The bioactive ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, responsible for over 150 potentially therapeutic activities in your body
Curcumin has
demonstrated preventive and treatment actions against cancer cells, and
may help both reduce the negative effects of chemotherapy agents and
intensify the cancer-killing abilities of the drugs
Consumed alone,
bioavailability of curcumin is poor; however, there are methods that
may improve absorption and help raise your therapeutic levels
By Dr. Mercola
Turmeric, a yellow curry spice used in Indian cuisine, has a long
history of medicinal use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and
Ayurvedic medicine. Curcumin is one of the most well-studied bioactive ingredients in turmeric,1 having over 150 potentially therapeutic activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and powerful anticancer actions. Cancer
has an incredible global impact and places a vast financial and
emotional burden on the families it touches. Nearly 40 percent of
American men and women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
and over $125 billion is spent annually on medical treatment and patient
care.2
The American Cancer Society estimated there would be over 1.6 million
new cases diagnosed in 2017, equating to 4,630 new cases and 1,650
deaths every day.3 The most common types of cancer include breast, colon, lung and prostate.4
Despite advances in cancer treatment protocols, scientists realize
prevention plays an essential role in reducing the number of people who
die from the disease. After 30 years of testing more than 1,000
different possible anticancer substances, the National Cancer Institute
announced that curcumin has joined an elite group that will now be used
in clinical trials for chemoprevention.5
Curcumin May Play a Multitargeted Role Against Cancer Cells
In this interview, Dr. William LaValley discusses the interaction
curcumin has on cancer and the multiple ways this molecule affects
cancer growth. If you have ever been diagnosed with cancer, it may feel
as if it grew overnight when, in fact, cancer cells take years to
develop.
The progression of a cell from normal growth to cancer happens
through several stages. Deregulation of physiological and mechanical
processes that initiate and promote the growth of cancer cells makes use
of hundreds of genes and signaling routes, making it apparent a
multitargeted approach is needed for prevention and treatment.
Research has demonstrated that curcumin has a broad range of actions as it is able to effect multiple cellular targets.6
Studies have found, based on the activities of curcumin in the body,
the spice could be an effective method of cancer prevention, or in
treatment when used in conjunction with conventional treatment
protocols.
The multifaceted action of curcumin has made it useful in the
treatments of several different types of diseases, including colon
cancer,7 pancreatic cancer8 and amyloidosis.9
Curcumin triggers a variety of actions that affect the growth,
replication and death of cancer cells. Cancer cells lose the ability to
die naturally, which plays a significant role in the hyperproliferation
of cells common to cancer. Curcumin is able to turn on the apoptosis
(cell death) signaling pathway, enabling the cells to die within a
natural time span.10
Cancer cells thrive in an inflammatory environment. Although
short-term inflammation is beneficial for healing, long-term
inflammation increases your risk of disease. Curcumin is able to block
the pro-inflammatory response at several points and reduce the levels of
inflammatory cytokines in the body.11
The strong anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin may match the effect of some drugs.12 Early in development, cancer cells
learn to replicate and grow in an environment cells normally find
inhospitable. Curcumin may change the signaling through several
pathways, and put a stop to this replication.13
Curcumin may also stop the ability of cancer stem cells from
replicating and reduce the potential for recurrence after treatment.
Curcumin also helps support your immune system, capable of seeking out
and destroying early cancer cells naturally.
Curcumin May Enhance Cancer Treatment and Chemotherapy
Some of the same ways that curcumin works in your body are the
processes used to enhance your cancer treatments and chemotherapy.
While some chemotherapy has been developed to target specific cells,
most therapy drugs are nonspecific and affect all cells in your body.
Some studies in the past decade have demonstrated exciting potential for
curcumin in the fight against cancer.
In addition to changes to your cells mentioned above, researchers
have found curcumin may help protect your body against the damage caused
from chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and it may enhance the
effect of these same treatments, making them more effective.
