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Buy Now on Amazon *Meriva curcumin is a dietary supplement that is purported to be significantly more bioavailable than standard curcumin/turmeric supplements. [1]
Curcumin is a natural antioxidant and flavonoid that is promoted for cognitive health, joint comfort, and maintaining a healthy inflammatory response throughout the body.
Curcumin is the primary active constituent in the roots of the turmeric plant. In addition to being used as a yellow spice in Indian foods, turmeric has been used for its anti-inflammatory effects in traditional Asian medicine.
Curcumin is effective for providing relief from occasional aches, joint stiffness, and muscle soreness. However, it is known to have low oral bioavailability when taken as a dietary supplement.
Meriva is a formulation of curcumin made with proprietary “phytosome” technology. It is manufactured by Indena S.p.A and is demonstrated to have 29x greater absorption than ordinary curcumin.
Meriva is made of curcumin extract attached to a soy phospholipid molecule. This enhances its absorption rates in the gastrointestinal intestinal tract. [2]
Meriva-SF is a soy-free version of this product made from sunflower oil. It features a Sustained Release formulation which elevates blood levels of curcumin over a longer period of time.
Joints
Health
Anti- Aging- Effective anti-inflammatory supplement
- Shown to improve joint functionality
- Anti-oxidant to supper general health
What is Meriva Curcumin?
Related Topics
Meriva is a highly-bioavailable formulation of turmeric supplement that is the most clinically studied curcumin brand on the market
In research studies, it has been used to promote a healthy natural inflammatory response and prevent low-level chronic inflammation. [2]
Curcumin is widely used as a dietary supplement. Research demonstrates that curcuminoids extracted from turmeric can promote normal cytokine production and support regulation of healthy inflammatory pathways.
However, research shows that standard curcumin supplements are poorly absorbed when taken orally. This ingredient has a tendency to be destroyed by water through a reaction called hydrolysis.
Meriva is a patented form of this flavonoid that claims to be more bioavailable than ordinary turmeric products. This means that more of the active ingredient will be absorbed by the body and reach its therapeutic target. [1]
Meriva is comprised of curcumin and soy-derived phospholipids. Phospholipids are a type of heathy fat molecule that are essential components of cell membranes.
Some examples of natural phospholipids found in foods include phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine. Phospholipids are fat-soluble and have very high uptake from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream.
Phytosome technology binds curcumin molecules with fat-soluble phospholipids to make molecular complexes called phytosomes.
The curcumin molecules inside these phytosome complexes are significantly more stable against breakdown and they mix better in water, which improves their absorption into the bloodstream. [10]
The phospholipid molecules in the phytosmes protect the curcumin molecules from being degrade in the gut and also increase their absorption because phospholipids themselves are excellently absorbed when taken orally. [10]
Those who are sensitive or allergic to soy but still wish to attain the benefits of curcumin with Meriva can seek out Meriva-SF alternatives.
The curcumin in Meriva-SF is bound to sunflower phospholipids instead, making it a soy-free substitute. [9]
Meriva Benefits
According to Thorne Research, “Meriva supplementation results in higher plasma concentrations of curcumin from a much smaller amount than with ordinary curcumin supplementation.” [1]
According to Thorne Research, “Meriva supplementation results in higher plasma concentrations of curcumin from a much smaller amount than with ordinary curcumin supplementation.” [Meriva is purported to help support the healthy management of antioxidant defenses and relieve oxidative stress. [10]
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates Meriva as “Possibly Effective” for relieving some symptoms of osteoarthritis. This means that the product has some clinical evidence supporting its use, but there isn’t enough high-quality evidence out there to recommend it generally for all people.
It is important to note that Meriva is sold as a dietary supplement ingredient and not a drug. The US Food and Drug Administration has not approved it as a drug for the treatment of osteoarthritis symptoms or any other medical condition. [7]
Some of the purported benefits of taking Meriva Curcumin products include:
- Eelief from occasional aches and muscle soreness
- Support for eye health
- Healthy joint function
- Support for memory & focus
- Protection from oxidative stress
- Healthy inflammatory response in joints, muscles, liver, nerves
Meriva Curcumin is also advertised to support optimal brain health, cognitive function, mood balance, joint health, liver function, cardiovascular function and gastrointestinal health.
It is always a good idea to consult your physician prior to taking any dietary supplement. Your doctor can help you decide whether this product is appropriate for you and your health needs.
Meriva Research Studies
A scientific study was conducted to compare the pain relieving properties of Meriva with other conventional painkillers, such as acetaminophen or paracetamol (the generic names for Tylenol). [3]
At a dose of 2g per day, Meriva was found to significantly improve pain relief and was safer than the conventional painkillers.
A lower dosage was found to not be as effective as the other painkillers, but it was deemed to be as safe or safer than the other analgesics.
