Curcumin IV

Full ingredient list

Exact amounts delivered in each size. Formulas are compounded per patient and can be adjusted by your provider.

Supporting studies

• 1

  Pooling ten separate meta-analyses covering 5,870 people, curcumin significantly lowered all three of the body's headline inflammation markers: CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha.

  This umbrella meta-analysis sat at the top of the evidence pyramid, combining the results of ten prior meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials in 5,870 participants. Curcumin supplementation significantly reduced C-reactive protein (effect size -0.74; 95% CI -1.11 to -0.37), interleukin-6 (ES -1.07; 95% CI -1.71 to -0.44) and TNF-alpha (ES -1.92; 95% CI -2.64 to -1.19), all p<0.001. The anti-inflammatory effect was more pronounced in participants over 45 years of age. Route in the underlying trials was oral supplementation.

  Umbrella meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials Naghsh N, et al. Profiling Inflammatory Biomarkers following Curcumin Supplementation: An Umbrella Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2023. PMID 36700039 ↗

• 2

  Across 66 randomized controlled trials, curcumin both cooled inflammation and measurably strengthened the body's antioxidant defenses.

  This GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis pooled 66 randomized controlled trials in adults. Curcumin/turmeric significantly reduced CRP (-0.58 mg/L), IL-6 (-1.31 pg/mL) and TNF-alpha (-3.48 pg/mL). On the antioxidant side it raised total antioxidant capacity (+0.21 mmol/L) and superoxide dismutase activity (+20.51 u/L) while lowering malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative damage to fats (-0.33 micromol/L). Underlying trials used oral curcumin formulations.

  Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Dehzad MJ, et al. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cytokine. 2023. PMID 36804260 ↗

• 3

  Curcumin shuts down NF-kB, the master switch that turns on inflammation, and in doing so lowers COX-2 and the enzymes that break down connective tissue.

  In this laboratory study, human tendon cells were exposed to the inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta and then treated with curcumin. Curcumin suppressed IL-1beta-driven NF-kB activation at multiple points: it blocked phosphorylation and degradation of IkB-alpha, inhibited IkB-kinase activity, and prevented the p65 subunit from moving into the nucleus. Downstream, it reduced COX-2 (the same enzyme NSAIDs target) and the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-1, MMP-9 and MMP-13 that degrade connective tissue, while shifting cells toward survival proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. This is mechanistic in vitro work in human cells, not a clinical trial.

  Mechanistic/preclinical (human cell culture) Buhrmann C, et al. Curcumin modulates nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)-mediated inflammation in human tenocytes in vitro: role of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2011. PMID 21669872 ↗

• 4

  Curcumin activates Nrf2, the cell's own antioxidant master gene, switching on protective heme oxygenase-1.

  This foundational mechanistic study showed that curcumin frees the transcription factor Nrf2 from its inhibitor Keap1, allowing Nrf2 to enter the nucleus and bind antioxidant-responsive elements (ARE) in the promoter of the heme oxygenase-1 gene. The result was concentration- and time-dependent increases in Nrf2 expression, HO-1 protein and HO-1 enzyme activity in renal epithelial cells, with p38 MAPK signaling involved in the response. HO-1 is one of the body's most powerful endogenous cytoprotective and anti-oxidant enzymes. This is preclinical cell-based work.

  Mechanistic/preclinical (cell culture) Balogun E, et al. Curcumin activates the haem oxygenase-1 gene via regulation of Nrf2 and the antioxidant-responsive element. Biochemical Journal. 2003. PMID 12570874 ↗

• 5

  In arthritis patients, curcumin produced large, statistically significant drops in joint pain and improvements in daily function versus placebo.

  This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled eight randomized clinical trials, mostly in knee osteoarthritis, using roughly 1,000 mg/day of curcumin. Compared with placebo, curcumin reduced pain on the visual analogue scale by a mean difference of -2.04 points (p<0.00001), and across four trials it improved WOMAC scores, a standard measure of joint stiffness and physical function, by -15.36 points (p=0.009). Turmeric preparations were considered safe at doses up to 1,200 mg/day for up to four months. Route was oral.

  Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials Daily JW, et al. Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2016. PMID 27533649 ↗

• 6

  Head-to-head against the prescription anti-inflammatory diclofenac, curcumin relieved knee arthritis pain just as well and was far better tolerated.