These effects have been demonstrated in animal models treating head and neck tumors,14 and in culture of human breast, esophageal and colon cancers.15,16
Patients treated for chronic myeloid leukemia with chemotherapy
exhibited a reduction in cancer growth factor when curcumin was added to
the treatment protocol, potentially improving the results of the
chemotherapy over being used alone.17
Protection against radiation therapy was demonstrated in a study using breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.18 At the end of the study those taking curcumin had less radiation damage to their skin.
Curcumin has also been effective against angiogenesis in tumors, or
the growth of new blood vessels to feed the overgrowth of cancer cells,
and against metastasis.19
Curcumin is able to affect cancer cells through multiple pathways and
has fulfilled the traits for an ideal cancer prevention agent as it has
low toxicity, is affordable and is easily accessible. However, while
effective, it has poor bioavailability on its own.20
Poor Absorption Has One Benefit
In my interview with LaValley, he discussed the poor bioavailability
of curcumin in raw form. Only 1 percent of the product will be absorbed;
even supplements that have a 95 percent concentration are absorbed at 1
percent.
This means, when the supplement is taken alone, it is a challenge to
maintain a therapeutic level. However, in the case of colon cancer, this
poor absorption into the bloodstream may be an advantage.
As there is poor absorption, higher levels of curcumin stay in the
intestinal tract for longer periods of time, having an effect on
gastrointestinal cancers. In one study, participants took a 1,080
milligram (mg) dose per day of curcumin for 10 to 30 days between their
initial biopsy and surgical removal.
The patients taking the supplement experienced a reduction in blood levels of inflammatory agent, improvement in their body weight, and an increased number of dying tumor cells.21
A team of scientists at the University of Pittsburgh and at
Pondicherry University, India, discovered the bioactive ingredient in
turmeric, curcumin, can both prevent and cure bowel cancers.22 The team found the compound triggered cancer cell death by increasing a level of protein labeled GADD45a.23 Lead author Rajasekaran Baskaran, Ph.D., who has more than 20 years of experience in cancer research, commented:24
"Studies on the effect of curcumin on cancer and normal cells
will be useful for the ongoing preclinical and clinical investigations
on this potential chemopreventive agent."
As an increased bioavailability and absorption may also improve the
actions of curcumin in the body, researchers have studied a variety of
different delivery methods, including oral, intravenous, subcutaneous
and intraperitoneal, as well as different formulations of the product.25
Bioavailability improved when curcumin was delivered as a
nanoparticle, in combination with polylactic-co-glycolic acid, liposomal
encapsulation26 and when taken orally with piperine, the active ingredient in black pepper.27
Multiple Types of Cancer Affected by Curcumin
Research demonstrates that while curcumin has multiple pathways
through which it impacts cancer cells, the substance also has an effect
on multiple types of cancer. Studies estimate that genetics may play a
role in approximately 5 percent of all cancers, with the majority of
cancer growth attributed to lifestyle choices.28
Research demonstrates curcumin exhibits activity against breast cancer and decreases the toxic effect against some of the chemotherapy agents commonly used.29
Mitomycin C is a potent antineoplastic drug. However, prolonged use may
lead to kidney and bone marrow damage, with secondary tumor growth.
Curcumin appears to reduce the side effects of Mitomycin C and improve
the efficiency of the drug at the same time.30
Another study demonstrated that curcumin inhibited the growth and metastasis of lung cancer cells.31
One of the deadliest cancers worldwide, pancreatic cancer, also appears
to respond to the use of curcumin in preclinical trials.32
The antiproliferative effects on pancreatic cancer appeared to be from a
reduction in oxidative stress and angiogenesis and triggering apoptosis
of cancer cells.
