Longvida® Optimised Curcumin® 500mg, Advanced Free Form Curcumin, 30-90 Capsules

Longvida® has not been specifically tested for oxalate content. However, as it is a highly purified curcumin extract rather than whole turmeric, we would expect levels to be very low. Analyses of other curcumin extracts have found around 0.06 mg of total oxalate per capsule or less, with soluble oxalate levels of 0-0.01 mg. Those following a medically advised low-oxalate diet should discuss supplementation with their healthcare professional.

Turmeric typically contains about 5% curcumin, meaning about 2,000mg of turmeric provides about 100mg of curcumin. However, this isn’t directly comparable to Longvida®, as curcumin from ordinary turmeric is poorly absorbed and is rapidly metabolized and excreted.

Longvida® uses patented Solid Lipid Curcumin Particle (SLCP™) technology to improve absorption and retention, providing 285x greater bioavailability, 65x higher peak plasma levels, and 7x longer-lasting action than standard curcumin.

The 285x figure comes from a pharmacokinetic study comparing Longvida® with standard curcumin. Participants received either Longvida®, providing 130mg of curcumin, or a standard curcumin extract providing 390mg - three times as much. Researchers then measured how much curcumin reached the bloodstream over time. After accounting for this dose difference, Longvida® showed 285x greater bioavailability than standard curcumin.

However, absorption is only part of the story. For curcumin to exert its beneficial effects, it needs not only to enter the bloodstream (bioavailability) but to remain in its active, free form (bioactivity).

Standard curcumin is very poorly absorbed and much of it passes through the gastrointestinal tract unchanged. Of the small amount that is absorbed, much is rapidly metabolized by the liver into water-soluble compounds known as curcumin conjugates, allowing it to be efficiently excreted. These conjugated forms have little or no biological activity. Importantly, only free-form curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier.

This distinction is important when comparing bioavailability claims. Many pharmacokinetic studies use a process called enzymatic hydrolysis before analysing blood samples. This converts conjugated curcumin back into free curcumin for measurement, meaning the results can make it appear that considerably more active, free-form curcumin was circulating in the blood than was actually present.

Longvida® studies differ because they measure free-form curcumin without enzymatic hydrolysis, providing a more accurate picture of the amount of bioactive curcumin actually circulating in the bloodstream.

This is one of the key reasons we chose Longvida®. Its patented SLCP™ lipid delivery system doesn't simply improve absorption; it delivers measurable levels of free, bioactive curcumin. Levels peak at around 2.5 hours, with a half-life of approximately 7.5 hours, providing sustained curcumin exposure from a single daily capsule.

Piperine is commonly added to curcumin supplements to increase its half-life by suppressing glucuronidation, an important Phase II liver detoxification pathway. Glucuronidation helps the body process and eliminate a wide range of substances, including hormones, medications, environmental compounds and other metabolic waste products. For this reason, we do not consider deliberately inhibiting this natural detoxification process to be an ideal strategy for enhancing curcumin availability, particularly for ongoing supplementation.

While piperine can increase circulating curcuminoids, this does not necessarily mean increased levels of active, free-form curcumin. Longvida® takes a different approach, using patented SLCP™ lipid technology to enhance absorption and maintain measurable levels of bioactive, free-form curcumin without relying on piperine or inhibition of liver detoxification pathways.

This provides 285x greater bioavailability, 65x higher peak plasma levels of free-form curcumin and 7x longer-lasting action than standard curcumin.

Longvida® is a proprietary formula with a patented lipid delivery system designed to improve the absorption and bioactivity of curcumin. Soy lecithin and maltodextrin form part of this specialized delivery system, into which the curcumin is incorporated, and are therefore integral to the Longvida® formulation.

These ingredients are part of the proprietary Longvida® formula and will also be present in other genuine Longvida® products. Some manufacturers may not clearly list every component of the delivery system on their labels; however, we prefer full ingredient transparency and declare all ingredients used in our formulation.