Turmeric is arguably one of the most amazing natural ingredients on this planet. Turmeric has been used for centuries in foods such as curries and mustards, as a bright natural dye, and as medicine in Asian cultures.
This magnificent root in the ginger family, is one of the strongest anti-inflammatories found in nature while also possessing antioxidant and other healing properties. The health benefits are so significant in Turmeric that there are thousands of scientific studies conducted on Curcumin, the active ingredient in Turmeric.
The Problem With Turmeric Supplements
While Turmeric has amazing healthy benefits, it is not water-soluble and has very poor bioavailability which means that it is nearly impossible for our bodies to absorb on its own, even if you are taking the recommended dosage every day.
How To Increase The Bioavailability (Absorption) Of Turmeric/Curcumin?
Studies have suggested that turmeric's bioavailability can be greatly enhanced with the introduction of Bioperine®, a trademarked form of Piperine, the major component of Black Pepper.
Piperine (BioPerine®) was shown to increase the bioavailability of Curcumin by 2,000% in humans at 45 minutes after Curcumin and Piperine were taken orally. This study shows that Piperine (BioPerine®) has the ability to enhance the serum concentration, increase the extent of absorption and increase the bioavailability of Curcumin in both human and animal subjects with no adverse effects.
The results of the previous study was supported by another study that showed a 20-fold increase in the bioavailability of Curcumin, relatively higher intestinal absorption of Curcumin, and significantly longer amount of time Curcumin stayed in the body tissues when administered with Piperine (BioPerine®).
What Is BioPerine®?
BioPerine® is a natural thermonutrient with bioavailability enhancing properties. It is an extract from the Black Pepper Fruit that is standardized to 95% Piperine. BioPerine® is a trademarked ingredient and is the only product of Piperine to obtain a patented status for its ability to increase the bioavailability of nutritional compounds and is also the only source of Piperine to have undergone clinical studies in the U.S. to substantiate its safety and efficacy for nutritional use.
How Does BioPerine® Work?
Thermogenesis, the metabolic process that generates energy at the cellular level, has been identified as a factor in weight loss and plays an integral role in the body's ability to utilize food and nutrients by setting in motion the mechanisms necessary for digestion and gastrointestinal absorption.
BioPerine®, the patented form of Piperine, is a Thermonutrient® which means it has the ability to enhance the body's natural thermogenic activity required to activate the mechanisms that are related to thermogenesis.
In short, BioPerine® activates the metabolic process that provides a more efficient way to transport nutrients into the blood.
The graphs below depict the effects of BioPerine on Serum Concentrations of Curcumin in both rats and human volunteers in clinical studies.
Effect of BioPerine® on Serum Concentrations of Curcumin In Human Volunteers
Effects of BioPerine® on Serum Concentrations of Curcumin in Rats
Why BioPerine® is superior to Black Pepper
Much like Curcumin is the active ingredient in Turmeric Root, Piperine is the active ingredient in Black Pepper Fruit. It is the ingredient Piperine that possess the bioavailability enhancing properties shown in research studies.
Unfortunately, Black Pepper Fruit contains only 5%-9% Piperine versus the 95% Piperine contained in the standardized extract of BioPerine®. This means that you would have to consume 10-20 times the amount of Black Pepper to have the equivalent amount of Piperine in BioPerine®.
However, consuming even a large amount of Black Pepper doesn't necessarily equal the same results as BioPerine®. Black Pepper Fruit in its raw form contains Piperine that is captive and takes time for its bioavailability enhancing properties to be released. Since BioPerine® contains Piperine in its purified extract form, it is readily available to enhance absorption.
How Much BioPerine® Should I Look For In a Curcumin Supplement?
To achieve the equivalent bioavailability enhancing results found in the Curcumin and Piperine studies which administered 20 mg of Piperine for every 2 g of Curcumin, you want to look for a supplement that contains 5 mg of BioPerine® (Piperine Extract) for every 500 mg of Turmeric (Standardized to 95% Curcuminoids).
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3918523/#B95
http://www.bioperine.com/