Deal cements supply relationship for more bioavailable curcumin, quercitin out of Japan

14-Aug-2014 - Last updated on 15-Aug-2014 at 14:31 GMT

Thera Innovations, a Canadian importer of dietary supplement ingreidients, has anounced a new supply deal for more bioavailable forms of curcumin and quercitin. The ingredients, branded as Theracumin and EMIQ, and are souced from Theravalues Corporation, a Japanese supplier.

“Our partnership is founded on our shared values of evidenced-based research, innovation and excellence in customer service," said John Tak, vice-president for marketing and business development for Thera Innovations Inc.

According to Thera Innovations, Theracumin utilizes a patented, natural colloidal dispersion technology to enhance bioavailability and dramatically increases curcumin levels in the blood. EMIQ (enzymatically modified isoquercitrin) is a highly bioavailable form of quercetin – a flavonoid that exerts anti-allergy effects. It has also been clinically shown to stimulate the reduction of visceral fat.

Evidence for the anti-inflammatory efficacy of curcuminoids, dervied from turmeric root, has piled up. But it runs up against the wall of curcumin’s very poor bioavailability in its native form. Theravalues’ colloidal approach is one of a number in the marketplace to boost bioavailability.

Michael Murry, ND, is director of product science and innovation for Canadian supplement manufacturer Natural Factors, one of the largest manufacturers in North America. Natual Factors is one of the companies using Theracumin in its products. Murray, an author and industry expert who has a long history of product introductions in the North American market, said the techonolgy around Theramcumin is what caught his eye.

Colloidal process

“I have really been interested in bringing many of the clincially proven natural products to North America,” Murray told NutraIngredients-USA. “When I come across ground breaking technology like Theracumin I get excited. They use a new technolgoy where they solubalize curcumin in a vegetable gum and use a grinding process in which it becomes a colloidal suspension.”

Murray said the net result is bioavailability that is many times that of native, unprocessed curcumin powder. That makes a critical difference in the ingredient’s effectiveness, he said.

“We are seeing a lot of researchers jump on board to do their clinical research with Theracurmin. There are over a dozen double-blind, placebo-controlled trials underway using Theracumin. If we look at the failure of curcumin in various clinical trials it can be traced to using forms of curcumin that don’t allow enough cucurmin to absorbed to see and particular effect,” Murray said.