Turmeric with BioPerine

What this is. Turmeric with black pepper extract, which is there because it helps absorption. Taken for joint comfort and everyday inflammation.

645 mg of turmeric per two-capsule serving, of which only 10 mg is the 95% curcuminoid extract that nearly all the research is run on. The other 635 mg is plain turmeric powder, which is the spice.

What you are actually getting, per 2 capsules

• Turmeric (powder) — 635 mg
• Turmeric Extract (95% curcuminoids) — 10 mg
• BioPerine (branded black pepper extract) — 10 mg

10 mg of an extract standardised to 95% curcuminoids works out at about 9.5 mg of curcuminoids. That is the arithmetic, and it is the only curcuminoid figure this panel supports. The 635 mg of plain powder contains curcuminoids too, but the panel does not state how much, so we cannot add anything to that 9.5 mg for you. The panel also does not state the piperine content of the 10 mg of BioPerine.

Worth knowing before you buy

Curcumin research is done on the 95% extract, at something in the region of 500 mg to 2,000 mg of curcuminoids a day. This serving gives about 9.5 mg of them. That is not a near miss, it is a different order of magnitude, and no quantity of turmeric powder alongside it closes the gap.

Powder and extract are not the same thing and should not be added together. Ground turmeric root is a culinary spice; the 95% extract is a concentrate. Plenty of labels print one combined turmeric number because the combined number is the bigger one. We print both and tell you which one the studies are about.

What it is: 645 mg of turmeric with a black pepper extract, cheaply. What it is not: a curcumin supplement at a studied dose. If that is what you want, buy a bottle that prints the curcuminoid milligrams on the front.

How to take it

Two capsules a day with water. Sixty capsules in the bottle at two a day, which is 30 days.

Other ingredients

Cellulose. The capsule shell is cellulose rather than gelatin, so it is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The panel declares no allergens.

Cautions

Turmeric can add to the effect of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medicines such as warfarin, clopidogrel and aspirin, so mention it to your doctor if you take any of them or have surgery coming up. Piperine, the active part of black pepper extracts like BioPerine, changes how quickly the liver clears a number of medicines — that is the reason it is in the capsule, and it applies to prescription drugs as much as to curcumin. If you have gallstones or a bile duct obstruction, speak to your doctor before taking turmeric. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not use if the safety seal is damaged or missing. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not exceed the recommended dose. If you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, taking prescription medication or living with a medical condition, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting this or any supplement.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.