Curcumin Phytosome (formerly Meriva)

Meriva 500-SF 120's is NSF Certified for Sport®. In all forms, Meriva® helps maintain a healthy inflammatory response throughout the body and provides relief from overuse of muscles and joints and relief from injuries.* Used as a food ingredient in Asia for thousands of years, curcumin is a potent antioxidant that offers numerous health benefits, including support of joint, liver, GI, and cardiovascular function.* Normally, however, curcumin is poorly absorbed in the bloodstream, whether it comes from food or a nutritional supplement. Meriva curcumin phytosome, the most clinically studied curcumin on the market, is a unique curcumin extract with significantly better absorption than other curcumin extracts.* In fact, a human study demonstrated 29-times greater absorption from Meriva than from ordinary curcumin.*

Curcumin is an antioxidant flavonoid that helps maintain the body's normal inflammatory response through optimization of cytokine production.* Meriva's superior curcumin absorption is attributable to a unique formula that contains three curcuminoids (95% curcuminoid material) and is based on Indena S.p.A.'s proprietary "phytosome" technology. A phytosome is a plant extract that is bound to a phospholipid (from sunflower oil in the case of Meriva-SF). Phospholipids are essential components of all human cells; and although the body makes phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine, phospholipids can also be obtained from food or nutritional supplements. When taken orally, phospholipids are very well absorbed. The proprietary phytosome technology used in Meriva-SF attaches a curcumin extract to a phospholipid, which optimizes the curcumin's absorption.* In the case of Meriva 500-SF, the body readily absorbs the curcumin complex, resulting in more curcumin reaching cells for improved benefit.* Clinical research shows that Meriva supplementation results in higher plasma concentrations of curcumin from a much smaller amount than with ordinary curcumin.*

Meriva 500-SF contains 500 mg of curcumin phytosome complex per capsule.

Because an athlete needs to know that his or her supplements are trustworthy and compliant, every batch of an NSF Certified for Sport® product is tested for compliance with label claims and to ensure the absence of more than 200 substances banned by many major athletic organizations, including stimulants, narcotics, steroids, diuretics, beta-2 agonists, and masking agents.

The science behind Meriva® for musculoskeletal support

Several studies indicate Meriva can provide significant joint support.*

In a 3-month1 and an 8-month2 study of 50 and 100 osteoarthritis (OA) patients, respectively, 500 mg of Meriva (curcumin phytosome) twice daily resulted in increased treadmill endurance, improved joint function, decreased achiness, and maintenance of healthy cytokine balance.*

In a 4-month study, Meriva (500 mg/day) plus glucosamine HCl (500 mg/day) was compared to chondroitin sulfate (800 mg/day) plus glucosamine HCl (830 mg/day) in 124 individuals with mild knee OA. Subjects in the Meriva plus glucosamine group experienced faster and greater improvements in stiffness and achiness compared to the glucosamine plus chondroitin group.*

Meriva can provide support to patients undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.*

In a 3-arm study of 180 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome scheduled to undergo corrective surgery, one group received no supplementation before or after surgery, a second group received supplementation for three months prior to surgery, and a third group received supplementation for three months pre- and post-surgery.

The protocol consisted of twice-daily supplementation of 500 mg Meriva, 300 mg alpha-lipoic acid, and a low-dose vitamin B complex. Significant decreases in nocturnal symptoms and number of positive Phalen’s tests (a wrist flexion test used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome) were observed in the third group; no significant differences were observed in the first two groups.*

Meriva can reduce delayed- onset muscle soreness after physical exertion.*

A group of 20 healthy male volunteers were randomized to receive Meriva (one gram twice daily) or placebo for 48 hours prior to and 24 hours following a downhill running test. Subjects in the Meriva group reported significantly less thigh soreness; significantly less muscle damage was also observed on MRI in the Meriva group.*

Warnings

ALLERGY WARNING

This product is contraindicated in an individual with a history of hypersensitivity to any of its ingredients.

PREGNANCY

If pregnant, consult your health professional before using this product.

INTERACTIONS

Curcumin has been shown to reduce the therapeutic efficacy of cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) in animal studies. In vitro research revealed that curcumin decreased camptothecin-induced death of cultured breast cancer cells. Curcumin might also interfere with the absorption and efficacy of the chemotherapy drug irinotecan, used to treat colon cancer. The concurrent use of curcumin with these agents should be avoided.

* 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.