In this article I will give an overview of the novel turmeric formula Theracurmin® and the clinical research studies supporting its enhanced bioavailability.
I’ll also provide product reviews of the top-quality Theracurmin brands currently on the market.
Science resources included
As is my custom here on heydayDo, I will provide links to all of the relevant sports science and medical resources, clinical studies, & nutritional data used in this article.
Brands featured in this Theracurmin review
Here are what I currently think are the top two Theracurmin® supplements, and you can click on the pic or their names to check current prices or read Amazon reviews.
I’ll be going over their product features in more detail a little later on.
Natural Factors CurcuminRich Theracurmin
(Note that this is their “Double Strength” version.)
Integrative Therapeutics Theracurmin HP
What’s next
Before we get into the Theracurmin product reviews, I’d like to share the research I gathered on Theracurmin:
- what it is;
- how it works;
- what makes it different than typical curcumin formulas;
- what its research has demonstrated as far as effectiveness, safety, & side effects are concerned.
What is Theracurmin?
Theracurmin® is a unique turmeric product patented by a medical research & development company named Theravalues who are based in Tokyo, Japan.
Theracurmin first came to the public light at the 2010 IFT (Institute of Food Technologists) annual meeting, held in Chicago every year.
It was there that the research team from Theravalues shared the results of a clinical study where the curcumin in Theracurmin had bioavailability (in the human bloodstream) that was 27 times greater than regular curcumin extract. (1)
This is important because curcumin is so poorly absorbed by our bodies that all or most of its benefits are not realized when taking regular curcumin.
(It’s even worse if you’re taking a plain turmeric powder supplement, since turmeric is only 3% curcumin on average.)
Hence the need for special enhanced-absorption formulas of curcumin extract like Theracurmin®, Longvida®, Meriva®, & BCM-95®, or the use of bio-enhancing agents like Bioperine® black pepper extract.
Theracurmin is vegan
By the way, I wanted to mention that despite the clinical-sounding name Theracurmin, it’s only made of three plant-based ingredients:
- turmeric powder
- vegetable glycerin
- vegetable gum, from the ghatti tree††
†† – The ghatti tree’s official name is Anogeissus latifolia, and in English it’s known as the Axlewood tree.
What is the difference between Theracurmin and curcumin?
Curcumin is a compound found inside turmeric rhizomes, those orange underground stems you see in my photo above.
And curcumin is the potent bioactive compound that has anti-inflammatory properties, increases our own anti-oxidant protection, and reduces arthritic pain, among other things. (2)
Theracurmin has curcumin in it which has been ground down to a microscopic size and then combined with glycerin & gum ghatti to form colloids**.
** – A colloid is simply a structure which basically suspends the active curcumin in a protective substance to help it get through our digestive system intact, and make its way into our bloodstream so it can hopefully do us some good 😉. (3)
What is Theracurmin used for?
Since Theracurmin is a curcumin-based product, it can be taken for any of the same reasons you would consider taking a turmeric supplement: to fight inflammation, as an anti-arthritic, to increase your antioxidant capacity, etc.
Theracurmin Side Effects
Research studies with Theracurmin that I’ve read have very few incidents of side effects and those that occurred were minor, as far as clinical study drugs’ adverse effects go.
I’m not too surprised I came across only a handful of people who reported just mild side effect symptoms (stomach ache, nausea, mild diarrhea), given that the actual amount of curcumin that’s used in most of Theracurmin’s research studies is much lower than what’s been used in other turmeric-related clinical trials (more on this below).
And note that those particular side effects are consistent with what a small minority of people experience when taking typical turmeric supplements and curcumin extracts as well. (10)
Theracurmin Studies
While doing my research on Theracurmin I found several relevant** clinical trials, animal studies, in vitro studies, and academic presentations dating back to Theracurmin’s creation around 2010.
Down in the Theracurmin Dosages section I list several research studies individually by health condition, and provide links to them if you want to check them out.
And here are links to a couple of places where I tracked down most of the Theracurmin studies that have been completed to date…I’m guessing there are over thirty that have been published so far.
(Some of the studies are listed in both places.)
Theracurmin listings in the U.S. National Library of Medicine database
Theravalues’ Theracurmin Research page
** – A “relevant” study for me means a couple of things:
- it involved humans, not rats or petri dishes in a lab;
- it was a controlled study, preferably with placebo used in the control group.
And…hopefully the study was focused on one of the health conditions I want to improve in my own life.
Why I’ve been studying curcumin research so much
(I think this is my twelfth turmeric/curcumin research article here on heydayDo.)
By far my primary interest in curcumin has to do with its potential to benefit one of the main things in my life — my level of fitness.
Being strong, healthy, & physically active has been very important to me since I became an adult back in the ’80s.
And over the last couple of decades it’s progressively gotten harder & harder to maintain the level of fitness I want.
Can curcumin help me?
