title: The oral bioavailability of curcumin from micronized powder and liquid micelles is significantly increased in healthy humans and differs between sexes.
abstract: METHODS
  Curcumin revealed various health-beneficial properties in numerous studies. However its bioavailability is low due to its limited intestinal uptake and rapid metabolism. The aim of our project was to develop novel curcumin formulations with improved oral bioavailability and to study their safety as well as potential sex-differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this crossover study, healthy subjects (13 women, 10 men) took, in random order, a single oral dose of 500 mg curcuminoids as native powder, micronized powder, or liquid micelles. Blood and urine samples were collected for 24 h and total curcuminoids and safety parameters were quantified. Based on the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), the micronized curcumin was 14-, 5-, and 9-fold and micellar curcumin 277-, 114-, and 185-fold better bioavailable than native curcumin in women, men, and all subjects, respectively. Thus, women absorbed curcumin more efficiently than men. All safety parameters remained within the reference ranges following the consumption of all formulations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both, the micronized powder and in particular the liquid micellar formulation of curcumin significantly improved its oral bioavailability without altering safety parameters and may thus be ideally suited to deliver curcumin in human intervention trials. The observed sex differences in curcumin absorption warrant further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiborr
authors.forename: Alexa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocher
authors.forename: Dariush
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Behnam
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jandasek
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toelstede
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001682:Biological Availability; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003474:Curcumin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D036381:Diarylheptanoids; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008823:Micelles; D011208:Powders; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D036381:Diarylheptanoids; D008823:Micelles; D011208:Powders; C034786:bisdemethoxycurcumin; D003474:Curcumin; C050229:demethoxycurcumin
keywords: Bioavailability; Curcuma longa; Curcumin; Healthy humans; Safety; Sex differences