  A randomized, open-label, active-controlled trial in 139 patients with knee osteoarthritis compared curcumin (BCM-95, 500 mg three times daily) against diclofenac 50 mg twice daily for 28 days. Pain on the visual analogue scale and KOOS function scores improved similarly in both groups at days 14 and 28, with no statistically significant difference between them. Adverse effects occurred in 13% of the curcumin group versus 38% of the diclofenac group, and no curcumin patient required an acid-blocking medication compared with 28% of diclofenac patients (p<0.01). Route was oral.

  Randomized controlled trial (active-controlled) Shep D, et al. Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study. Trials. 2019. PMID 30975196 ↗

• 7

  Twelve weeks of curcumin improved blood vessel function by more than a third in healthy middle-aged and older adults, by boosting nitric oxide and lowering oxidative stress.

  In this randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 39 healthy men and postmenopausal women aged 45-74 took 2,000 mg/day of a bioavailability-enhanced curcumin (Longvida) or placebo for 12 weeks. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, the gold-standard measure of arterial health, rose 36% in the curcumin group (4.4% to 5.7%, p=0.001) with no change on placebo, and forearm blood flow response to acetylcholine increased 37% (p=0.03). The mechanistic testing showed the gains came from greater nitric oxide availability and less oxidative stress restraining the vessel lining. Route was oral.

  Randomized controlled trial Santos-Parker JR, et al. Curcumin supplementation improves vascular endothelial function in healthy middle-aged and older adults by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress. Aging (Albany NY). 2017. PMID 28070018 ↗

• 8

  Pooling 35 randomized trials, curcumin improved arterial flexibility and lowered blood pressure.

  This GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis screened 4,182 studies and pooled 35 randomized controlled trials. Curcumin/turmeric supplementation increased flow-mediated vasodilation by 2.00 percentage points (95% CI 1.07 to 2.94), reduced systolic blood pressure by 2.02 mmHg (95% CI -2.85 to -1.18) and reduced diastolic blood pressure by 0.82 mmHg (95% CI -1.46 to -0.18). The authors concluded curcumin can be regarded as a complementary method to improve blood pressure and endothelial function. Underlying trials used oral formulations.

  Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Dehzad MJ, et al. Curcumin/turmeric supplementation could improve blood pressure and endothelial function: A grade-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. 2024. PMID 38220376 ↗

• 9

  Curcumin significantly lowered blood triglycerides and raised protective HDL cholesterol across 20 randomized trials.

  This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled 20 randomized controlled trials with 1,427 participants. Curcuminoid therapy significantly reduced plasma triglycerides by 21.36 mg/dL (p<0.001) and increased HDL cholesterol by 1.42 mg/dL (p=0.046). The effect was independent of how long participants supplemented for. Route in the pooled trials was oral.

  Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Simental-Mendía LE, et al. Lipid-modifying activity of curcuminoids: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2019. PMID 29185808 ↗

• 10

  Curcumin is safe even at very high doses but is poorly absorbed from the gut, which is precisely the problem that liposomal and injectable delivery is designed to solve.

  This widely cited review documented that curcumin is safe in humans even at doses as high as 12 g/day, yet exhibits poor bioavailability because of limited absorption, rapid metabolism and rapid systemic elimination. The authors catalogued the delivery strategies developed to overcome this: bioavailability adjuvants such as piperine, liposomal curcumin, curcumin nanoparticles, phospholipid complexes and structural analogues. They concluded that improved delivery systems are the key to establishing curcumin as a serious therapeutic agent. This is a review of oral and formulation pharmacokinetics.

  Systematic review (pharmacokinetics) Anand P, et al. Bioavailability of curcumin: problems and promises. Molecular Pharmaceutics. 2007. PMID 17999464 ↗

• 11

  Putting curcumin into a lipid carrier raised blood levels up to 185-fold compared with ordinary curcumin powder in healthy people.

  In this human crossover pharmacokinetic study, healthy women and men received 500 mg of curcumin as native powder, as a micronized powder, or in liquid micelles (a lipid-based carrier), with plasma and urine curcumin measured. Relative to native curcumin powder, micronized curcumin was 5- to 14-fold better absorbed and micellar curcumin was 114- to 277-fold better absorbed, up to 185-fold on the pooled measure. This is direct human evidence that lipid-based delivery, rather than higher oral doses, is what actually gets curcumin into the bloodstream. Route was oral, comparing formulations.

