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Curcumin |
Curcumin active in
pancreatic cancer patients
By Shane Starling
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Curcumin-active-in-pancreatic-cancer-patients
22-Aug-2008 - An eight-week clinical
trial has found consumption of curcumin
can benefit advanced pancreatic cancer
sufferers.
Twenty five participants were
administered supplements incorporating a
patented curcumin ingredient
manufactured by New Jersey-based herbals
specialist,
Sabinsa, which was found to advantage
pancreatic cancer sufferers despite the
supplements demonstrating “poor oral
bioavailability”.
The study, published in the American
Association for Cancer Research's
Clinical Cancer Research, was conducted
by researchers at the University of
Texas – MD Anderson Cancer Center.
They found, despite the limited
absorption potential, the ingredient,
Curcumin C3 Complex, had anti-cancer
potential albeit in a small number of
participants.
“A key question related to treatment
with curcumin is its poor
bioavailability after being taken
orally. Our results also indicated that
only low levels of
curcumin are detectable in plasma
(steady-state level at day 3 is f22-41
ng/mL),” the researchers wrote.
“Nevertheless, some of the patients had
biological activity of curcumin as
evidenced by the anti-tumor effects in
two patients and by effects on cytokine
levels and on NF-nB, COX-2, and pSTAT.”
The researchers posited that the reason
curcumin could have an effect in the
body despite its bioavailability
“issues” may be due to the fact it
largely
consists in conjugated forms such as
glucoronide in human (and rodent) plasma
and is therefore cloaked in the blood
supply.
Because of this factor, the researchers
noted, “further investigations are
needed to elucidate the relationship
between the form of curcumin, its
relative pharmacologic activity, and
circulating versus tumor tissue levels.”
They concluded: “Our current study shows
that oral curcumin is tolerated without
toxicity at doses of 8 g/d for up to 18
months. Although this molecule is poorly
absorbed, with low nanogram levels of
circulating curcumin detected at
steady-state, biological activity is
evident. Preclinical data suggest that
curcumin has potent activity against
pancreatic cancer, but higher levels of
exposure need to
be achieved.”
Curcumin is a natural pigment that gives
the spice turmeric its yellow colour.
Recent studies have investigated its
potential to lower cholesterol levels,
improve cardiovascular health, reduce
the risk of Alzheimer's and diabetes as
well as cancer-fighting properties.
Sabinsa's Curcumin C3 Complex is an
extract of turmeric roots standardized
for 95 percent of phenolic compounds
called curcuminoids.
One of the researchers, Vladimir Badmaev,
is the vice president of scientific and
medical affairs at Sabinsa.
Source:
Clinical Cancer Research
2008:14(14), July 15, 2008
“Phase II Trial of Curcumin in Patients
with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer”
Authors: Navneet Dhillon, Bharat B
Aggarwal, Robert A Newman, Robert
A.Wolff, Ajaikumar B Kunnumakkara, James
L Abbruzzese, Chaan S Ng, Vladimir
Badmaev,
Razelle Kurzrock |
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