Pharmacokinetics of a single dose of novel curcumin formulations mixed with fish oils in healthy humans

The pharmacokinetics of novel formulations of curcumin mixed with squalene (CSQU) and of curcumin mixed with docosahexaenoic acid (CDHA) was investigated and compared with a standardized unformulated curcumin extract (StdC) and a solid lipid curcumin particle (SLCP) formulation in a randomized, open-label, crossover study. A total of 10 healthy subjects consumed a single dose of each formulation, and blood samples were collected over 8 h. Plasma concentrations of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) were measured. The dose-normalized AUC(0-8h) of curcumin was significantly higher for SLCP (2.2-fold), CSQU (2.3-fold) and CDHA (2.8-fold) than for StdC. The dose-normalized AUC(0-8h) of DMC and BDMC did not significantly change, but their T-max was significantly shortened for SLCP, CSQU, and CDHA. In conclusion, compared with StdC, both fish oil formulations, CSQU and CDHA, significantly improved curcumin absorption as well as SLCP, and CDHA was bioequivalent or superior to SLCP. No sex differences were observed in curcumin absorption.

Automated summary

The pharmacokinetics of novel curcumin formulations mixed with squalene and docosahexaenoic acid were studied and compared to a standardized curcumin extract and a solid lipid curcumin particle. The fish oil formulations, squalene mixed with curcumin and docosahexaenoic acid mixed with curcumin, significantly improved curcumin absorption compared to the standardized extract. The docosahexaenoic acid formulation was bioequivalent or superior to the solid lipid curcumin particle. No gender differences were observed in curcumin absorption.