Curcumin is one of the three primary bioactive molecules called curcuminoids in the spice known as turmeric (Curcuma longa). Curcumin exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer properties in both laboratory and animal tests.
Curcumin supplements can be purchased online from a number of sources, or from local retailers. Most curcumin capsules are standardized to contain 95% curcuminoid concentrations.
The potential health benefits of curcumin are limited by low absorption rates, when used as oral supplements. Because of this, some of these supplements also include bioenhancers – like piperine (black pepper extract), for instance.
Others have been awarded patents for formulations which increase the low bioavailability of oral curcumin supplements. It is recommended to buy curcumin products that have been formulated in a way to increase their absorption and activity in the body.



- Effective anti-inflammatory supplement
- Shown to improve joint functionality
- Anti-oxidant to supper general health
Where to Buy Curcumin Supplements
Related Topics
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD) states that there are more than 1700 products available which contain turmeric and/or curucmin.
Curcumin supplements are available OTC (over the counter) and online. No prescription is required. These dietary supplements are allowed to be sold under FDA regulations in the United States.
Canada, Australia and multiple other countries also allow curcumin to be sold in dietary supplement form. Multiple curcumin products are available from reputable entities like GNC, Amazon, Costco, Walmart, Vitamin Shoppe, CVS, Walgreens and Drugstore.com.
Some research shows that curcumin and turmeric are poorly absorbed once ingested. A large percentage is destroyed by stomach acids. More is destroyed via hydrolysis.
Tests in animal models suggest that only between 50 and 60 percent of curcumin is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Different curcumin dietary supplements are available which claim to increase curcumin absorption, including liposomal curcumin.
Curcumin Supplement Uses
NMCD states that curcumin is used for cancer, hyperlipidemia, fatigue, RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and diabetes. Some other uses for curcumin supplements include treatment for bacterial infections, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney inflammation and fever.
Not all of the purported uses of curcumin pills have been validated by available research. In the United States, the FDA has not approved curcumin as a treatment for any health conditions. In Germany, this supplement has been approved for treating digestive conditions.
Applied topically, turmeric and curcumin products are used for acne, bruising, eye infections and inflammatory skin conditions. It is also used for gingivitis and ringworms.
There are various other uses for curcumin as well. In Chinese medicine, turmeric is considered an adaptogen which helps to improve health on a systemic level. Turmeric has been used in certain Asian countries for thousands of years for an array of preventive and curative purposes.
Many of the purported health benefits for curcumin have not been thoroughly researched and there is insufficient evidence from human trials to rate its efficacy. Research continues to explore curcumin’s full scope of medicinal potentials.
Some popular brands of curcumin include Biomor, Life Extension, Longvida and BCM 95. Some users of these and similar curcumin products report satisfactory results for pain, fatigue, inflammation, digestion and overall well-being.
Prices vary on curcumin supplements. Comparison shopping is important because of the large number of products available. The following is an overview of some of the most popular curcumin supplements for sale online.
Biomor Curcumin
Biomor curcumin supplements are manufactured with a patented process that is said to increase the low bioavailability associated with other curcumin products. Some research shows that Biomor increases curcumin’s bioavailability by as much as 800%.
The makers of Biomor Curcumin state that, because of its superior systemic absorption, users need not take as much as when using other curcumin supplements. This may offset the cost of Biomor relative to other similar products.
Life Extension Super Bio-Curcumin
Life Extension brand supplements also claim to increase the low bioavailability of curcumin. Dolcas-Biotech, LLC manufactures this supplement and claims it is 700% more absorbable than other curcumin supplements standardized to 95% curcuminoids.
This product is claimed to have health benefits for nearly all body systems. Its manufacturer states that it promotes healthy digestion, immunity and inflammatory responses.
BCM-95 Curcumin Supplements
BCM-95 curcumin supplements are claimed to be 100% derived from turmeric, and to have “unparalleled” biological activity. BCM-95 combines curcumin with a turmeric bioactive called ar-turmerone (aromatic turmerone); a major constituent of turmeric essential oils.
Combining the 95% standardized curcuminoid extract with ar-turmerone is said to increase the synergy between all bioactive constituents in these supplements.
Turmeric rhizomes are comprised of more than 200 molecules which may contribute to its apparent medicinal effects. Using a supplement that captures the full spectrum of turmeric active compounds is considered by some to be more beneficial than taking pure curcumin extract on its own.
Longvida Curcumin Supplements
After ingestion, Curcumin is poorly absorbed from the digestive tract. If it is not absorbed into the bloodstream via the intestinal tract, it cannot benefit the system.
Longvida curcumin supplements are manufactured with a special process which encapsulates the curcumin in a phospholipid membrane called a liposome.
The lipid shell of the liposome protects curcumin from degradation from acids in the stomach. It also suppresses the breakdown of curcumin molecules caused by reactions with water (hydrolysis).
Longvida liposomal curcumin was formulated by scientists at UCLA. The process used to encapsulate the curcumin is called SLPC (solid lipid curcumin particle) technology.
