Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers

Researchers studied how the body handles curcumin, a compound from turmeric, in rats and in 8 healthy human volunteers. They compared curcumin taken alone with curcumin taken with piperine, a compound from black pepper. In the people, piperine raised curcumin’s bioavailability, meaning the amount reaching the bloodstream, by about 2,000%. This was a short absorption study, not a test of whether curcumin improved health or extended life.

What this means for you: Piperine appears to help the body absorb curcumin, but this study does not show that the combination provides meaningful health benefits. Only 8 people were tested briefly, and piperine may affect how some medicines are processed.