Wacker Chemie AG
Hanns-Seidel-Platz 4
81737 München, Germany
www.wacker.com
PRESS RELEASE
Number 10
New Study Demonstrates that CAVACURMIN®,
a Gammadextrin Complex from WACKER,
Increases Curcumin’s Bioavailability by a
Factor of 40
Munich, February 23, 2017 – A clinical study that was recently
published in the European Journal of Nutrition shows that the
bioavailability of curcumin can be increased significantly with the
help of gammadextrin – by a factor of 40 compared to conventional
curcumin extract. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that exhibits
anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties, but
is not readily absorbed in the human bloodstream. CAVACURMIN®,
a powder-form gammadextrin-curcumin formulation, can be easily
processed in food supplements, such as tablets, capsules and
energy bars or functional beverages.
Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is a powerful antioxidant
that has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and
hypoallergenic properties. However, because it is not water-soluble, it is
not readily absorbed in the human bloodstream. With the aid of
gammadextrin, curcumin’s bioavailability can be increased significantly –
an effect that has now been scientifically proven once more.
An independent double-blind crossover clinical study performed in the
USA compared the relative absorption of CAVACURMIN®
(gammadextrin-curcumin formulation) with pure curcumin extract (95%)
and two commercially available curcumin preparations designed to
increase bioavailability. After oral ingestion of the substance, the blood
of the study participants was analyzed at regular intervals over the
February 23, 2017
Press Release No. 10
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course of 12 hours. It was shown that CAVACURMIN® was absorbed
approximately 40 times more efficiently than the standard extract, and at
least 4.6 times better than the next best comparable commercial
product.
The cyclic oligosaccharide gammadextrin increases the bioavailability of
curcumin due to its unique properties. Gammadextrin is hydrophilic on
the outside with a hydrophobic cavity on the inside, which allows it to
accommodate other hydrophobic substances. In this way, cyclodextrins
can bind ingredients, release active agents or stabilize sensitive
substances and interfaces.
To increase bioavailability, the water-soluble gammadextrin can
encapsulate fat-soluble curcumin, for example. Hydrophobic curcumin
thus gets a hydrophilic shell and therefore forms a molecular dispersion
in water that leads to a much better absorption by the human body.
As a free-flowing, dispersible powder, CAVACURMIN® is suitable not
only for dry or powdered food supplements, such as tablets, capsules
and energy bars, but also for functional beverages. The alternative that
cyclodextrins offer for many food-supplement formulations is not only
cholesterol-free and non-allergenic, but also plant-based. Produced
enzymatically from starch, cyclodextrins are manufactured by WACKER
entirely from renewable raw materials.
“We are very pleased with the positive results of the clinical study on the
enhanced bioavailability of curcumin by gammadextrin,” said Helmut
Reuscher, sales and technology director for Nutrition at WACKER
BIOSOLUTIONS. “According to our customers, high bioavailability is
getting more and more important in food supplements. We are very
proud that our innovative cyclodextrin platform is finding more
February 23, 2017
Press Release No. 10
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widespread use and allows our customers to make a contribution to the
development of enhanced food supplements.”
You can find the published study “Analysis of different innovative
formulations of curcumin for improved relative oral bioavailability in
human subjects” at http://rdcu.be/piG3
WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS
Using advanced biotech processes, WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS
provides tailored, innovative solutions and products to the life-science
sector – including pharmaceutical proteins, cyclodextrins and
fermentation-generated cysteine. Its portfolio is also complemented by
catalog chemicals, such as acetylacetone and high-quality polyvinyl
acetate solid resins. The division focuses on developing customized
solutions for growth sectors, such as food ingredients, pharmaceutical
actives and agrochemicals.
February 23, 2017
Press Release No. 10
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Schematic model of a gammadextrin with eight glucose units. The molecule is
hydrophilic on the outside with a lipophilic interior, which allows it to
accommodate other hydrophobic substances. Such an inclusion compound can
improve the bioavailability of poorly soluble active ingredients (image: Wacker
Chemie AG).
Inclusion in gammadextrin makes a hard-to-dissolve substance such as
curcumin up to 40 times more absorbable by the human body, as shown in a
recent clinical study. As a free-flowing powder, CAVACURMIN® is ideal for use
in tablets, capsules, energy bars and beverages (photo: Wacker Chemie AG).
February 23, 2017
Press Release No. 10
Page 5 of 5
Note:
These photos are available for download at:
http://www.wacker.com/pressreleases
For further information, please contact:
Wacker Chemie AG
Media Relations & Information
Nadine Baumgartl
Tel. +49 89 6279 -1604
[email protected]
www.wacker.com
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The company in brief:
WACKER is a globally-active chemical company with some 17,000 employees
and annual sales of around €5.3 billion (2015).
WACKER has a global network of 25 production sites, 22 technical competence
centers and 50 sales offices.
WACKER SILICONES
Silicone fluids, emulsions, rubber and resins; silanes; pyrogenic silicas;
thermoplastic silicone elastomers
WACKER POLYMERS
Polyvinyl acetates and vinyl acetate copolymers in the form of dispersible polymer
powders, dispersions, solid resins and solutions
WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS
Biotech products such as cyclodextrins, cysteine and biologics, as well as fine
chemicals and PVAc solid resins
WACKER POLYSILICON
Polysilicon for the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries
Siltronic
Hyperpure silicon wafers and monocrystals for semiconductor components