Conclusions
Turmeric and curcumin extract supplements and combination products continue to gain popularity as dietary supplements.
Researchers are examining various therapeutic potentials of curcumin. To date, it is rated as possibly effective by the NMCD for hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis and pruritis (itching).
There is insufficient evidence to rate curcumin’s effectiveness for conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, depression, cognitive function, wound healing and various others.
Turmeric and curcumin are safe for most healthy adults, but certain side effects and interactions are possible. It is best to ask a doctor if curcumin is safe for you.
Those interested can buy curcumin from established online retailers like Amazon.com, from manufacturer websites and from brick-and-mortar entities like GNC.
- Al-Karawi D1, Al Mamoori DA2, Tayyar Y3. The Role of Curcumin Administration in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: Mini Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. Phytother Res. 2015 Nov 27. doi: 10.1002/ptr.5524. [Epub ahead of print]
- Chen Q1, Gao Q1, Chen K1, Wang Y1, Chen L1, Li XU2. Curcumin suppresses migration and invasion of human endometrial carcinoma cells. Oncol Lett. 2015 Sep;10(3):1297-1302. Epub 2015 Jul 9.
- Poojan S1, Kumar S1, Verma V1, Dhasmana A2, Lohani M3, Verma MK1. Disruption of Skin Stem Cell Homeostasis following Transplacental Arsenicosis; Alleviation by Combined Intake of Selenium and Curcumin. PLoS One. 2015 Dec 1;10(12):e0142818. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142818. eCollection 2015.
- Du L, Feng X, Xiang X, Jin Y1. Wound Healing Effect of an in Situ Forming Hydrogel Loading Curcumin-Phospholipid Complex. Curr Drug Deliv. 2015 Dec 2. [Epub ahead of print]
- Ding L1, Ma S2, Lou H3, Sun L4, Ji M5. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Curcumin Derivatives with Water-Soluble Groups as Potential Antitumor Agents: An in Vitro Investigation Using Tumor Cell Lines. Molecules. 2015 Dec 2;20(12):21501-14. doi: 10.3390/molecules 201219772.
- Huang H1, Chen X1, Li D2, He Y1, Li Y3, Du Z1, Zhang K1, DiPaola R4, Goodin S4, Zheng X1. Combination of ?-Tomatine and Curcumin Inhibits Growth and Induces Apoptosis in Human Prostate Cancer Cells. PLoS One. 2015 Dec 2;10(12):e0144293. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144293. eCollection 2015.
- Li L1, Li H2, Li M2. Curcumin protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by activating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in rats. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Sep 15;8(9):14985-14991.
- Ramadan G1, El-Menshawy O. Protective effects of ginger-turmeric rhizomes mixture on joint inflammation, atherogenesis, kidney dysfunction and other complications in a rat model of human rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Rheum Dis. 2013 Apr;16(2):219-29. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.12054. Epub 2013 Apr 4.
- Velusami CC1, Boddapati SR1, Hongasandra Srinivasa S1, Richard EJ1, Joseph JA1, Balasubramanian M1, Agarwal A1. Safety evaluation of turmeric polysaccharide extract: assessment of mutagenicity and acute oral toxicity. Safety evaluation of turmeric polysaccharide extract: assessment of mutagenicity and acute oral toxicity.
- Chainani-Wu N1. Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin: a component of tumeric (Curcumalonga). J Altern Complement Med. 2003 Feb;9(1):161-8.
- Boyanapalli SS1, Tony Kong AN1. "Curcumin, the King of Spices": Epigenetic Regulatory Mechanisms in the Prevention of Cancer, Neurological, and Inflammatory Diseases. Curr Pharmacol Rep. 2015 Apr;1(2):129-139. Epub 2015 Jan 30.
- Witkin JM1, Li X. Curcumin, an active constiuent of the ancient medicinal herb Curcuma longa L.: some uses and the establishment and biological basis of medical efficacy. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2013 Jun;12(4):487-97.
- Bandyopadhyay D1. Farmer to pharmacist: curcumin as an anti-invasive and antimetastatic agent for the treatment of cancer. Front Chem. 2014 Dec 23;2:113. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2014.00113. eCollection 2014.
- Zhao G1, Han X1, Zheng S1, Li Z1, Sha Y1, Ni J1, Sun Z1, Qiao S1, Song Z1. Curcumin induces autophagy, inhibits proliferation and invasion by downregulating AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in human melanoma cells. Oncol Rep. 2015 Nov 12. doi: 10.3892/or.2015.4413. [Epub ahead of print]
- Yu CC1, Yang MD2, Lin HY1, Huang AC3, Lin JP4, Kuo CL5, Liu KC6, Liu HC7, Yang ST8, Chung JG9. Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) Alters Gene Expression-associated Cell Cycle, Cell Migration and Invasion and Tumor Progression in Human Lung Cancer NCI-H460 Cells. In Vivo. 2015 11-12;29(6):711-728.
- Ma J1, Jin X, Yang L, Liu ZL. Diarylheptanoids from the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale. Phytochemistry. 2004 Apr;65(8):1137-43.
