Manufacturer-backed mouse study finds lipid-modified curcumin more neuroprotective than unformulated curcumin
Researchers from Central Michigan University compared a 65% curcumin extract with one that has undergone a lipid modification—20% curcumin in the form of Longvida, commercialized by Verdure Sciences, which provided the ingredient used in the study, but did not design the study protocols nor provided additional funding.
Lead researcher Dr. Panchanan Maiti of Field Neuroscience Institute Laboratory for Restorative Neurology in Central Michigan previously led an in vitro study and reported that results were ‘promising,’ with Longvida yielding greater permeability and neuroprotection with solid lipid curcumin particles than with natural curcumin.
“The present study was designed to compare the effects of acute treatments of curcumin and or solid lipid curcumin on anti-inflammatory activities, Aβ plaque loads, and neuronal morphology in different brain regions of mice,” they wrote in the study, published in BMC Neuroscience.
Study design and results
Thirty-two one-year-old mice of two different genotype varieties were used in the study. They were randomly divided into eight groups with four mice in each. The mice were injected in the abdomen with either unformulated curcumin or Longvida in a duration of two or five days.
“The low solubility in body fluids and rapid degradation after intestinal absorption limit the bioavailability of [unformulated] curcumin, reducing its clinical utility,” they wrote.
“Interestingly, we achieved greater anti-inflammatory effects in the case of [Longvida] treatment, which, again confirmed that the SLCP facilitates permeability of curcumin across the blood brain barrier … to a greater degree than [unformulated] curcumin,” they wrote.
Acute intervention over chronic
In a press release from Verdure Sciences, the company said that, while it is known that many researchers have conducted both in vitro and in vivo work in both animals and humans, many studies have utilized chronic treatment to overcome the major obstacles.
But Maiti and team brought to light “additional research showing the benefits of acute treatment with curcumin in a murine model for either 2 (two) or 5 (five) days.”
Furthermore, the researchers note that five-days of treatment had greater impact than two-days in both groups, suggesting that a longer duration can better optimize the tangible health benefits seen.
“Not only is it very exciting to see these results from Maiti, P. et al, but it is absolutely fantastic to have additional support for our previous research efforts on Longvida,” states Kristen Marshall, Marketing Coordinator, Verdure Sciences
Sonya Cropper, VP of Innovation & Marketing at Verdure Sciences, said “this publication highlights the potential impact Longvida (SLCP) has on various neurological measures, with valuable insight into the difference on permeability and specific activity between curcumin and solid lipid curcumin (Longvida). The continued interest in curcumin from the research community will continue to bring a greater understanding on potential benefits, as well as the difference regarding various optimizing technologies.”
Source: BMC Neuroscience
Published online, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12868-018-0406-3
Solid lipid curcumin particles provide greater anti-amyloid, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects than curcumin in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Maiti, P., et al