In another study, patients with grade 1 and 2 osteoarthritis were treated with either Meriva and glucosamine or chondroitin and glucosamine.
After 4 months of administration, the patients that received the curcumin and glucosamine treatment experienced a significant reduction in disease activity and need for medical attention compared to the chondroitin and glucosamine group. [4]
Another study investigated the weight loss benefits of curcumin Phyto some supplements.
The researchers concluded that supplementation with bioavailable curcumin as well as healthy diet and lifestyle changes has the potential to enhance weight loss outcomes in individuals that are overweight. [6]
Meriva Dosage
The recommended dosage for Meriva is to take 1-2 capsules two times daily, or as recommended by your healthcare practitioner.
If using Meriva-SF, it is also recommended to take 1-2 capsules with two servings per day. Each capsule will typically contain 250 mg of curcumin phytosome complex.
Other ingredients found in this product include High and low viscosity hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, Calcium Citrate, and Calcium Laurate (Time-Sorb††), Hypromellose (derived from cellulose) capsule, Leucine, Silicon Dioxide, and Microcrystalline Cellulose.
Supplements should be stored inside a cool place and kept out of the reach of children.
Women that are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding should consult a health care professional prior to usage to avoid adverse side effects.
Meriva User Reviews
According to user reviews of Meriva, many take this product to support joint comfort, healthy inflammation and mood balance.
One user stated that she “noticed an improvement in mood and energy, clearer thinking, and so far no adverse reactions.” [8]
Another user struggling with Rheumatoid Arthritis said, “I have seen an improvement in the swelling in my knuckles and intensity of my flare ups.” [8]
While some have experienced positive results from Meriva usage, others claim that they have not noticed any significant improvements or positive outcomes.
One individual wrote, “I ordered this for my mother and she didn’t notice any positive effect especially in pain/inflammation management.” [8]
Another said, “I feel I may have to increase my dosage of this product, – but that may well be because of the progression of my problem.” [8]
Safety and Side Effects
Meriva capsules are 100% vegetarian and free of gluten, nuts, and dairy. If you are allergic to turmeric or ginger, you should avoid curcumin supplementation.
Those that are allergic to soy should opt for a supplement that is soy free, like Meriva-SF.
First-time users of curcumin supplements may experience gastrointestinal side effects like bloating, nausea or diarrhea. These side effects can be minimized by taking small doses at first, and then gradually increasing the dosage. [5]
Avoid taking curcumin supplements on an empty stomach to prevent acid reflux-like symptoms. It is also advised to refrain from taking these supplements with anticoagulants, as this ingredient exhibits anti-platelet properties. [5]
Otherwise, curcumin supplements are typically well tolerated and do not tend to cause adverse reactions with use. It is always advised to consult your doctor first before you take any supplements so that you can talk about how to avoid side effects and determine the correct dosage for you.
According to the Natural Medicines Database, curcumin is rated Likely Safe when consumed orally, or used topically on the skin. [7]
Meriva may interact with a number or prescription and over-the-counter medications. This supplement has been shown to reduce the efficacy of the anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar) in animal studies.
Laboratory studies suggest that it may decreased camptothecin-induced death of cultured breast cancer cells. Do not combine this supplement with use of CPT or other topoisomerase inhibitor drugs.
This supplement may also interfere with the absorption of a chemotherapy drug used to treat colon cancer called irinotecan (Camptosar).
Taking curcumin supplements may not be appropriate for individuals with type II diabetes, heart and liver diseases and other pre-existing health conditions.
In all cases, be sure to consult a physician prior to using Meriva products to make sure the supplement is right for you and to determine the best dosage.
- What Is Meriva
- Meriva Info
- Di Pierro, Rapacioli G, Di Maio EA, Appendino G, Franceschi F, Togni S. Comparative evaluation of the pain-relieving properties of a lecithinized formulation of curcumin (Meriva(®)), nimesulide, and acetaminophen. J Pain Res. 2013 Mar;6:201-5. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S42184.
- Belcaro G, Dugall M, Luzzi R, Ledda A, Pellegrini L, Cesarone MR, Hosoi M, Errichi M. Meriva®+Glucosamine versus Condroitin+Glucosamine in patients with knee osteoarthritis: an observational study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2014;18(24):3959-63.
- Meriva Curcumin Benefits and Dosage
- Di Pierro F, Bressan A, Ranaldi D, Rapacioli G, Giacomelli L, Bertuccioli A. Potential role of bioavailable curcumin in weight loss and omental adipose tissue decrease: preliminary data of a randomized, controlled trial in overweight people with metabolic syndrome. Preliminary study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2015 Nov;19(21):4195-202.
- Natural Medicines Therapeutic Research Databases Meriva Information
- iHerb Meriva Reviews
- Meriva-SF (sustained release)
- Doctors Best Curcumin Phytosome With Meriva
- Thorne Research. Meriva-SF (Sustained Release)®
