Curcumin is a yellow pigment from the spice turmeric that, in test-tube studies, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antioxidant properties. However, curcumin is not easily absorbed into your body. A chemical called piperine in black pepper can increase the amount of curcumin taken into your body and is commonly included in curcumin supplements.
Benefits
According to Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute, curcumin has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in a test tube. Curcumin may also induce apoptosis -- programmed cell death -- in cancer cells and may prevent tumor cells from spreading or recruiting blood vessels, both key steps in cancer progression. Curcumin may also increase levels of antioxidants in the body and decrease levels of inflammation, the process where immune cells and nutrients leave the blood and enter damages tissues. When the regulation of inflammation goes wrong, it can contribute to diseases.
Absorption
Despite all of the benefits in the test tube, little curcumin is absorbed into the human body. This has kept curcumin from being investigated as a cancer treatment, with the exception of some forms of intestinal cancer. Curcumin is unstable in the intestines once it is dissolved and mixed with water. Enzymes in the intestines degrade it rapidly.
Role of Piperine
Piperine is a chemical found in black pepper that inhibits some of the digestive enzymes in the intestines. Because of this property, piperine increases the amount of drugs your body absorbs, because they are not degraded as rapidly. A 1998 study in the journal "Planta Medica" found that co-administration of piperine with curcumin increased the levels absorbed in both lab animals and human volunteers. However, although piperine increases the absorption of curcumin, it is still not sufficient to reach the levels found effective in test tubes.
Safety
Talk to your doctor before taking curcumin or piperine for any medical condition. Curcumin can inhibit blood clotting and raises the risk of bleeding when taken with blood thinners. Curcumin increases the production of bile and stomach acid and may worsen ulcers. Diabetics should not take curcumin without a doctor's supervision because it may cause blood sugar levels to drop. Piperine may increase the levels of other medication, increasing the potential for side effects.
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