oral bioavailability of curcumin from micronized powder and liquid micelles is significantly increased in healthy humans and differs between sexes

• Published in: Molecular nutrition & food research Vol. 58; no. 3; pp. 516 - 527
• Main Authors: Schiborr, Christina, Kocher, Alexa, Behnam, Dariush, Jandasek, Josef, Toelstede, Simone, Frank, Jan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2014; Wiley
• Subjects: absorption; Administration, Oral; Bioavailability; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Availability; blood; Cross-Over Studies; Curcuma longa; Curcumin; Curcumin - adverse effects; Curcumin - analogs & derivatives; Curcumin - analysis; Curcumin - metabolism; Curcumin - pharmacokinetics; Diarylheptanoids; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gender differences; Healthy humans; Humans; Male; men; Micelles; Powders; Safety; Sex differences; Sex Factors; urine; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; women; Young Adult; Human; Monocotyledones; Curcuma longal; Nutrition; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor; Toxicity; Sex; Oral administration; Micelle; Sex differences; Healthy humans; Bioavailability; Powder; Liquid; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Curcumin; Curcuma; Safety; Pharmacokinetics; Zingiberaceae; Curcuma longa
• ISSN: 1613-4125; 1613-4133; 1613-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201300724

SCOPE: Curcumin revealed various health‐beneficial properties in numerous studies. However its bioavailability is low due to its limited intestinal uptake and rapid metabolism. The aim of our project was to develop novel curcumin formulations with improved oral bioavailability and to study their safety as well as potential sex‐differences. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this crossover study, healthy subjects (13 women, 10 men) took, in random order, a single oral dose of 500 mg curcuminoids as native powder, micronized powder, or liquid micelles. Blood and urine samples were collected for 24 h and total curcuminoids and safety parameters were quantified. Based on the area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC), the micronized curcumin was 14‐, 5‐, and 9‐fold and micellar curcumin 277‐, 114‐, and 185‐fold better bioavailable than native curcumin in women, men, and all subjects, respectively. Thus, women absorbed curcumin more efficiently than men. All safety parameters remained within the reference ranges following the consumption of all formulations. CONCLUSION: Both, the micronized powder and in particular the liquid micellar formulation of curcumin significantly improved its oral bioavailability without altering safety parameters and may thus be ideally suited to deliver curcumin in human intervention trials. The observed sex differences in curcumin absorption warrant further investigation.