  Randomized crossover pharmacokinetic study in humans Schiborr C, et al. The oral bioavailability of curcumin from micronized powder and liquid micelles is significantly increased in healthy humans and differs between sexes. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2014. PMID 24402825 ↗

• 12

  Intravenous liposomal curcumin was given safely to 50 healthy volunteers and produced measurable, dose-dependent curcumin levels in the bloodstream, something oral turmeric struggles to achieve.

  This first-in-human phase I trial randomized 50 healthy men and women to a single two-hour intravenous infusion of liposomal curcumin (10-400 mg/m2) or placebo. Plasma concentrations of curcumin and its active metabolite tetrahydrocurcumin rose in a dose-dependent way, confirming that the IV route delivers the compound systemically. The investigators concluded that short-term intravenous dosing of liposomal curcumin appears to be safe up to a dose of 120 mg/m2, a ceiling that for a typical adult corresponds to roughly 200 mg or more, well above the 25-100 mg range used in clinical IV practice.

  Phase i randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial (intravenous) Storka A, et al. Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of liposomal curcumin in healthy humans. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2015. PMID 25500488 ↗

• 13

  Weekly intravenous liposomal curcumin was tolerated over eight weeks of repeat dosing in a phase 1 patient trial, with no dose-limiting toxicity across the 100-300 mg/m2 range.

  This single-center, open-label phase 1 dose-escalation study gave 32 patients weekly intravenous liposomal curcumin (Lipocurc) for eight weeks, escalating from 100 mg/m2 to 300 mg/m2. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed in 26 patients treated at 100-300 mg/m2 infused over eight hours, and the maximum tolerated dose was established at 300 mg/m2. Pharmacokinetics showed stable plasma curcumin concentrations maintained throughout the infusion. This provides the human repeat-dosing safety framework for intravenous curcumin at doses many times higher than the 25-100 mg used in clinical IV nutrition.

  Phase 1 dose-escalation clinical trial (intravenous) Greil R, et al. A phase 1 dose-escalation study on the safety, tolerability and activity of liposomal curcumin (Lipocurc) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancer. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 2018. PMID 30074076 ↗

References

• 1Naghsh N, et al. Profiling Inflammatory Biomarkers following Curcumin Supplementation: An Umbrella Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2023. PMID 36700039 ↗
• 2Dehzad MJ, et al. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin/turmeric supplementation in adults: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cytokine. 2023. PMID 36804260 ↗
• 3Buhrmann C, et al. Curcumin modulates nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)-mediated inflammation in human tenocytes in vitro: role of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2011. PMID 21669872 ↗
• 4Balogun E, et al. Curcumin activates the haem oxygenase-1 gene via regulation of Nrf2 and the antioxidant-responsive element. Biochemical Journal. 2003. PMID 12570874 ↗
• 5Daily JW, et al. Efficacy of Turmeric Extracts and Curcumin for Alleviating the Symptoms of Joint Arthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2016. PMID 27533649 ↗
• 6Shep D, et al. Safety and efficacy of curcumin versus diclofenac in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized open-label parallel-arm study. Trials. 2019. PMID 30975196 ↗
• 7Santos-Parker JR, et al. Curcumin supplementation improves vascular endothelial function in healthy middle-aged and older adults by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress. Aging (Albany NY). 2017. PMID 28070018 ↗
• 8Dehzad MJ, et al. Curcumin/turmeric supplementation could improve blood pressure and endothelial function: A grade-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. 2024. PMID 38220376 ↗
• 9Simental-Mendía LE, et al. Lipid-modifying activity of curcuminoids: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2019. PMID 29185808 ↗
• 10Anand P, et al. Bioavailability of curcumin: problems and promises. Molecular Pharmaceutics. 2007. PMID 17999464 ↗
• 11Schiborr C, et al. The oral bioavailability of curcumin from micronized powder and liquid micelles is significantly increased in healthy humans and differs between sexes. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2014. PMID 24402825 ↗
• 12Storka A, et al. Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of liposomal curcumin in healthy humans. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2015. PMID 25500488 ↗
• 13Greil R, et al. A phase 1 dose-escalation study on the safety, tolerability and activity of liposomal curcumin (Lipocurc) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancer. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 2018. PMID 30074076 ↗