Description
Our unique Curcumin MCT™ formula combines the powers of Curcumin and Cumin to support your fundamental health processes – such as anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation – while maximizing their bioavailability.*
What Does our Curcumin MCT™ Formula Contain?
Our Curcumin MCT™ formula contains:
- Curcumin (Curcuma longa root extract standardized to 95% curcuminoids)– 500 mg
- MCT Oil Powder – 200 mg
- Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) – 15 mg
- Cumin (Nigella sativa) – 15 mg
- Black pepper (Piper nigrum) – 10 mg
The capsules are made from cellulose and are suitable for vegans.
Like our other nutraceuticals, our Curcumin MCT™ is free from allergens such as gluten, soy, fish, lactose, milk, meat and wheat.
What Is the Recommended Daily Dosage?
We recommend 1 capsule per day or as advised by your healthcare professional. It can be consumed with meals.
What Does the Science Say?
Curcumin
Curcumin is a phenolic phytochemical and the active compound of turmeric (Curcuma longa), extracted from its root. Turmeric is an herb which has been prominently used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to remedy a wide array of different ailments.
Curcumin’s positive properties have been confirmed by a growing body of modern-day research, suggesting it can potently support anti-oxidative processes & assist the body’s anti-inflammatory and detoxifying responses [1]. It may, among many things, be beneficial for:
- Supporting the immune system [1,2]
- Assist in scavenging free radicals [1]
- Protecting the health of joints [1,3]
- Promoting gastrointestinal health [1,4,5,6]
- Supporting the cardiovascular system [7], and
- Supporting the brain & nervous system [8,9,10]
Numerous studies have also shown Curcumin to have anti-carcinogenic effects [11,12,13]. An observational study by Hutchins-Wolfbrandt & Mistry (2010) found that populations consuming large amounts of curry (turmeric) have been observed to have a lower incidence of cancer [14].
Curcumin has, on a cellular level, been observed as immune cell modulatory, having inhibitory effects on COX-2 and iNOS enzymes as well as TNF-alpha, IL and NF-kB signaling pathways [1,2].
Our Curcumin MCT formula uses a best-in-class turmeric extract which is standardized to contain 95% curcuminoids.
Cumin
Cumin is a phytochemical extracted from black seeds (Nigella sativa). Like turmeric, it has been used for centuries as a remedy in many Asian traditional systems of medicine (such as Ayurveda).
In modern clinical studies, it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-osteoporotic, anti-oxidative, anti-microbial hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory benefits [18, 19, 20].
A review by Khan et al (2010) suggests that Cumin may have anti-cancer properties [20,21].
Cumin is used as an antioxidative & anti-inflammatory complement to Curcumin in our Curcumin MCT formula.
MCT Oil Powder
Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) are fatty acids naturally present in many foods. One of the most abundant sources of MCT is coconut oil, containing over 60% of MCT.
Because of their short chain structure, MCTs are quickly absorbed and metabolized by the liver and utilized by the body [22]. They also promote the production of ketones, a favorite source of energy for the brain’s and muscles’ tissues. Consequently, calories from MCTs are normally used more efficiently for energy production than calories from glucose and are therefore less likely to turn into adipose tissue (body fat).
Chemically, MCTs are mainly made up of fatty acids Capric Acid C6, Caprylic Acid C8, Capric Acid C10 and Lauric Acid C12. Caprylic Acid C8 and Capric Acid C10 usually convert faster into ketones (and thus utilized by our mitochondria as an efficient energy source). Our MCT powder extract is based on a combination of these two fatty acids.
In addition to boosting the absorption (bioavailability) of certain compounds, MCTs can have benefits on their own:
- Support and improve cognitive functions [23]
- Support atherosclerosis prevention and a healthy lipid metabolism
- Support the immune system; and
- Increase energy levels and physical endurance
Thanks to their rapid transformation into ketones, MCTs can also help to support a leaner body mass.
We have enhanced our Curcumin with MCT oil powder to boost its intestinal absorbency.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (Ester C) is an essential nutrient for human body and one of the most researched of all vitamins. It can not be created naturally in the body (because of the lack of a key enzyme in biosynthetic pathway necessary its synthesis). Vitamin C supports most of the body’s vital functions and it’s deficiency may have serious effects on one’s overall health (impaired immunity and decreased resistance to infections). It is also a very potent antioxidant and cofactor in many biosynthetic and gene regulatory pathways .
Supplementation of Vitamin C can have beneficial effects against systemic and upper respiratory infections [24].
On a cellular level, Vitamin C is also important cofactor in the biosynthesis of Carnitine a crucial molecule for the transportation of fatty acids into the mitochondria for generating ATP.
Vitamin C is used as an antioxidative & anti-inflammatory complement to Curcumin in our Curcumin MCT formula.
Black Pepper
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) contains Piperine, which is a potent enhances of absorption.
