Here is the second part of Danny Parker’s timely and important two part series about the anti-myeloma super supplement, curcumin:
The Spice: Curcumin and Myeloma (Part Two)
In previous columns, I have emphasized the need to carefully consider any supplements you might take with myeloma and conventional treatments–and for good reason. As I hope I’ve communicated, I don’t consider any of this lightly. The drugs we take to treat our disease are powerful, and we often walk a tightrope with our compromised immune system and various side effects from disease and treatment.
That said, I do believe that considering taking a curcumin supplement might be one of the few cases where I can really advocate taking it now.
However, any such addition must be considered with your doctor and, if tried, must be done in a careful fashion, carefully monitoring one’s CBCs and other standard tests.
How can dosage of curcumin influence its availability in the body? Clinical trials in humans indicate that the systemic bio-availability of orally administered curcumin is low and that mostly metabolites of curcumin, instead of curcumin itself, are detected in plasma or serum following oral consumption.
However, curcumin metabolites may not have the same biological activity as the source compound. In a clinical trial conducted in Taiwan, serum curcumin concentrations peaked 1-2 hours after an oral dose; peak serum concentrations of curcumin were 0.5, 0.6, and 1.8 micromoles/liter following doses of 4, 6, and 8 g of curcumin, respectively. Curcumin could not be detected in serum at lower doses than 4 g/day.
More recently, a clinical trial conducted in Great Britain found that plasma concentrations of curcumin, curcumin sulfate, and curcumin glucuronide were in the range of 10 nanomoles/liter one hour after a 3.6 g oral dose of curcumin.
Now, to some practical questions relative to curcumin. Given the information we have on low bio-availability, what might be an “optimal dose” of curcumin? That’s a difficult question.
In the original curcumin-myeloma trials at MD Anderson, they conducted arms with 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 grams of the supplement divided into two daily doses. I split the difference and chose the center dose and have taken this for the last year:
http://abstracts.hematologylibrary.org/cgi/content/abstract/110/11/1177
The Australian curcumin study used 4 grams a day:
http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/15/18/5917.abstract
Margaret Graziano takes 8 grams a day:
http://margaret.healthblogs.org/life-with-myeloma/discovery-of-curcumin/my-curcumin-protocol/
On the other hand, the current Revlimid + curcumin maintenance clinical trial protocol at MD Anderson is 1 gram with Revlimid.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01269203?term=curcumin+lenalidomide&rank=1
So, at least one gram per day, and not more than eight.
Next, what Brands to consider?
Drs. Best curcumin is a good choice according to Margaret Graziano’s evaluations. I use that too:
For myself, I currently use six grams a day, divided into three doses (3 grams in the morning, (one at noon and two at night with the nightly dose taken directly with the Revlimid as it can enhance its action.
I split mine into separate doses only because it is physically hard to swallow six grams of curcumin at once (a dozen 500g capsules) And before anyone asks, I do not have any rational to this scheme. Others take all of their daily dose all at once.
You should also know that there are some curcumin products which are designed to increase their bio-availability so such large doses don’t have to be taken to obtain potential benefits. Research on using these improved curcumin preparations:
One of these is Meriva and the other is Theracumin.
Meriva claims the bioavailability of its product is 29 times as great as conventional curcumin:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/221524.php
Doctor’s Best also has a Curcumin Phytosome with the Meriva preparation.
Theracumin:
http://theravalues.com/english/products/curcumin_capsule30.html
Although I do not have any experience with Theracumin, I have been using the Meriva product for the last two months without adverse results. I am substituting these for the nighttime dose of conventional Dr. Best’s curcumin.
While I don’t advocate using curcumin instead of our conventional anti-myeloma drugs, the information here suggests that it is may be able to play a role in helping to treat our condition along with conventional treatments. And for those with MGUS or in remission, perhaps such influences have the potential to keep us in a stable condition for much longer–a longer and more healthy live.
Again, however, I recommend that you approach such supplements with caution, carefully and always in consultation with your doctor.
Good wishes for good health to us all.
Thanks, Danny! Yes, we get it–check with your doctor first. But best that I can tell, curcumin doesn’t negatively effect the performance of any of the primary anti-myeloma drugs. It also doesn’t block the performance of blood thinners like coumedin and warfarin.
I like the idea of taking the supplement like Danny does throughout the day, not all at once. Why not keep it circulating through your blood stream longer?
I only take 2 mg a day. Two capsules in the am and two at night.
Even if it can’t stop the progress of myeloma on its own, curcumin most likely enhances the performance of myeloma therapies, sort of like dexamethasone does. Plus, it is an excellent anti-inflammatory. I take it in place of glucosamine, which is contraindicated for multiple myeloma patients.
I write a lot about cancer nutrition and using supplements at HelpWithCancer.org and on a number of other sites. In a world where supplements are under attack and oft proven to be ineffective–or sometimes even harmful–curcumin is the one supplement that I can recommend without reservation.
But that doesn’t mean one should go overboard and use so much that your skin starts to turn orange! Danny’s recommendation to use between 1 mg and 8 mg a day seems to be reasonable.