I suppose it’s nice to see all the different health conditions medical scientists are testing with turmeric/curcumin extract; there are 16,000+ published studies so far:
However…
…I’m mostly interested in curcumin studies that demonstrate its ability to reduce joint pain after I lift weights or exercise — considering all my joints are 63 years old now.
And to the degree that inflammation impacts the quality of my physically-active life and oxidative stress slows my workout recovery, then proof of curcumin’s benefits & protection against those conditions is something I’d like to see as well.
Theracurmin dosages
Below are a few examples of the Theracurmin doses used in research studies I’ve read, followed by a section showing you common dosing ranges for other turmeric/curcumin studies.
Note how much lower the amount of curcumin used in Theracurmin is versus other common clinical formulas like:
- Curcumin + Bioperine®/black pepper extract;
- BCM-95®
- Longvida®
The titles in blue link to their respective clinical studies.
Knee osteoarthritis + Theracurmin studies
Short-term effects of highly-bioavailable curcumin for treating knee osteoarthritis.
Theracurmin dose: 180 mg per day
Exercise stress + Theracurmin
Effects of Curcumin Supplementation on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Humans.
Theracurmin dose: 180 mg per day
Exercise endurance in postmenopausal women
Effect of endurance exercise training and curcumin intake on central arterial hemodynamics.
Theracurmin dose: 150 mg per day
Cognitive function & memory + Theracurmin
Memory and Brain Amyloid and Tau Effects of a Bioavailable Form of Curcumin.
Theracurmin dose: 180 mg per day
Theracurmin + liver support
Innovative preparation of curcumin for improved oral bioavailability.
Theracurmin dose: 180 mg
Atherosclerosis + Theracurmin
Theracurmin dose: 180 mg
Clinical doses of other curcumin formulas
Now we’ll compare those curcumin amounts in Theracurmin studies to the amounts used in other unique recipes below.
* Looking at doses (on PubMed) that were used in clinical studies using curcumin extracts in various formulas besides Theracurmin, I found a range of 1000 mg to 1500 mg of curcumin per day.
* In their report on the enhanced formula made of pure turmeric known as BCM-95®, the American Botanical Council lists a curcumin dosage range from 500 mg to 4000 mg per day. (8)
* And finally, nutrition research site Examine.com has reviewed dozens of curcumin clinical trials and says effective daily doses range from 400 mg to 1500 mg, depending on the type of enhanced formula being used (black pepper extract, Meriva, BCM-95, etc.). (9)
Important note: I think it’s good to keep in mind that even at high doses, curcumin is well-tolerated by the majority of people.
Theracurmin’s safety record
Theracurmin has an excellent safety record in its human clinical trials, and there have been studies specifically designed to test its potential toxicity at extremely high doses:
The Efficacy and Safety of Highly-Bioavailable Curcumin for Treating Knee Osteoarthritis
Dose-escalation and Pharmacokinetic Study of Nanoparticle Curcumin
Safety Evaluation of Theracurmin®
In the first study on my list, researchers concluded:
“No major side effects were observed with Theracurmin treatment, including in the blood biochemistry analyses performed during this study. Theracurmin showed great potential for the treatment of human knee osteoarthritis based on efficacy and safety findings.”
In the second, authors state:
“THERACURMIN can safely increase plasma curcumin levels in a dose-dependent manner at least up to 210 mg without saturating the absorption system. To the best of our knowledge, THERACURMIN is the first nanoparticle formulation of curcumin that demonstrates improved bioavailability in human subjects.”
And in the Safety Evaluation of Theracurmin study, researchers wrote:
“These trials proved the safety of 4-week excessive and 12-week long term intake of Theracurmin®. No adverse effects were reported…”
Theracurmin review – best brands
Okie dokie, here are my top Theracurmin supplement picks at the present time, and we’ll be going over their Supplement Facts labels, daily dosage/serving size, monthly cost, & more.
My criteria for picking these two products over the other handful of Theracurmin supplements on the market these days was pretty simple:
- A pure (100%) Theracurmin-only supplement;
- Highest ⭐ ratings among Theracurmin brands;
- Lots of buyer reviews across the internet, not just on Amazon.
About my rating system
The ⭐ rating is something I calculate after gathering as many online reviews as I can find, from the various retailers selling that particular product.
And the % number you see represents the percentage of buyers who gave the product a 4 or 5-star rating.
You can click on their name or the pic to read buyer reviews & check today’s prices on Amazon.
About monthly cost numbers
I’m using prices I see today to determine what these products will cost us per month at various dosages.
And since prices change online pretty often, you might see different prices when you check them out.
There’s serving size and then there’s the effective clinical dose
Besides figuring out what the monthly cost is using the manufacturer’s suggested serving size, I also like to figure out what supplements will cost us if we want to take the same dosage that proved itself effective in clinical trials.
After all, if the product is cheap but the suggested daily dose is a lot lower than what actually worked, it may not do you or I any good at all.
Natural Factors CurcuminRich Theracurmin
(Note that this is their Double Strength version of CurcuminRich.)
