Posted by GavinoFelix on January 19, 2014, at 21:28:14
In reply to Recent study on Prozac augmented with curcumin, posted by Mogger on January 2, 2014, at 17:18:18
In case anyone's still following this...
In another forum I frequent, this study came up as well: http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/65383-new-study-curcumin-as-treatment-for-major-depression/
However, statistically, this study doesn't really have anything to say w/r/t curcumin. To quote another poster on above thread:
"The real problem is that none of the results are statistically significant. With those giant P values, I don't see how they got it published. How are we to distinguish the results from random noise?"
Statistically, the curcumin/turmeric wasn't shown to do anything. Not to discourage anyone (in fact I still take curcumin), but this is just another example of why those of us who choose to do our own 'research' on-line need to be extra careful. Statistics is complicated (at least for me).
p.s. Things to consider: curcumin has incredibly poor bio-availability when ingested orally (does this remind anyone of the other 'miracle supplement', resveratrol?). The whole 'curcumin-phytosome' thing attempts to deal with this by binding it to phosphatidyl choline (it's better absorbed when with a fat). Or, you could do what human beings figured out thousands of years ago and eat turmeric in coconut milk-based curries.
Also, beware of piperine (aka "Bioperine"). Among other mechanisms, it works by inhibiting the CYP3A4 enzyme - which has more than a few psych meds in its substrate. So, although I'm sure piperine does increase the absorption of curcumin, it likely messes with the metabolism of a lot of other medications out there. Which means,I would steer clear of any product out there with 'Bioperine'.
poster:GavinoFelix
thread:1057521
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140104/msgs/1059072.html