Curcumin Phytosome 500mg

Name: Jarrow Formulas Curcumin Phytosome 500mg
Brand: Jarrow Formulas
Price: 28.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Worth BuyingBone & Joint-2 Hype

Curcumin is the anti-inflammatory compound in turmeric. Standard curcumin has terrible absorption (<1%), but Jarrow uses Meriva phytosome technology which improves bioavailability 29x. This is the form used in most positive clinical trials.

78/ 100

Biorank Score

Independently ranked

78/ 100

Biorank Score

Independently ranked by Biorank Laboratories

Our Verdict

Worth Buying

Curcumin ranks well because it uses the bioavailable Meriva form — the same form used in positive clinical trials. Generic turmeric supplements using standard curcumin with piperine are cheaper but scientifically inferior for systemic inflammation. The 2-point hype penalty reflects some overstatement in the 'anti-cancer' marketing claims that go beyond current evidence.

Key Findings

Meriva phytosome delivers 29x better absorption than standard curcumin (Cuomo et al., 2011)
RCT evidence shows effectiveness comparable to diclofenac for knee OA with fewer side effects
NF-kB inhibition reduces CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 in inflammatory conditions
Most positive curcumin trials use Meriva or BCM-95 — not generic turmeric extract
2-point hype penalty for anti-cancer marketing claims that exceed current evidence

Evidence Analysis

Curcumin has moderate-to-strong evidence for inflammatory conditions. Chandran & Goel (2012) showed curcumin was as effective as diclofenac for knee osteoarthritis with fewer side effects. Multiple RCTs show reduced CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 in inflammatory conditions. The key caveat: standard curcumin is almost unabsorbable. Meriva phytosome (phosphatidylcholine complex) achieves 29x better plasma levels than standard curcumin (Cuomo et al., 2011). Jarrow uses this validated delivery form.

Ingredient Breakdown

Ingredient	Dose	Effective Dose	Adequacy	Verdict
Curcumin Phytosome (Meriva)	500mg	500-1000mg		Optimal

True Cost Analysis

Properly Dosed -- What You Pay Is What You Get

Listed Price

$0.47/serving

$14.10/month at 1 serving/day

True Cost Per Effective Dose

$0.47/effective dose

$14.10/month for effective dosing

Value Score

Decent value

Save $9.30/month (66%)

by switching to Citracal Calcium 600mg + D3

Where It Falls Short

Evidence is moderate, not strong — most trials are small (N<100) and short-term. Anti-cancer claims are preliminary and based on in-vitro/animal models. May interact with blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin). Can cause GI upset at high doses. The phytosome form is more expensive than standard curcumin.