Curcumin is on its own poorly absorbed from within the gastrointestinal tract. As shown by Shoba et al (1998), Piperine increased the levels of bioavailable curcumin in the blood by nearly 2,000% [25].
We have added a black pepper extract to our Curcumin MCT formula to increase the bioavailability of the Curcumin.
Scientific References & Relevant Research
[1] Jurenka JS. Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: a review of preclinical and clinical research. Altern Med Rev. 2009;14(2):141-53.
[2] Jagetia GC, Aggarwal BB. “Spicing up” of the immune system by curcumin. J Clin Immunol. 2007;27(1):19-35.
[3] Funk JL, Oyarzo JN, Frye JB, et al. Turmeric extracts containing curcuminoids prevent experimental rheumatoid arthritis. J Nat Prod. 2006;69(3):351-5.
[4] Holt PR, Katz S, Kirshoff R. Curcumin therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study. Dig Dis Sci. 2005;50(11):2191-3.
[5] Epstein J, Docena G, Macdonald TT, Sanderson IR. Curcumin suppresses p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, reduces IL-1beta and matrix metalloproteinase-3 and enhances IL-10 in the mucosa of children and adults with inflammatory bowel disease. Br J Nutr. 2010;103(6):824-32.
[6] Ukil A, Maity S, Karmakar S, Datta N, Vedasiromoni JR, Das PK. Curcumin, the major component of food flavour turmeric, reduces mucosal injury in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis. Br J Pharmacol. 2003;139(2):209-18.
[7] Wongcharoen W, Phrommintikul A. The protective role of curcumin in cardiovascular diseases. Int J Cardiol. 2009;133(2):145-51.
[8] Sun AY, Wang Q, Simonyi A, Sun GY. Botanical phenolics and brain health. Neuromolecular Med. 2008;10(4):259-74.
[9] Xie L, Li XK, Takahara S. Curcumin has bright prospects for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Int Immunopharmacol. 2011;11(3):323-30.
[10] Mythri RB, Harish G, Dubey SK, Misra K, Bharath MM. Glutamoyl diester of the dietary polyphenol curcumin offers improved protection against peroxynitrite-mediated nitrosative stress and damage of brain mitochondria in vitro: implications for Parkinson’s disease. Mol Cell Biochem. 2011;347(1-2):135-43.
[11] Dhillon N, Aggarwal BB, Newman RA, et al. Phase II trial of curcumin in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2008;14(14):4491-9.
[12] Ravindran J, Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. Curcumin and cancer cells: how many ways can curry kill tumor cells selectively?. AAPS J. 2009;11(3):495-510.
[13] Goel A, Aggarwal BB. Curcumin, the golden spice from Indian saffron, is a chemosensitizer and radiosensitizer for tumors and chemoprotector and radioprotector for normal organs. Nutr Cancer. 2010;62(7):919-30.
[14] Hutchins-Wolfbrandt A, Mistry AM. Dietary turmeric potentially reduces the risk of cancer. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2011;12(12):3169-73.
[15] Lal B, Kapoor AK, Asthana OP, et al. Efficacy of curcumin in the management of chronic anterior uveitis. Phytother Res. 1999;13
[16] Martins CV, Da silva DL, Neres AT, et al. Curcumin as a promising antifungal of clinical interest. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2009;63(2):337-9.
[17] Neelofar K, Shreaz S, Rimple B, Muralidhar S, Nikhat M, Khan LA. Curcumin as a promising anticandidal of clinical interest. Can J Microbiol. 2011;57(3):204-10.
[18] Ahmad A, Husain A, Mujeeb M, et al. A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013;3(5):337-52.
[19] Shuid AN, Mohamed N, Mohamed IN, et al. Nigella sativa: A Potential Antiosteoporotic Agent. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:696230.
[20] Chehl N, Chipitsyna G, Gong Q, Yeo CJ, Arafat HA. Anti-inflammatory effects of the Nigella sativa seed extract, thymoquinone, in pancreatic cancer cells. HPB (Oxford). 2009;11(5):373-81.
[21] Khan MA, Chen HC, Tania M, Zhang DZ. Anticancer activities of Nigella sativa (black cumin). Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):226-32.
[22] Reger MA, Henderson ST, Hale C, et al. Effects of beta-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adults. Neurobiol Aging. 2004;25(3):311-4.
“Ketone bodies are an effective alternative energy substrate for the brain. Elevation of plasma ketone bodies through oral dose of MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) may improve cognitive functioning in older adults with memory disorders”[23] Babayan, VK. Medium chain fatty acids and esters and their medical and nutritional application. J Am Oil Them Soc. 1981;58:49A.
[24] Hemilä H. Vitamin C supplementation and respiratory infections: a systematic review. Mil Med. 2004;169(11):920-5.
[25] Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PS. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med. 1998;64(4):353-6.