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ConsumerLab.com Reveals Best and Worst Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements & Spices -- 31% Fail ConsumerLab.com Tests of Quality
White Plains, New York, April 4, 2017 — Turmeric and its key compound, curcumin, may be help reduce symptoms of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and may be helpful in treating depression, diabetes, and indigestion. However, supplements on the market vary widely in the amounts of key curcumin compounds (called curcuminoids) they contain, and some formulations may be better absorbed than others. So, which turmeric/curcumin products are best? To find out, ConsumerLab.com tested and compared the ingredients in popular turmeric and curcumin supplements and spices sold in the U.S. and Canada. According to a recent survey of 9,000 vitamin and supplement users by ConsumerLab, turmeric and curcumin supplements are now the 8th most popular supplement in the U.S, ahead of vitamin C as well as calcium supplements.
The tests revealed that two out of 11 popular supplements contained only about 50% of the curcumin compounds which ConsumerLab.com expected based on their labels. Even among supplements which passed ConsumerLab.com's tests, there was a wide range in the amount of curcuminoids provided (from 30 mg to 950 mg per daily serving), as well as in cost (from 20 cents to $8.87 for an equivalent amount of curcuminoids). Two-thirds of the supplements included a bioavailability enhancer — which may significantly increase the amount of curcumin which can be absorbed and used by the body.
ConsumerLab.com also selected and purchased five popular turmeric spices, testing them for heavy metal contamination and filth. Three turmeric spices exceeded limits applied by ConsumerLab.com for filth due to elevated numbers of insect fragments found in samples.
Among supplements and spices which passed ConsumerLab.com's tests, those which provided the highest quality and value were selected as Top Picks.
The results are available online now in ConsumerLab.com's Turmeric/Curcumin Supplements & Spices Review (https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/turmeric-curcumin-supplements-spice-review/turmeric/). The report also summarizes the clinical evidence for turmeric/curcumin, explains the differences among bioavailability enhancers such as Bioperine and bioavailability-enhanced formulas such as CurcuWin, Meriva, and BCM-95, and discusses dosage, how to best take turmeric/curcumin, side-effects, and potential drug interactions.
Test results and quality comparisons are included for the following products 22 products, including 11 supplements selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com, 6 turmeric/curcumin supplements which passed the same testing through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program and five turmeric spices selected by ConsumerLab.com: 365 (Whole Foods) Turmeric Ground, Doctor's Best High Absorption Curcumin, Finest Nutrition Turmeric, Gaia Herbs Turmeric Supreme Extra Strength, Healthy Directions Turmeric Curcumin Complete, Life Extension Super Bio-Curcumin, McCormick Ground Turmeric, Natural Factors CurcuminRich Theracurmin, Nature's Bounty Turmeric, Nature's Sunshine CurcuminBP, New Chapter Turmeric Force, NOW Curcumin, NutriGold Turmeric Curcumin Gold, Pure Encapsulations Curcumin 500 With Bioperine, Puritan's Pride Turmeric Curcumin, Relentless Improvement Curcumin, Simply Organic Turmeric, Solgar Turmeric, Swanson Ultra Turmeric Phytosome, Terry Naturally CuraMed, The Spice Hunter India Turmeric (Ground), Trader Joe's Turmeric, Vitamin Research Products Longvida and Vitamin World Turmeric Curcumin.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to reviews of more than 1,000 products from over 400 brands. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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The tests revealed that two out of 11 popular supplements contained only about 50% of the curcumin compounds which ConsumerLab.com expected based on their labels. Even among supplements which passed ConsumerLab.com's tests, there was a wide range in the amount of curcuminoids provided (from 30 mg to 950 mg per daily serving), as well as in cost (from 20 cents to $8.87 for an equivalent amount of curcuminoids). Two-thirds of the supplements included a bioavailability enhancer — which may significantly increase the amount of curcumin which can be absorbed and used by the body.
ConsumerLab.com also selected and purchased five popular turmeric spices, testing them for heavy metal contamination and filth. Three turmeric spices exceeded limits applied by ConsumerLab.com for filth due to elevated numbers of insect fragments found in samples.
Among supplements and spices which passed ConsumerLab.com's tests, those which provided the highest quality and value were selected as Top Picks.
The results are available online now in ConsumerLab.com's Turmeric/Curcumin Supplements & Spices Review (https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/turmeric-curcumin-supplements-spice-review/turmeric/). The report also summarizes the clinical evidence for turmeric/curcumin, explains the differences among bioavailability enhancers such as Bioperine and bioavailability-enhanced formulas such as CurcuWin, Meriva, and BCM-95, and discusses dosage, how to best take turmeric/curcumin, side-effects, and potential drug interactions.
Test results and quality comparisons are included for the following products 22 products, including 11 supplements selected for testing by ConsumerLab.com, 6 turmeric/curcumin supplements which passed the same testing through CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program and five turmeric spices selected by ConsumerLab.com: 365 (Whole Foods) Turmeric Ground, Doctor's Best High Absorption Curcumin, Finest Nutrition Turmeric, Gaia Herbs Turmeric Supreme Extra Strength, Healthy Directions Turmeric Curcumin Complete, Life Extension Super Bio-Curcumin, McCormick Ground Turmeric, Natural Factors CurcuminRich Theracurmin, Nature's Bounty Turmeric, Nature's Sunshine CurcuminBP, New Chapter Turmeric Force, NOW Curcumin, NutriGold Turmeric Curcumin Gold, Pure Encapsulations Curcumin 500 With Bioperine, Puritan's Pride Turmeric Curcumin, Relentless Improvement Curcumin, Simply Organic Turmeric, Solgar Turmeric, Swanson Ultra Turmeric Phytosome, Terry Naturally CuraMed, The Spice Hunter India Turmeric (Ground), Trader Joe's Turmeric, Vitamin Research Products Longvida and Vitamin World Turmeric Curcumin.
Founded in 1999, ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. Membership to ConsumerLab.com is available online and provides immediate access to reviews of more than 1,000 products from over 400 brands. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
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Members of the media contact may contact media@consumerlab.com or call the ConsumerLab.com main number (914-722-9149). Please include the name of your news organization when contacting us.
