What is Super-Micronized Turmeric?
We sat down with our leading Research & Development scientist to discuss the inspiration for researching and formulating Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin, as well as her personal experiences with this amazing product.
What led you to want to formulate Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin?
For a long time, I have experienced joint pain. Since long term ingestion of OTC anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause GI bleeding and other dangerous side effects, I searched the literature for natural remedies that ease inflammation. I became very interested in turmeric, an Ayurvedic remedy that has been used for more than 5,000 years to ease symptoms from inflammation, infection, pain and GI conditions1.
When I looked into products and nutraceuticals and anti-inflammatory supplements that contain turmeric and its active component curcumin, I noticed that most formulations are insoluble in water.
So, what happens when a compound is insoluble in water? How does this affect the potency?
Products taken by mouth are absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Studies have shown that the levels of curcuminoids measured in the blood for water insoluble formulations is less than 1% of the orally ingested dose2.
We formulated Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin anti-inflammatory supplement as a water-soluble formulation, unlike many other products on the market, to ensure there is as much absorption as possible. Let me break that down: if a 500mg capsule of turmeric contains 95% curcuminoids then 1% uptake would translate to only 4.5mg being absorbed into the body– the remainder of the turmeric is excreted.
The solution to this problem was a water-soluble formulation. Nuvothera offers a unique super-micronized water-soluble curcumin turmeric in encapsulated form. That is the key difference. ***
How is that achieved?
The key to the Nuvothera’s unique scientific formulation is how we super-micronize the turmeric root into very small particles so that it is more readily absorbed into your body. This is the unique difference of Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin.
What is Super-Micronization?
We use the super-micronization process that consists of a repeated grinding process of the whole turmeric root. The resulting submicron particles produce a very fine powder that is water soluble.
What does that mean for its potency?
Scientists have tested the biological effects of Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin in the laboratory and compared the effects with water insoluble turmeric formulations. The results are striking: Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin has 352 times greater antioxidant and 1,400 times greater radical scavenging effect and shows 126 times greater Cox2 inhibition (which is a measure of inflammation)3.
Most turmeric and curcumin products contain bioperine or black pepper, but Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin does not. Why is that?
Some formulations of turmeric/curcumin have added black pepper extract (bioperine) to increase gastrointestinal absorption. Though it is true that bioperine increases the absorption by a factor of 20, the addition of bioperine to turmeric formulations can have adverse effects. For example, bioperine can destroy gastric cells, just like aspirin, which causes mucosal bleeding. Loss of potassium has also been reported. Typical side effects of pepper include acid reflux, constipation and nausea. Other adverse effects of pepper include allergic reactions (sneezing, hives, swelling of the tongue and mouth and even respiratory reactions), change of absorption of toxins after the pepper destroys the gut lining. Moreover, absorption and metabolism of prescription drugs can be enhanced and cause undesirable effects.
Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin anti-inflammatory and antioxidant supplement does not require pepper for optimal absorption as the water-soluble formula allows maximal absorption.
How does Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin work for you?
I take 2 capsules daily of Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin anti-inflammatory supplement for joint pain, and the pain-relieving benefits I experience are clearly due to the increased absorption.
The water-soluble formula from Nuvothera’s Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin works for me and helps keep up my mobility and strength during tennis matches and running. The best thing is that the Super-Micronized Turmeric Curcumin helps reduce my pain and relieve inflammation without pain relieving or anti-inflammatory drugs.