Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Curcumin, a bright yellow spice, is widely grown in South-East Asian countries. It has a long history of use in food as a spice, mainly as an ingredient in many varieties of curry powders and sauces. Curcumin is widely used to colour many foods. Several forms of curcumin are available on the market but their absorption by the body has not been studied for all of the forms. The aim of this study is to measure the absorption of two different curcumin supplements in healthy volunteers.
Who can participate?
Healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 55
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to take either a standard curcumin supplement or a new supplement with a glass of water. On the morning of the study, participants arrive having fasted for at least 10 hours. Blood samples are taken before they take the supplement and after 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours. Participants record their diet for 3 days before and on the day of the study. A meal not containing curcumin is provided for lunch and dinner on the day of the study. Participants return 7 days later and the process is repeated with the other supplement. Blood samples are tested for levels of curcumin substances and are also stored for potential future testing.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The results of this study will help people to choose the right supplement for better absorption. A possible risk is pain during the collection of the blood sample.
Where is the study run from?
1. Texas Christian University (USA)
2. University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (USA)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2016 to August 2017
Who is funding the study?
OmniActive Health Technologies Ltd (India)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Vijaya Juturu
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Vijaya Juturu
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7397-715X
Contact details
67 East Park Place
Suite 500
Morristown
07960
United States of America
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
CUR004-16
Study information
Scientific title
A randomized, double-blind, parallel study to compare the relative absorption of UltraSOL Curcumin and Curcumin reference product
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Despite its demonstrated effects, the benefit of curcumin is limited by its poor solubility, low absorption from the gut, rapid metabolism and rapid systemic elimination. While the major portion of ingested curcumin is excreted through the feces unmetabolized, the small portion that is absorbed is extensively converted to its water-soluble metabolites, glucuronides and sulfate, and excreted. The purpose of this study was to assess the bioavailability of two different oral curcumin formulations: a curcumin reference (standard) and a new, natural curcumin formulation (UltraSOL Curcumin (OmniActive) over the course of 24 hours (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 24 hours).
Ethics approval
Texas Christian University institutional review board, 07/08/2016, ref: 1605-071-1607
Study design
Single-dose randomized double-blind crossover design
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised cross over trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Bioavailability of two different oral curcumin formulations
Intervention
Subjects will be randomised to receive one of two curcumin supplements: Curcumin standard formulation (1800 mg) or UltraSOL Curcumin (376 mg), administered with a glass of water. After a 7-day washout period, this process will be repeated with the other supplement for the two remaining study visits.
On the morning of supplementation, subjects will arrive having fasted for at least 10 hours. A baseline blood sample will be drawn prior to ingestion of supplement (0 hours). Thereafter, blood will be sampled at 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours post-ingestion. Subjects will record dietary intake for 3 days prior to and on the day of experimental protocol. A non-turmeric containing meal will be provided for lunch and dinner on the day of experimentation. Subjects will return 7 days after first experimental protocol to participate under alternative treatment. Blood from timepoints (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 24 hours) will subsequently be measured for curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, tetrahydrocurcumin) by HPLC. Blood from timepoints 15 minutes and 30 minutes, as well as additional samples from all other time points will be stored for potential future analysis of free curcuminoids (without the addition of glucuronidase). Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation) will be calculated. Area under the curve will be calculated in accordance with the trapezoidal method from 0 to 12 h and 0 to 24 h. Concentration max (Cmax) will be identified as the maximum concentration achieved over the 24 h period with corresponding time (tmax).
Intervention type
Supplement
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Plasma levels of major curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin) will be evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 12 hours and 24 h. Peak plasma concentrations (TMax), areas under the plasma concentration-time curves (AUC0-6h, AUC0-12h and AUC0-24h), CMax and t max will be calculated. Relative absorption at 24h time point is helpful to observe normalization and safety of the product
Secondary outcome measures
None
Overall trial start date
30/06/2016
Overall trial end date
30/08/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Normal healthy individuals
2. Age 18-55
3. Males and females
4. Must be able to perform required testing
5. Participants agreed to sign an informed consent form
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
15
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Pregnancy
2. Use of prescription medications
3. Gastrointestinal conditions
4. Diabetics
5. Alcohol and/or substance abuse history, and/or allergies to turmeric or curcumin
6. Subjects consuming any foods or supplements containing curcumin
Recruitment start date
25/08/2016
Recruitment end date
30/10/2016
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United States of America
Trial participating centre
Texas Christian University
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Department of Kinesiology
TCU Box 297730
Fort Worth
76129
United States of America
Trial participating centre
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Fort Worth
-
United States of America
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
OmniActive Health Technologies
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
For-profit companies (industry)
Location
United States of America
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal
IPD sharing plan
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr Jonathan Oliver or Dr Vijaya Juturu
Intention to publish date
31/12/2017
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list