Apoptosis, anti-inflammatory actions,
reduction in angiogenesis and reduction in the adverse effects of
chemotherapeutic agents has also led researchers to consider curcumin an
adjunctive therapy in the treatment of liver cancer.33 Curcumin also inhibited and slowed the development of bladder cancer in rats,34 stopped the formation of metastasis in prostate cancer,35 and when combined with ultrasound, increased death of cervical cancer cells.36
But not all scientists are convinced by the number of studies over
the past 15 years demonstrating the multiple effects curcumin has on the
inflammatory response and cancers, as well as the low toxicity profile.37 In one meta-analysis, researchers claimed curcumin could not meet the criteria for a good drug candidate.38
More Benefits to Curcumin
Curcumin offers additional benefits to your health. It may work as
well as some anti-inflammatory medications to treat arthritic
conditions.39 In combination with aerobic exercise, curcumin was found to improve endothelial cell function in postmenopausal women,40 and was also found to ameliorate arterial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the elderly.41
Disease processes may increase oxidative stress and free radical formation in your body. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant,42 but also may boost the function of your body's own antioxidant enzymes.43
Your brain can develop new connections powered by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).44 Reduced levels of this hormone may be linked to depression and Alzheimer's disease. However, curcumin can increase your levels of BDNF45 and effectively reduce your potential for suffering from age-related reduction in brain function.46
Researchers have also discovered that curcumin has an effect on
several pathways in your body that may reverse insulin resistance,
hyperlipidemia and other symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome and
obesity.47 The reduced potential for metabolic syndrome and obesity is related to the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin, which may also have an effect on heart disease, atherosclerosis and Type 2 diabetes.48
Genetic Regulation May Be One Powerful Way Curcumin Fights Cancer
It is becoming widely accepted that cancer is not a preprogrammed
inevitability, but rather the result of the impact of your environment
on genetic regulation that may trigger cancer cell growth. There are
multiple influences that may damage or mutate DNA, and consequently
alter genetic expression, including:
Nutritional deficiencies
Stress
Free radical damage
Toxins and pollution
Chronic infections
Infectious toxic by-products
Hormonal imbalances
Chronic inflammation
Researchers have demonstrated curcumin may affect more than 100
different pathways in your cells, helping to prevent hyperproliferation
of cell growth characteristic of cancer, and aiding in the treatment of
the disease. Through the reduction of inflammation,
prevention of the development of additional blood supply to support
cancer cell growth and destruction of mutated cells to reduce
metastasis, curcumin has great medicinal and preventive potential.
Several studies have demonstrated an impact on transcription factors
and signaling pathways, and have reviewed the molecular mechanisms
curcumin uses to regulate and modulate gene expression.49,50,51 Overall, curcumin is powerful, cost-effective and has a low toxicity profile.52
Using a Curcumin Supplement
Turmeric is a wonderful spice used in Eastern culture cuisine. It is
one spice I recommend for your kitchen as it works well with tomato
sauces, soups, leafy greens, cauliflower, stir-fries and stews. Choose a
high-quality turmeric powder instead of curry powder as studies have
found some curry powders have very little curcumin.
If you are looking for therapeutic effects, you may want to consider a
supplement. It is difficult to achieve a dose of curcumin used in
research solely from your diet. Typical anticancer doses range between
1,200 and 3,000 grams of bioavailable curcumin extract.
You can increase the absorption by making a microemulsion, combining 1
tablespoon of curcumin powder with one or two egg yolks and 1 to 2
teaspoons of melted coconut oil, as the curcumin is fat soluble. Then
use a hand blender on high speed to emulsify the powder.
Absorption may also be increased through boiling. Add 1 tablespoon
into a quart of boiling water. (If you add it to room temperature water
and then boil, it doesn't work as well.) After boiling it for 10
minutes, you will have created a 12 percent solution and you can drink
this once it has cooled down. The curcumin will gradually fall out of
the solution over time, and in about six hours it will be a 6 percent
solution, so it is best to drink the water within four hours.
Curcumin is a very potent yellow pigment and can permanently discolor
surfaces if you aren't careful. To avoid inadvertently staining your
kitchen yellow, I recommend you perform any mixing under the hood of
your stove with the exhaust fan on to make sure no powder gets into your
kitchen.
Alternatively, it is far easier to take curcumin in supplement form —
just make sure it's a high-quality brand that is formulated to increase
bioavailability. And, look for a turmeric extract with at least 95
percent curcuminoids. Just be aware that these are relatively rare and
hard to find.
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