoids are protected from this biotransformation, they remain in their free, unconjugated form. Free Curcumin stays longer in the bloodstream and can be absorbed by organs like the joints, brain, heart, and eyes, delivering active bioeffects. Thus, the therapeutic benefits of turmeric are attributed to the free, unmetabolized Curcuminoids.
Reference –
- Sohn SI et.al, Priya A, Balasubramaniam B, Muthuramalingam P, Sivasankar C, Selvaraj A, Valliammai A, Jothi R, Pandian S. Biomedical Applications and Bioavailability of Curcumin-An Updated Overview. Pharmaceutics. 2021 Dec 7;13(12):2102.
- Stohs SJ, Ray SD (2019) Issues with human bioavailability determinations of bioactive curcumin. Biomed J Sci Tech Res 12: 001003.
- Pal A, Sung B, Bhanu Prasad BA, Schuber PT, Prasad S, et al., (2014) Curcumin glucuronides: assessing the proliferative activity against human cell lines. Bioorg Med Chem 22:435-439.
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How is Free Curcumin Different from Metabolized Curcumin?
Metabolized curcumin, in the form of glucuronides and sulfates, is biologically inactive and quickly eliminated from the body. Free curcumin, on the other hand, stays active in the bloodstream for longer and delivers therapeutic benefits directly to organs.
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What Makes Maxicuma Different from Traditional Turmeric Supplements?
Maxicuma delivers 172 times more free curcumin that stays in the bloodstream longer, making it ideal for a convenient 1-a-day dosing regimen (long-acting). It offers a superior value proposition by providing enhanced efficacy at a lower dose and at a more affordable cost. With its neutral taste profile and instant cold water dispersibility (CWD), Maxicuma is suitable for a wide range of versatile application formats.
Jyoti Gautam
With nearly two decades in pharmaceutical and API marketing, Jyoti Gautam has honed her skills in key segments like nutraceuticals, oncology, orthopedics, and dermatology. She is known for her strategic acumen and industry expertise.
