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Curcumin is an available substance that has serious potential to prevent or treat liver fibrosis. Oral administration in humans suffer from the limited bioavailibility of regular curcumin preparations. Combinations with biopterin have been shown to enhance curcumin absorption, but only to a limited degree. New curcumin formulations have appeared on the supplement market that claim a very substantially enhanced absorption/bioavailibility. I have not yet found proof of these claims in the peer reviiewed literature, which however does not necessarily mean that this claims have no merit.
Curcumin is a substance that is worth discussing with your treating hepatologist. Not during tx, since it has a clear antiinflammatory effectiveness/mechanism that is likely to counteract some of the immunestimulating effects of IFN. Below are two examples of recent abstracts re its antifibrotic potential.
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317787 tn?1473358451
This is helpful  information, HR  a member and MD here for many years
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315996 tn?1429054229
don't know why I was emailed this by Medhelp
Might as well bump it.
It refreshed my mind on what I needed to buy for sure.
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315996 tn?1429054229

Here is the LEF article on the bio-availability of the BCM-95 that HR talks about.

http://tinyurl.com/3ya8qj

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315996 tn?1429054229

Ok, so I got a litlle compulsive (what's new?) and ordered from www.betterlife.com after googling for awile using the "BCM-95" info and LEF's description of the "right stuff". Below are the prices I got ($5 shipping for everything, $75 gets free shipping):

Clinical Resveratrol 150mg - 30 caps  (Olympic Labs)
Quantity : 1 Unit Price : $9.77 Ext. Price : $9.77

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vitamin D3 5,000 IU - 60 Caps  (Life Extension Foundation)
Quantity : 1 Unit Price : $6.99 Ext. Price : $6.99

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Super Bio-Curcumin 400 mg - 60 Vcaps (Life Extentsion Foundation)
Quantity : 1 Unit Price : $22.99 Ext. Price : $22.99

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Plan to take a D blood test before I take any of the vitamin D.
The reservatrol was just dangling there so I ordered it. The LEF Super Bio-Curcumin comes out to 41 cents a day ($12.32 a month). I can live with that.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The formulation of curcumin with a far superior, human tested bioavailibility was apparantly invented and originally tested in India and is overall sold as bulk material to specific "vitamin companies"  around the world under the name of BCM-95.  This material is then encapsulated  sold unter local "brand names" and I am aware of two in the US, namely  "curcu-gel" and "superbiocurcumin" . There might be others, and if anyone can find the least expensive, that still contains the tested formulation, they should post it here, so that nobody wastes any money. Consideering the fact that bioavailibility is one major problem with curcumin use, it might be unwise to use an inferior product for an important purpose. This is not to say that larger doses of the earlier formulation might not be able to compensate by mass for the lack of absorption, but it seems that those doses would have to be quite substantial. Goofy has also found and posted/shown the Indian human absorption study and it might be useful to look at the details. It is fortunate that by adequante methods ( HPLC) the actual pharmakokinetics of this compound was shown, since these data are often lacking for potentially powerful plant derived substances, whose absorption and metabolism in humans is simply not known and often quite limited.
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315996 tn?1429054229

I was merely asking who has bought circumen what where.

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315996 tn?1429054229

I was merely asking who has bought what where.

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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There was an extensive Vitamin D3 thread on the other side about two weeks ago, with all the many details on how to act. By Grandma.
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315996 tn?1429054229

So, has anyone any solid source of curcumin? Besides the LEF one which I know about already. Interested in company and price and assumption is that it is the "right stuff". I've found all sorts of variations and products and just don't want to make a mistake.

please



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233616 tn?1312787196
well, that's why I'm asking HR...it's hard to know sometimes what's what...there are a thousand herbs out there and many have not been scrutinized enough.
BTW I also had low vitamin D, but my GP gave me mega pills, and now my liver has twice what it should (it is stored there) and this is very bad for the liver, worse than not enough....so if you they tell you to mega dose (50,000 IU) be sure and test after one or 2 pills or it could backfire. Ten minutes in the sun is enough to make what you need....but I couldn't go into the sun due to my skin so I went along with the plan...it's best to understand this is the one of 2 vitamins that are cumulative in the liver and therefore must be viewed as a drug therapy not just a "friendly" little vitamin. A & D are important essential vitamins but they are not flushed out if you eat too much as are the water soluble vitamins...so be careful.   mary
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131817 tn?1209529311
Wow,  my Rhemy told me to take Senecot!  Didn't know it was bad for the liver!  Thanks for the heads up.  

I am not on tx, but my Vit D tests showed I am really low. those of you that are couch potatoes need to watch this.  I just upped my Vit D to 800mg a day.  He told me to sleep outside. Yeah, right in this cold???   lol

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233616 tn?1312787196
Just want to tell you thank you for taking the time to keep us abreast of new deelopments that DO have research!

I think it is so great that ANY research is going forward, as you said, with no end profit in mind. God bless all these devoted people!
I'm a firm believer that there are powerful healers in the natural creation, but you are so right that the "sellers" are neither knowledgable nor concerned as to the ramifications they create.

