THE MAGIC OF TURMERIC

Turmeric (curcuma longa) is really the king of anti-cancer herbs. Of all of the herbs, phytonutrients and supplements that I am recommend to people, turmeric is the one everyone should take....cancer patient or not. It is the primary spice in curry and it is agreed upon by many to be the most powerful herb on the planet at fighting and reversing disease. 

There are over 12,500 peer reviewed scientific articles that prove turmeric’s powerful benefits. In regard to cancer, the anti-tumor activities have been shown to include the inhibition of tumor proliferation, the inhibition of angiogenesis (new cancer blood vessel growth), the ability to push back against cancer invasion and metastasis, the induction of tumor apoptosis (cancer cell suicide), the increase of chemotherapy sensitivity, and the ruining of the cell cycle in the cancer stem cell... indicating that turmeric works by modulating innumerable aspects of cancer progression.

In regard to my cancer, multiple myeloma, there is a lab value that monitors the activity of plasma cell tumor proliferation. The cancerous plasma cells release a paraprotein that can be measured in the blood stream and this lab value is called the M-spike.

With myeloma, the individual progresses from MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of underdetermined significance) to smoldering myeloma to a full blown multiple myeloma. This progression is actually an excellent way to view how cancer progresses from “under control by the immune system” to a “full blown cancer”. In an interview that I read with famous genomic myeloma researcher, Dr Nikhil Munshi, he stated that at the time of diagnosis of myeloma, the cancer cell has approximately 5,000 mutations. Then when the disease relapses there are approximately 12,000 mutations. Therefore it is my projection that to get to MGUS an individual probably requires about 1,500 mutations and to get to smoldering myeloma around 3,000 mutations. The developing cancer then needs another 2,000 mutations (total of 5,000) to get you to a full blown myeloma. 

In 2 very well done scientific studies, turmeric was put to the test on MGUS to see if it had an effect on the progression of the M-spike [1,2]. In both studies about half of the patients had a 33% drop in the level of the M-spike. In the larger study by Golombick’s group [2], there were also improvements in other biomarkers of multiple myeloma like free monoclonal light chains and uDPYD, a biomarker of bone resorption.

In regards to how to add it to your diet, I would recommend incorporating turmeric into as many recipes as possible. Dr. Greger recommends a quarter teaspoon per day in his Daily Dozen app. When battling cancer, I personally recommend 4-8 grams per day....8 grams preferably. If you are on blood thinners consult with your oncologist. 

I personally use a turmeric product made by aSquared called “Turmeric Curcumin with Piperine” and take 5 capsules in the morning and 5 in the evening. One attractive aspect about this product is that every 1600 mg has 2.5mg of piperine (black pepper extract) included in each capsule. Studies show that 20mg/kg of piperine increases the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000%[3]. This is accomplished through better absorption and decrease breakdown in the intestinal wall and liver. 

Since an average male weighs 70 kg that means a person should intake about 1,400 mg of piperine which is an extraordinarily high amount. Ten capsules of Turmeric Curcumin by aSquared gives you 25 mg of piperine. I therefore take a separate piperine supplement called “Bioperine” by Source Naturals which provides 10 mg per tablet. I take 5 tablets with the 5 turmeric capsules in the morning and the night. Even though I am not even close to the 1,400 mg that was used in the above study, I believe it still enhances the bioavailability of the turmeric. Another important point about bioavailability....make sure you always ingest fat before taking turmeric supplements. Turmeric is not absorbed well without fat. I therefore take 3 “Omax3 Professional Strength Ultra-Pure” fish oil supplements before taking turmeric.

One other reason that I use the “Turmeric Curcumin with Piperine” supplement by aSquare is because it is primarily the whole turmeric root rather than being standardized to 95% curcumin like most turmeric supplements. Studies over the past decade have indicated that curcumin-free turmeric (CFT) components possess numerous anti-cancer activities which surpass using curcumin in isolation [4]. Some of the individual components of turmeric, include phytonutrients like turmerin, turmerone, elemene, furanodiene, curdione, bisacurone, cyclocurcumin, calebin A, and germacrone. As I preach at lectures and in my upcoming book “Beat Back Cancer Naturally”, the combination of many phytonutrients in plants is usually much more effective than isolating one component of the whole. 

REFERENCES

1. Golombick T et al. The potential role of curcumin in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undefined significance--its effect on paraproteinemia and the urinary N-telopeptide of type I collagen bone turnover marker. Clin Canc Res. 2009 Sep 15;15(18):5917-22. 

2. Golombick T et al. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, smoldering multiple myeloma, and curcumin: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over 4g study and an open-label 8g extension study. Am J Hematol. 2012 May;87(5):455-60. 

3. Guido S et al. Influence of Piperine on the Pharmacokinetics of Curcumin in Animals and Human Volunteers. Planta Med 1998; 64(4): 353-356.

4. Aggarwal BB et al. Curcumin‐free turmeric exhibits anti‐inflammatory and anticancer activities: Identification of novel components of turmeric. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2013 Sep;57(9):1529-42.