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Yup, I'm in! John H. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Meg Duggan" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 2:44 PM Subject: Curcumin > Here are the beginnings of what I'm learning about curcumin... improved > version will be in my newsletter next week, along with antioxidants and a > bit more on proteins.... say "yup" if want me to add you to my list! > > Curcumin > Curcumin is the active-inflammatory compound found in the Indian spice > turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family. A study published just > last week in the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that curcumin is > proving to be effective at preventing protein clumping in Parkinson’s > disease. (see sidebar.) Research published in the journal PLoS also > showed that curcumin molecules target the amyloid fibrils associated with > the unnatural progression of the protein-like plaque tangles that are > characteristic in Alzheimer’s. > Previous research into curcumin has shown that it has a positive effect on > neurogenesis in the hippocampus and increases the levels of brain-derived > neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats. Further research into a curcumin > derivative found that it improves memory and was broadly neuroprotective, > stimulating BDNF in vitro and in vivo ( within the glass and within the > living.) > So why aren’t all Parkinson patients sprinkling curry powder on everything > and ingesting curcumin caplets? One reason is that curcumin is poorly > bioavailable. Bioavailability is defined as the degree to which or rate > at which a drug or other substance is absorbed or becomes available at the > site of physiological activity after administration. Basically, curcumin > is not well absorbed, is rapidly metabolized and is quickly eliminated. > I found a pretty clear explanation of what happens to curcumin once we > swallow it. The author posted anonymously on the American Cancer Society > site. I paraphrase the post here, with thanks to the author! > “The starting point to understanding the central issue of low > bioavailability is to realize that curcumin in insolubale in water at pH > of 7 and below. Therefore, in the stomach, where the curcumin first > encounters body fluids, it remains insoluble because the stomach fluids > are acidic. Once the stomach contents enter the small intestine they are > changed to alkaline pH by the bile and other digestive fluids that are > injected there. Curcumin thus dissolves in the small intestine. From the > small intestine, the curcumin might be dissolved into the capillaries of > the hepatic venous system that serves the stomach and large and small > intestines. However, the curcumin in the small intestine exists as small > crystals or clumps of crystals that cannot pass through the tiny pores in > the capillary walls. The remedy is to be sure that the curcumin is in a > solution that allows it to circulate to the rest of the body to organs > that might use is beneficially. “ > Curcumin dissolved or cooked in oil has increased bioavailbility, and oil > based capsules are available on the internet in strengths from 450 to 100 > milligrams. However, a search of the blogosphere turned up many instances > of people who prefer to dissolve their own turmeric, mostly to avoid the > very high numbers of capsules that must be ingested and to save money. > Curcumin is more bioavailable when heated, though do not boil it. > Here are a few “recipies” I found: > Dissolve a teaspoon of curcumin powder in very warm milk and add omega > 3-6-9 lemon flavor oil. Option – add coconut oil instead of the lemon oil. > Rated “very palatable.” > Dissolve curcumin in a teaspoon or two of organic flax seed oil. Then add > about 1/3 cup of organic fruit yogurt and stir. Add ¼ to ½ cup of frozen > raspberries or other frozen fruit and stir into a kind of frozen yogurt. > Rated “doesn’t taste wonderful but is palatable due to the fruit flavor > and the cold.” > Melt chocolate with butter and milk, stir in one full teaspoon of > curcumin. Rated “ very palatable.” > One teaspoon of curcumin equals 4 grams. Clinical studies in humans have > found that doses of curcumin from 2 – 12 grams are shown to have few side > effects. Side effects are mostly mild nausea or diarrhea. However, a > daily dose of 12 grams has only been studied over a three month period. > Recently, curcumin has been found to alter iron metabolism by chelating > iron and suppressing the protein hepcidin, potentially causing iron > deficiency in susuceptible patients. > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn