The health-boosting activity of curcumin may be due to the molecule�s ability to stabilize cell membranes and increase the cell�s resistance to infection, according to a new study.
The research, published in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society, may help scientists understand how curcumin works inside the body. Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy and colleagues at the University of Michigan used solid-state NMR spectroscopy to show that curcumin physically alters the cell membrane at an atomic level.
Curcumin, the natural pigment that gives the spice turmeric its yellow color, has increasingly come under the scientific spotlight in recent years, with studies investigating its potential benefits for reducing cholesterol levels, improving cardiovascular health, reducing the risk of Alzheimer�s disease and for its potential protection against cancer.
According to Ramamoorthy, curcumin can induce a negative curvature of the membrane, which would explain the potential anti-cancer activity of the compound, since other studies have shown that such changes may increase the activity of proteins such as tBid, which play an important role in apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
Using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, Ramamoorthy and his co-workers report that molecules of curcumin insert themselves into cell membranes and make the membranes more stable and orderly. This makes the cells more resistant to infection by disease-causing microbes, they added. The study, supported by funds from the National Institutes of Health, also revealed that curcumin exerts this strong effect on the membrane structure at low concentrations.
Journal of the American Chemical Society 131(12):4490-4498, 2009
Thanks Liverock. Is it true that Turmeric must be taken with black pepper to be effective? I just started taking the supplement recently, and was hoping it was beneficial on it's own
Curcumin is better absorbed with black pepper(bioperine) and also preferably with some fat. I usually unscrew the capsule and put the curcumin and bioperine into a dessert spoon, put some virgin olive oil into the mix and stir before swallowing to get the best way of absorbing.
I've read that taking it with coconut oil is very good too, and cococnut oil provides some very good benefits, and antimicrobial for the stomach also.
__________________ "The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, - receptive to Truth and Love" Mary Baker Eddy
Visit www.HealthSalon.org
I'm a big fan of Curcumin (not the taste though!) and usually just buy it in bulk at the chinese grocery shop (for some reason they pay less for the same spice...) and mix 1 tbsp of curcumin with 1 tbsp of olive oil added with some fresh ground black pepper. I mix all that into a half cup of tomato juice and down that. :-) Get a dose of the anticancer properties of curcumin and some lycopene (although not much) from the tomato juice.
A word of warning about buying curcumin. Independant tests carried out last year found some supplies of curcumin had very high levels of lead in them. Most curcumin comes from third world countries such as China and India and herbs grown in these countries are affected by the atmospheric pollution, particularly lead.
Personally I would not buy any curcumin from a supplier who was not prepared to show me a batch certificate showing it had been tested for lead and had the claimed 95% amount of curcuminoids. Members of the Natural Products Association are reliable suppliers of supplements.
Members of NPA have to prove that their products have been tested to pharmaceutical grade for contamination and product strength before they are admitted to membership.
Thanks for that info liverock. Good stuff to know. I was kinda disappointed to see that two companies I purchase from are not on the NPA's GMP certified list. I use some Doctor's Best products, including there curcumin, at times as well as Vitacosts brand.
Makes me wonder if I should change brands but I don't think its right to assume because they are not on this list that they are bad products..
__________________ "The nurse should be cheerful, orderly, punctual, patient, full of faith, - receptive to Truth and Love" Mary Baker Eddy
Visit www.HealthSalon.org
You can always ask any manufacturer to email you a copy of the batch certificate of analysis for any of their curcumin products.
If they refuse I would not purchase.
This sort of sub standard manufacturing practice is just the sort of ammunition that those opposed to The Dietary Supplements Act of 1994 will use to restrict the freedoms that were given under the Act.
Curcumin -The Infection Fighter
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