The oral bioavailability of curcuminoids in healthy humans is markedly enhanced by micellar solubilisation but not further improved by simultaneous ingestion of sesamin, ferulic acid, naringenin and xanthohumol

Curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bis-demethoxycurcumin) are poorly absorbed and rapidly metabolised and excreted. We investigated in healthy young and aged women and men if co-administration of adjuvants (sesamin, ferulic acid, naringenin, and xanthohumol) alone or in combination with micellar solubilisation improves the bioavailability of curcuminoids. A single oral dose of 98 mg curcuminoids was administered as native curcuminoids (NC), native curcuminoids plus phytochemicals (NCP), curcuminoid micelles (MC) or curcuminoid plus phytochemical micelles (MCP). Total curcuminoids were quantified in blood samples collected over 24 h. Based on the area under the curve, NCP, MC, and MCP increased the bioavailability of the major curcuminoid curcumin 8-, 88-, and 73-fold, respectively, compared to NC. No sex or age differences were observed. Thus, simultaneous ingestion of phytochemicals does modestly increase curcuminoid bioavailability, but does not enhance the large increase in bioavailability observed with micellar curcuminoids.