FAIRFIELD, Iowa—High absorption of BCM-95 Curcumin may effectively improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression. (Journal of Affective Disorders. 2014 June. online. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.06.001)
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study treated 56 people with major depressive disorders with BCM-95 for eight weeks. Researchers used a self-reported inventories for depression assessment, and each week, participants were asked to rate the severity and frequency of specific symptoms.
By week four, BVM-95 was more effective than the placebo in lowering self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms; it also worked well for participants with atypical depression, which is generally harder to treat.
“There is now increasing support for the antidepressant effects of curcumin, with a previous study demonstrating BCM-95 curcumin to be as effective as a pharmaceutical antidepressant for the treatment of depression," said Adrian Lopresti, lead author of the study. “Further larger clinical trials are required to determine the optimal treatment dosage, length of treatment and long-term efficacy of curcumin."
The form of curcumin used in the study, BCM-95 Curcumin, manufactured by Dolcas-Biotech LLC, has unique specifications, including high absorption and inclusion of turmeric essential oil, which is not found in standard curcumin. The results may not apply to other forms of curcumin.