{"id":6261,"date":"2018-02-02T13:56:12","date_gmt":"2018-02-02T19:56:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nouvelleresearch.j96fp4es-liquidwebsites.com\/?p=6261"},"modified":"2021-07-25T12:36:01","modified_gmt":"2021-07-25T17:36:01","slug":"understanding-curcumin-and-impact-for-your-horse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nouvelleresearch.com\/index.php\/articles\/6261-understanding-curcumin-and-impact-for-your-horse","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Curcumin and Impact for Your Horse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Turmeric and curcumin are two popular terms when it comes to herbs and health in the horse, which are really almost one in the same.\u00a0 We may know about the health benefits noted in research, focusing on inflammation reduction, and have heard on the news or in social media outlets, but do we truly understand what all of that means?\u00a0 Should we use these herbs and if so, in what form or even combinations?\u00a0 Is there a difference between the different types and how can using them benefit my horse?<\/p>\n

\"Turmeric
Turmeric or Curcumin root powder for horse inflammation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Inflammation is a concept that we have talked about in online articles, social media outlets and in phone calls or emails for many years.\u00a0 It has been a sole focus of our research, and as a veterinarian, it is a primary area of focus to promote health, soundness and recovery in my patients.\u00a0 When it comes to most of the problems and issues we are contending with in horses, we are dealing with inflammation and the byproducts of that process.\u00a0 Whether if we are managing joint lameness, tendon injuries, metabolic disease, allergies, or even uveitis, inflammation is at the root.<\/p>\n

Considering the impact of inflammation<\/a>, it then becomes the ideal target of therapy!<\/p>\n

What’s In Turmeric?<\/h3>\n

Turmeric is the mother root, derived from Curcuma longa, and contains upwards of 235 active compounds.\u00a0 As a whole, turmeric has been shown to demonstrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, healing and even mental health benefits.\u00a0 Many of the 295 active compounds present in turmeric have shown benefit towards these parameters, but we tend to focus often on one group, generally referred to as ‘curcumin’. Turmeric contains about 2-5% curcumin based on weight, with the other 95-98% being ‘other’ active ingredients, including volatile oils.<\/p>\n

Most supplements on the market utilize curcumin extracts, generally 95%, which are really comprised of a blend of curcuminoids, including: curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin.<\/p>\n

Is Absorption of Curcumin a Concern?<\/h3>\n

Research and many articles raise the concern over absorption of curcumin, indicating that low blood levels are achieved and, therefore, it is likely of no clinical value.\u00a0 This is not really the truth, if we dig deeper.\u00a0 Turmeric and curcumin are both fat soluble, very similar to some vitamins, so fat needs to be present in order to enhance absorption.\u00a0 If we look at turmeric, as the whole root, it naturally contains upwards of 1.5% volatile or essential oils, which are likely present naturally to enhance absorption and other benefits.<\/p>\n

In other studies, they see the answer as being the addition or combination of curcumin with piperine or black pepper, which alters liver metabolism and can therefore alter absorption of herbs and even some medications.\u00a0 Although this is true, if we compare blood levels between piperine-curcumin and plain curcumin groups, blood levels are not significantly enhanced.\u00a0 If they are elevated, it is not huge and those levels only hang around for a short period of time.\u00a0 So, we have to ask if that is truly the answer?<\/p>\n

In our clinical studies, using a 95% curcumin extract combined with other herbs, we note significant improvement clinical in equine patients, reduction of inflammatory proteins in arthritic joints, but yet, have low blood levels.\u00a0 Here is a link to our original study<\/a> on curcumin.\u00a0Based on prior researcher’s point of view, this cannot be possible as low blood levels equates to lack of efficacy.\u00a0 Well…not true.\u00a0 Something else is happening.<\/strong><\/p>\n

My personal opinion is that curcumin or turmeric is acting via a ‘gut’ level, impacting inflammation within the GI tract, which then impacts cellular signaling and the entire body.\u00a0 Based on research, we see that curcumin tends to have the highest levels in the liver, GI tract and kidneys…so this makes sense. I also question what value comes with synergism with other herbs, not so much on improving bioavailability, but on overall ‘bang for the buck’ type of impact.\u00a0 Does curcumin combined with boswellia, as an example, provide more results than just curcumin alone?\u00a0 My experience tells me the answer to that question is ‘yes’ and as we look back on centuries of use, most herbs are not used as stand alone therapies.\u00a0 More so, they are combined with many others, often in complex formulations.<\/p>\n

