Supplements such as black pepper may only assist curcumin bioavailability when on their own – not when they are part of whole turmeric extracts such as Complete•3. Complete•3 Turmeric Liquid Extract doesn’t need black pepper as it contains natural oils, called turmerones, that bind with curcumin to enhance its absorption.
There is also some conjecture over the use of black pepper over Turmeric’s natural oils since it interferes with one of the body’s natural defences and can irritate the stomach.
There are many anti-inflammatory compounds in turmeric other than curcumin, which is only one of turmeric’s 100 plus actives (including turmerones). This is supported by turmeric’s history as a traditional medicine for thousands of years and recent research highlighting the role of turmeric’s bioactives other than curcumin, which suggests the potential use of turmeric extract, rather than curcumin alone, for treating diseases.
For more research information, please visit our research page.