[Aurat51]

Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by Aurat51 on Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:32 am

Hi,

I was a kidney transplant recipient in 2006 & have recently been diagnosed with "myelomatosis", which I presume is the same as "myeloma"? However, the hospital doesn't want to start any treatment, but want to just monitor my situation. I therefore have started taking 1 tsp turmeric with a little pepper mixed in 1 tsp of rapeseed oil,which I had a.t.t, in a steaming hot glass of water! After taking this for only 5 days, I already feel more alert & regained some of my energy back!

So far I haven't had any complications with my kidney, but the blood tests are showing higher than normal "total protein" levels.

I would now like to go a step further & take "curcumin" instead, as this is more potent & effective than just the common culinary turmeric powder. Unfortunately, "curcumin" tablets are forbidingly expensive & not available in larger > 1000mg tablets or capsules where I live. However, I found a UK manufacturer selling 10,000mg (10g) turmeric extract tablets & claim 95% curcumin in each tablet! 5

The active ingredients are given as follows;
Calcium Carbonate, DiCalcium Phosphate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Tablet Coating (Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Glycerin, Colours: Iron Oxides & Titanium Dioxide), Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Crosslinked Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose, Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate.

My greatest worry is that some of these ingredients may be harmful to my kidney or exacerbate
my myeloma further!

So, I'd be very grateful if anyone in a similar situation & has used or using this could kindly give me any information or advice as to any of these aforementioned additives would have any harmful side effects on either my myeloma or on my transplanted kidney?

Thanks

[Multibilly]

Re: Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by Multibilly on Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:01 pm

If you are going to do the curcumin route, you should really be looking at something that helps increase the bioavailability of the curcumin such as bioperine or a unique formulation. Otherwise, you are just going to ingest a lot of curcumin that simply won't get into your bloodstream.

There are a lot of unsubstantiated hype from the supplement manufacturers regarding bioavailability claims from the curcumin manufacturers. You can find popular formulations such as Doctor's Best C3 on Amazon and Ebay.

You can also find formulations don't that don't have all the crap found in the formulation you listed here.

Good luck

[dnalex]

Re: Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by dnalex on Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:14 pm

That seems like a huge pill to contain at least 10 grams.

If you want to do 4grams of curcumins, that's 4 tablets. :O

[Aurat51]

Re: Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by Aurat51 on Thu Feb 27, 2014 8:38 pm

Thank you dnalex,

Why would/should I take 4 x 10g (10,000mg) =40g tablets!?

I'd just take 1 = 10g, which is just 2g over the recommended dose of 8g/day! These are NOT 1g, but 10g tablets!

[dnalex]

Re: Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by dnalex on Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:16 pm

I misread. I thought you meant 10 grams turmeric, and didn't see the 95% pure.

[barbara1200]

Re: Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by barbara1200 on Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:21 pm

Aurat,

I am a kidney patient with moderate kidney disease (111) & also have multiple myeloma. (My kidney disease is not caused by multiple myeloma though) Have had it for many years before the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. I have to run all supplements & meds thru my kidney Doc before taking them. Most supplements he will not ok because they are not regulated & many times they have stuff in them that is not listed on the bottle.

You have to be very careful with the lab you get them from & what they contain. I am taking a supplement now that my doctor ok'd but only on the condition that I get it from one lab that he is familiar with. He had to examine all ingredients on the bottle & do some research on the holistic doctor who was recommending it before he would ok it & then did so reluctantly.

[Aurat51]

Re: Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by Aurat51 on Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:59 pm

Thank you both Multibilly & Barbara1200 for your invaluable advice! Yes, you're absolutely right about unsubstantiated claims & all the additives found in these alternative supplements! Multibilly,You make a very good point. Thank you Barbara1200, for the timely advice. I will definitely consult with my nephrologist & oncologist & get their approval before taking this. In the meantime I'll just continue with just the Turmeric powder routine.

I'd love to use Dr's Curcumin, but it's not available where I live-Norway! In addition, there is a very high import duty levied due to it's high original export price, making it around £100 for a 60 tablet bottle!

I do add a little black pepper to the turmeric which may or may not is helping? & mix it in 1 tbsp of oil & add a few sliced ginger & a dash of lime juice to the brew!

[Aurat51]

Re: Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by Aurat51 on Sat Mar 01, 2014 5:28 am

Barbara1200,
My creatinin level was 385 when my kidney disease was first discovered, yet I managed to prolong it for almost 6 yrs without dialysis until it reached 1000! I kept to a very strict dietary regime & never touched alcohol. I was also relatively young-48- at that time. I also discovered, to my great surprise, that I was either born with 1 none functioning kidney or it had shrunk to 8cm & lost it's function during the ensuing years!

[Aurat51]

Re: Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by Aurat51 on Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:10 am

I googled " how to dissolve turmeric" & to my sheer delight bromelain came up consistently! This enzyme which is found mostly in the stems of pineapple & in the fruit itself is supposed to dissolve turmeric! Further, it is claimed that it is also very effective against certain cancer tumours!

The greatest news is that this in combination with turmeric& black pepper could be a very potent medicine against myeloma! I will do more reading & report back.

I hope others too could throw more light on this!

[Multibilly]

Re: Turmeric extract or curcumin?

by Multibilly on Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:31 pm

So, you need to be a bit careful here in just what you are taking. Tumeric does not equal curcumin. The curcuminoids in tumeric are the beneficial component that is used to treat and prevent disease. There is no way you could ever ingest enough straight tumeric (the spice) to get anything approaching the amt of curcumin you need in order to have an impact on your cancer. So, be sure you are looking at the "> 95% curcuminoid level" in the supplement you are taking, not the amt of tumeric. The curcumin supplements you need are chemically reduced agents derived from tumeric.

Also, as with all supplements, do your research before taking them. Bromelain is not without its risks.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplement-guide-bromelain-bromelin