- Zheng Z1, Sun Y2, Liu Z1, Zhang M1, Li C1, Cai H3. The effect of curcumin and its nanoformulation on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015 Aug 27;9:4931-42. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S90147. eCollection 2015.
- Bandyopadhyay, Debasish. "Farmer to Pharmacist: Curcumin as an Anti-Invasive and Antimetastatic Agent for the Treatment of Cancer." Frontiers in Chemistry 2 (2014): 113. PMC. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
- Bordoloi D, Roy NK, Monisha J, Ganesan P, Kunnumakkara AB1. Multi-Targeted Agents in Cancer Cell Chemosensitization: What We Learnt from Curcumin Thus Far. Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov. 2015 Oct 19. [Epub ahead of print]
- Sarker MR1, Franks S2, Sumien N1, Thangthaeng N1, Filipetto F2, Forster M1. Curcumin Mimics the Neurocognitive and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Caloric Restriction in a Mouse Model of Midlife Obesity. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 16;10(10):e0140431. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140431. eCollection 2015.
- Ravindran, Jayaraj, Sahdeo Prasad, and Bharat B. Aggarwal. "Curcumin and Cancer Cells: How Many Ways Can Curry Kill Tumor Cells Selectively?" The AAPS Journal 11.3 (2009): 495–510. PMC. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
- Schaffer M1, Schaffer PM, Bar-Sela G. An update on Curcuma as a functional food in the control of cancer and inflammation. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2015 Nov;18(6):605-11. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000000227.
- Winkler A1, Gessner DK2, Koch C3, Romberg FJ3, Dusel G1, Herzog E4, Most E2, Eder K2. Effects of a plant product consisting of green tea and curcuma extract on milk production and the expression of hepatic genes involved in endoplasmic stress response and inflammation in dairy cows. Arch Anim Nutr. 2015 Dec;69(6):425-41. doi: 10.1080/1745039X.2015.1093873.
- Iranshahi M1, Chini MG2, Masullo M2, Sahebkar A1, Javidnia A3, Chitsazian Yazdi M1, Pergola C4, Koeberle A4, Werz O4,Pizza C2, Terracciano S2, Piacente S2, Bifulco G2. Can Small Chemical Modifications of Natural Pan-inhibitors Modulate the Biological Selectivity? The Case of Curcumin Prenylated Derivatives Acting as HDAC or mPGES-1 Inhibitors. J Nat Prod. 2015 Nov 20. [Epub ahead of print]
- Kocaadam B1, ?anlier N1. Curcumin, an Active Component of Turmeric (Curcuma longa), and Its Effects on Health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2015 Nov 3:0. [Epub ahead of print]
- Lovelace ES1, Polyak SJ2,3,4. Natural Products as Tools for Defining How Cellular Metabolism Influences Cellular Immune and Inflammatory Function during Chronic Infection. Viruses. 2015 Nov 30;7(12):6218-32. doi: 10.3390/v7122933.
- Bharat B. Aggarwal1 and Kuzhuvelil B. Harikumar Potential Therapeutic Effects of Curcumin, the Anti-inflammatory Agent, Against Neurodegenerative, Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Metabolic, Autoimmune and Neoplastic Diseases Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2009; 41(1): 40–59. Published online 2008 Jul 9. doi: 10.1016/j.biocel.2008.06.010
- Kim SK1, Seok H1, Park HJ1, Jeon HS1, Kang SW1, Lee BC2, Yi J2, Song SY2, Lee SH3, Kim YO4, Chung JH5. Inhibitory effect of curcumin on testosterone induced benign prostatic hyperplasia rat model. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2015 Oct 22;15(1):380. doi: 10.1186/s12906-015-0825-y.
- Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. Turmeric, the Golden Spice: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 13.
- Gupta, Subash C., Sridevi Patchva, and Bharat B. Aggarwal. "Therapeutic Roles of Curcumin: Lessons Learned from Clinical Trials." The AAPS Journal 15.1 (2013): 195–218. PMC. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.
- He Y1, Yue Y2, Zheng X3,4, Zhang K5, Chen S6, Du Z7. Curcumin, inflammation, and chronic diseases: how are they linked? Molecules. 2015 May 20;20(5):9183-213. doi: 10.3390/molecules 20059183.
- He YJ, Kuchta K, Lv X, Lin Y, Ye GR, Liu XY, Song HD, Wang LX, Kobayashi Y, Shu JC. Curcumin, the main active constituent of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), induces apoptosis in hepatic stellate cells by modulating the abundance of apoptosis-related growth factors. Z Naturforsch C. 2015 Nov 1;70(11-12):281-5. doi: 10.1515/znc-2015-4143.
- Shoba G1, 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 May;64(4):353-6.
- Nimiya Y1,2, Wang W1, Du Z1, Sukamtoh E1, Zhu J1, Decker E1, Zhang G1. Redox modulation of curcumin stability: Redox active antioxidants increase chemical stability of curcumin. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2015 Nov 26. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201500681. [Epub ahead of print]
Article last updated on: March 12th, 2018 by Nootriment