Anecdotally I had extreme ecezma for weeks in my 20's, and they wanted to put me on high steroid dosages...but.to protect my liver, I choose to try poltaces of Golden Seal, or Solomon's Seal first...and with 2 days my grapefruit size raw oozing patches were dry and healed...with 5 days my skin was new, and smooth as a baby's bottom.

Some of these herbs have tremendous benefit, the important thing
is the part YOU are emphasizing here HR:

it is now to know the science, and have some real understandings of the compounds and/or purifications so as to also do no harm. (there's also a story about a guy I know who ate every mushroom in the forest...and you can guess the ending there....no more liver)

BTW, I just read this week that cascara is bad for the liver. Which a lot of folks take under different brands of Senecot or "natural laxative".

Do you know of a good general source list of herbs known by the research community to have some liver contraindication?????????

As one of the above responses indicates, It is rather hard for the ordinary consumer to ferret out which herbal info. regarding safety is anecdotal or erroneous vs.medically confirmed.

thanks, MaryB

BTW what dose Vit C do you consider sufficient, and do you recommend taking it alone due to iron absorption issues? thanks!!


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Avatar universal
That is a great question, I have been taking a combo of 1 motrin and 1 tylenol p.m.  after injection. Find the motrin helps, my aching and nerve damage. I also have an un based theory that tylenol  makes ribo rash worse and even pre injections I would break out when I took it,infact it was these breakouts and a dermatologist test that told me I was HCV. .  I know this conversation was more natural based than chemical, so not sure if I should of started a new link.
thanks
Deb
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Avatar universal
yeah I don't understand it either and I'm really confused as to what I want to take while on tx. I hate to think about not having vitamin e for a year and other important vitamins like that. I also just read that vitamin D acts as an anti- inflamatory, yet none of my doctors told me not to take it. Also just read b12 can act as anti inflamatory so I guess none of that on my next go round.

I guess I'll give up alot of vitamins for a year to play it safe so I don't block the effect of the meds or hinder tx somehow. I did cut way back on vitamins during my last tx, but that was on my own. My doctor and NP had my "mega list" but didn't say that I need to stop, but as I mentioned, I cut back. Will you be taking calcium/magnesium on tx? I'd also like to continue the probiotics/prebiotics but because I relapsed I'm almost afraid to take anything on tx except the toxic cure.
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144210 tn?1273088782
I am still trying to figure out why some believe taking an anti-inflammatory (i.e. curcumin) while on tox could hinder treatment.  Do the infected cells need to be inflamed for interferon to detect and attack?  Does the inflammation help "mark" RNA infected cells? I have researched this and either it is over my head, or I am looking in the wrong places.  
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Avatar universal
Thanks to both of you for helping me refine my supplement list. I can see how a person can really waste money on some of these if you don't know all this info.  I know there is an element of risk anyway, but in our situation we have deemed it worth a try. I'm very appreciative of the help.
Have a lovely weekend,
Ev
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The human tested very high absorption preparation is sold by at least two companies here in the US, under the name super bio-curcumin at 400mg  and curcu-gel at 250mg. You might want to find both and then compare the per mg price to find the better deal. 2 or 3 of these a day are a serious dose. Be careful with these names, goofydad was not fully correct . They both use/contain  the BCM-95 preparation that was tested in India and independently  in the US in human volunteers measuring plasma concentrations at various time points - pharmakokinetics - and compared with the two older, less absorbable  preparations, with about equal results between the Indian and the US tests..
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92903 tn?1309904711
I think that's the stuff. I think you can also find it under bio-curcumin or something. Find the curcu-gel and you'll see a manufacturer and distributor trade name. Then look for the best prices using each of those.
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Avatar universal
Yep, thanks.  I have looked at that but just wanted to check because we don't have any money to waste.  My husband Joe has been using quite a few of these supplements for a while now.  He has cirrhosis ,low platelets, and a small non-bleeding varices, but has been looking and feeling quite well.  He seems less fatigued and has a little color in his face.  His mood has been better also.  :>)
Thanks again.
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92903 tn?1309904711
I suggest you have a look at Curcu-Gel.
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Avatar universal
Can I get a translation for dummies that tells me which curcumin I should buy.  I've got the biopiperine added type right now but I understand that isn't the best.  I may just be tired but after reading this thread, I still don't know what to get. I hope I'm not being too dense.
Thank you if you can help.
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92903 tn?1309904711
I try not to talk much about my "selfformulation". After all - this is a family site ;)
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I would prefer the results of the human trials of resorption and the respective formulation.

I know what you mean by compound A and B and the polyunsaturated aspect. It is the obvious thought, but considering the dramatic importance of getting reliable absorption of curcumin, I would rather trust the human  tested formulation over a smart ( and possibly quite effective "selfformulation").
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92903 tn?1309904711
HR: If one were to swallow one pill of Compound A, with another pill of Compound B, would one have created a formulation? And if Compound A were polyunsaturated, would you expect that to negatively affect that formulation?

Willing - no remodeling going on currently - plenty of partially completed projects though. I bore easily, I'm afraid  :(  

Nice to see you - and yes I think there's a smidge of room in the cabinet for curcumin, especially since I'm always out of one or two at any given time

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