In the end, I do not believe that absorption is a concern as clinical results go against this thought process.\u00a0 I do however, believe that the type of curcumin utilized, along with dose, can either make or break you regarding overall efficacy and results.<\/p>\n

What form of curcumin is ideal?<\/h3>\n

That is a good question and I’m not sure that anyone has the definite answer.\u00a0 I do believe that with more time, we gain more insight, not just from research but from clinical experience.<\/p>\n

Turmeric is the ‘mother’ root and as mentioned, contains over 235 active compounds, with many demonstrating antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer type of properties.\u00a0 We tend to just focus on the curcuminoids, but research is telling us there is more to the story.\u00a0 The ‘curcumin free turmeric’ portion may actually be a very beneficial component.\u00a0 As the saying goes, the parts may not be as good as the whole…or something along those lines.<\/p>\n

I really like the 95% curcumin extract and have used this for years in our patients, as a part of a ‘greater’ blend, combined with other herbs.\u00a0 As mentioned, turmeric and curcumin are fat soluble, so intake of fat is optimal to improve absorption.\u00a0 In reality, if we take the herbs with food or a meal, likely we will impact absorption, especially when consumed with grains, flax or other ‘fat’ supplements.\u00a0 Knowing this, when using the 95% extract alone, we will combine it with a few other similar herbs to boost benefit, but also to improve fat in the supplement regimen.\u00a0 One herb is flax seed powder, which not only helps with absorption, but by itself has some medicinal value.<\/p>\n

In our Cur-OST formulas, we utilize a 95% curcumin extract, but add back in the volatile oils<\/b>.\u00a0 These oils not only help to enhance absorption, but clinical research demonstrates that they contain some potent medicinal value by themselves.\u00a0 So, by using this blend, which are getting the benefits of synergism, combining a few aspects of the mother root.<\/p>\n

Turmeric, by itself, is interesting and as noted above, has numerous active compounds.\u00a0 In some of our equine formulas, we actually will combine turmeric with the curcuminoid blend and volatile oils, to further add synergism.\u00a0 I find this often provides the highest level of benefit for the patient.\u00a0 The main problem with using turmeric by itself is dosing and volume.\u00a0 If we wanted to dose 10 grams of curcumin, we could easily do this through using a curcumin extract.\u00a0 If we wanted to get this dose via turmeric, then the dose would be around 200 grams, which is too high in volume.\u00a0 So, synergy is likely the best option we have to obtain benefits.<\/p>\n

Based on more recent research, Turmeric may actually hold more answers than through using of isolated concentrated extracts, such as Curcumin.\u00a0 In our most recent research, we have been focusing on a powdered Turmeric Oleoresin extract, which contains not only the benefits of whole-Turmeric, but also is composed of a higher level of Curcumin than normal Turmeric products and has upwards of 23% natural volatile oils.\u00a0 This Turmeric Oleoresin<\/a><\/strong><\/span> extract, when combined with Curcumin, has actually yielded a higher level of improvement clinically in many of our equine patients and stands to be a more economical option, even at higher dosing schedules.<\/p>\n

How can turmeric or curcumin help my horse with inflammation?<\/h3>\n

The list here is long and essentially, we are using this herb in the horse for its ability to provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection.\u00a0 Almost every health condition in the horse, from joints to allergies, is involving inflammation to some extent.\u00a0 Horses develop joint disease due to uncontrolled inflammation, which often leads to ongoing medical intervention and high costs for veterinary care, even sometimes resulting in careers ending.\u00a0 So, inflammation is our target not to just manage conditions but also to intervene on a preventative level.<\/p>\n

Turmeric or curcumin is one of the most heavily researched herbs, when it comes to inflammation and oxidative stress.\u00a0 When we look at research, the sky is the limit as to the potential when it comes to health and soundness.\u00a0 Honestly, sometimes I wonder “what can’t we impact?”<\/strong><\/p>\n

The impact is real, but many are misled as to how to use the herb to achieve those results in the horse.<\/p>\n