By the way, local outlets like GNC carry curcumin. And it can be quite affordable there if you stock-up when it’s on sale and/or use the store’s discount membership card program.
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat
July 19th, 2012 at 9:47 am
Pat — I recently posted on curcumin with a link to a radio interview with a Baylor scientists who is one of the leading experts on curcumin. He says the best curcumin product for enhanced bio-availability is curcumin BCM 95. See http://parkinsonsand5htp.blogspot.com/2012/05/curcumin-bcm-95-here-i-come.html
I’ve kept a Google alert for several months now on curcumin and I’ve been amazed at the number of scientific studies that are reporting hopeful results on the use of curcumin for all sorts of ailments. See: http://parkinsonsand5htp.blogspot.com/2012/06/update-on-curcumins-potential-for.html
John
July 19th, 2012 at 10:37 am
Thanks for keeping your eye on the curcumin front and sharing what you have found with us here, John! I know several patients who tried relying on curcumin and it didn’t stop their myeloma. But I figure taking it can’t hurt, right?
July 23rd, 2012 at 9:51 pm
I have been taking a turmeric supplement since the start of my initial therapy, because, believe it or not, it was in a pamphlet that my nurse practitioner gave me. It was co-written by a doctor and a patient, and I decided it couldn’t hurt to take it. My local health food store does not sell curcumin, as they only sell whole foods, and turmeric is the whole plant, and the supplement contains 95% curcumin, which is what Margaret said, in her blog, is the accepted minimum. I may look into ordering curcumin online or buying it at a GNC store, but for now I am pleased with my response and have been doing pretty well with the turmeric supplement. Thanks for all your research, Pat, and all you do for the MM community!
July 23rd, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Sounds like you have been following a sound plan, Susan! Glad things are working out for you. And thanks for the kind words. I’m just glad that I can help!
September 18th, 2012 at 9:58 am
We are offering free samples of our most potent curcumin. Feel free to contact us.
Thanks,
http://www.curcumincare.com
http://www.curcumincare.webs.com
September 18th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Hundreds of my readers just might be interested! Contact me to try and set something up: Pat@HelpWithCancer.org
November 26th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Margaret states that to make curcumin and tumeric more absorbable you add flaxseed oil ( I use two tablespoonsful of “expeller pressed organic FSO)per 4 grams and whip/stir it. Margaret also says it tastes terrible…..I don’t care; it isn’t so bad.I also take cayenne pepper with the FSO, about 1/8 of a teaspoonful. This stuff is very hot (in small amounts not so bad). The cayenne powder is suppose to increase absorbability significantly.
November 27th, 2012 at 12:17 am
Thanks for the tips! I’m sticking with my 2-3 gm day along with my other supplements. I take it with my Revlimid and before/after Velcade.
January 20th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
I was diagnosed with MM in 2004 and had a stem cell transplant 10/1/2004. I was then put on thalidomide and dexamethasone. Fortunately I was able to get on clinical trial as cost was about $6,000 a month. In May 2005 I discontinued the thalidomide beause of the neuropathy it was causing in my legs. Shortly after I found out about the study at MD Anderson using curcumin and stated using that – Dr’s Best Curcumin with Bioperine, 2 500mg a day. I have been in remission ever since.
January 20th, 2013 at 8:51 pm
So glad you are still doing well! Mostly because of the SCT and a bit because you have been using curcumin? Just a guess…
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:50 pm
My husband was diagnosed with mm in 2008. He had a double stem cell transplant and 3 years of maintenance that included velcade/dex weekly and revlimid. He went into remission shortly after the stem cell transplants. (They were virtually back to back). He just got another great report from his doctor that shows that he is still in complete remission. He has, with his doctor’s approval decided to stop the revlimid. We asked her about the curcumin studies. She beieves there is something to it, but did not have any recommendations. Any recommenations for curcumin dose to continue to encourage remission? It looks like Dr. Best curcumin 2 500mgs daily?
February 23rd, 2013 at 12:36 am
Probably more than that, Carla. I just bought two bottles today from my local GNC. All studies I’ve seen use between 2 gm and 8 gm a day. 2 gm is 2000 mg, or four 500 mg capsules. Plus, be careful: some curcumin supplements have less than 500 mg in a capsule, with turmeric (not as concentrated) making up the difference. Mine is 400 mg out of 500, so I take an extra one for a total of 5 capsules daily. That means I only get 20 days out of my 100 count bottle. Using GNC discount card and buy one–get second one free offers, I pay around $25 a bottle, so not so bad. Worth a shot, right? Sure affordable next to cost of Velcade or Rev!
May 3rd, 2013 at 12:41 pm
Hi Pat,
I am taking 3 x 400mg daily of Super Bio-Curcumin ( LIFE EXTENSION)for multiple myeloma..stem cell transplant 3 years ago. This curcumin product is supposed to have 7 x greater absorption. However I get a lot of bowel cramping with it. Does Dr Bests Curcumin have that as a side effect?
Brenda
May 3rd, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Not for me, Brenda. Hard to pin down exactly what aggravates that sort of thing, isn’t it? Maybe the dose has more to do with it than the brand. How many mg a day are you taking?