One challenge with curcumin supplementation is poor absorption. Curcumin is not very water-soluble and is absorbed inefficiently under normal conditions. The phytosome delivery system was developed to address this limitation by binding curcumin to phospholipids, improving its bioavailability.
A study published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics (May 1, 2013; Volume 448, Issue 1, Pages 168–174) evaluated a delivery system in which curcumin phytosomes were encapsulated in chitosan microspheres using ionotropic gelation. This approach was found to enhance oral absorption and prolong intestinal retention time of curcumin, effectively improving its digestion and uptake.
The potential functional impact of this enhanced absorption was examined in a study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (June 18, 2014; Volume 11, Article 31), which investigated curcumin phytosome supplementation and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The study included 20 healthy adults who were randomly assigned to receive either 200 mg of curcumin or a placebo twice daily. Supplementation began 48 hours before a downhill running test and continued for 24 hours afterward.
Participants receiving curcumin reported less leg pain compared with those in the placebo group. MRI findings showed evidence of muscle damage in fewer participants in the curcumin group, particularly in the posterior and medial thigh compartments. In addition, increases in biochemical markers associated with muscle damage and inflammation tended to be lower among those receiving curcumin.
The authors concluded that curcumin “has the potential for preventing delayed onset muscle soreness, as suggested by its effects on pain intensity and muscle injury,” while noting that larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and further clarify the underlying mechanisms.