4.7 ⭐ – 92%, 1,000+ online reviews
Here’s a peek at its Supplement Facts label:
CurcuminRich ingredient notes
* Natural Factors’ CurcuminRich is a pure Theracurmin® product, aside from the veggie cap’s cellulose and the capsule fillers, flow agents & disintegrant, which I’ll talk about in a bit;
* One capsule serving size delivers 60 mg of Theracurmin;
* Vegan;
* Non-GMO, no gluten or soy;
* Third-party tested for purity.
Fillers
Fillers are necessary for supplements like Theracurmin where the amount of active ingredient is very small (in this case, only 60 milligrams).
Fillers literally fill up the empty space in the capsule not taken up by the active ingredient & its flow agents, if any. (10)
In CurcuminRich Theracurmin, the fillers are microcrystalline cellulose & silica.
Microcrystalline cellulose is usually made from refined wood pulp, and is a common additive to food products & supplements.
Silica, also called silicon dioxide, is made up of Earth’s two most common elements, oxygen & silicon. It serves to keep any of the capsule ingredients from sticking to one another.
Flow agent & disintegrant
The flow agent magnesium stearate is also made up of two natural & common ingredients, magnesium and stearic acid.
Stearic acid is a fat that exists in animals as well as plant-based fats like cocoa butter & olive oil. (12)
A flow agent’s purpose in this particular supplement is to keep the Theracurmin flowing through the capsule manufacturing process so that it doesn’t clump or stick to the machinery.
And the role of the disintegrant croscarmellose sodium is to speed up the time it takes for the capsule & its contents to dissolve in our bodies. (13)
See reviews & current price on Amazon
Integrative Therapeutics Theracurmin HP
4.6 ⭐ – 91%, 600+ online reviews
Theracurmin HP ingredient notes
* Pure Theracurmin® supplement in a vegetable capsule along with the same types of materials I discussed above;
* Serving size is two capsules that deliver the established clinical dose of 180 mg net curcumin;
* Pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing quality, as Integrative Therapeutics also makes over-the-counter medicines;
* Certified at drug-level GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) by the FDA, and Integrative Therapeutics is an FDA-audited facility;
* Inspected & certified by NSF Intl., The Public Health & Safety Company;
* Gum ghatti I mentioned earlier in the What Is Theracurmin section, it’s part of the Theracurmin formula that helps “carry” the curcumin;
* Ascorbyl palmitate‘s role is to protect fat-soluble supplements like curcumin.
Fillers & flow agents
Dextrin & maltose are the fillers along with the silicon dioxide, dextrin being a type of corn starch and maltose a sugar used to help absorb water.
See reviews & current price on Amazon
Here’s a short (two minute) video from Dr. Nancy Trimboli, a back doctor in Indiana, on Integrative Therapeutics Theracurmin HP and its use in her practice:
Theracurmin monthly cost
These are the prices I’m looking at today, and both CurcuminRich & Theracurmin HP come in a sixty-count serving size, so they’re both two months’ worth if you follow their dosing:
Natural Factors CurcuminRich:
$38.47 / 60 servings = $19.24 / month
Dose : 60 mg / day
Theracumin HP:
$90 / 60 servings = $45 / month
Dose: 180 mg / day
At first glance, CurcuminRich looks way cheaper, but note that the daily dose is 67% less than Theracurmin HP.
And CurcuminRich’s 60 mg per day is only one-third the dosage used the most in clinical trials, which is 180 mg per day as we saw up in the Theracurmin Dosages section.
So if you wanted to follow the clinical dosing and take CurcuminRich, your monthly cost would be around 58 bucks.
And since Theracurmin HP is already set at the 180 mg clinical dose, it’s $13 a month cheaper than CurcuminRich at the effective clinical level.
Other Theracurmin brands
Here are the other brands I looked at in case you were interested, since me not considering them one of the top Theracurmin products doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with them…I’m just picky about certain things is all.
My very subjective reasons for excluding them from a “Best Theracurmin Supplements” list include the following (some had more than one reason):
- daily dosage weak
- not as highly rated by buyers
- Amazon-only product
- not many buyer reviews
- other ingredients besides Theracurmin®
You can click on the pic if you want to see buyer reviews on Amazon.
Swanson Theracurmin
Bioclinic Naturals – Theracurmin
CardioTabs Turmeric Curcumin
Source Naturals Theracurmin
Interceuticals Better Curcumin
Wrapping Up
Related turmeric curcumin resources here on heydayDo
As mentioned earlier, I’ve researched the main turmeric curcumin formulas used in clinical trials and many of the brands that use them.
Here are other curcumin articles I’ve published:
Spring Valley Turmeric Curcumin Review
7 Best Curcumin Supplements with the Curcuminoids We Need
4 Best Longvida Optimized Brands
Primal Force Curcumin Triple Burn
BioSchwartz Turmeric Curcumin Review
Life Extension Super Bio Curcumin
Terry Naturally CuraMed Review
I hope that my review article on Theracurmin®, its research, & on the best brands currently being made with it is useful to you, and I wish you well on your fitness journey.
– greg
