Bio Span Evidence

Curcumin, also known as the spice Turmeric: with its biologically active constituent curcumin, it just may take the cake as the ultimate health spice. In addition to its already top billing as a staple of Indian and some Chinese cuisines. The curcumin contained in Bio Span+ is a concentrated form of the beneficial curcumoids equivalent to eating about ten grams of the spice in each capsule.

So why Curcumin? Curcumin is native to India and Indonesia, where it has been consumed and revered as both a medicine and dietary staple for over 5,000 years. Only comparatively recently has the West learned of the wide-ranging health properties of this tasty spice, largely thanks to the growing body of scientific research studies confirming and illustrating some of these specific health benefits.

Among some of the most interesting health benefits and recent scientific findings:

Neurological: The 2003 study in Italy as published in the Italian Journal of Biochemistry showed that Turmeric protects against neurological diseases by 'activating' a gene that codes for the production of the antioxidant protein bilirubin.  This protects the brain against injury from free radicals which are thought to be a responsible for neurodegenerative diseases. Another study conducted at UCLA and published in the December 2004 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, which has been confirmed by further research published online April 20, 2006, in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, provides further insight as to how Turmeric provides multiple areas of protection against the mechanisms which cause Alzheimer's. This research was so profoundly exciting to researchers that human clinical trials to further investigate Tumeric's potential as a "preventive, therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease will soon be underway".

A Potent Anti-Inflammatory: Turmeric's anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to be comparable to the potent drugs hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents such as Motrin. Wow! Bet you didn't think your lunchtime curry could do that, right? And, unlike lab-produced pharmaceutical drugs, Turmeric has been shown to produce no toxicity, nor the kinds of stomach problems that commonly occur with pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Many clinical studies have shown that the antioxidant properties of Turmeric help fight the free radicals responsible for the painful joint inflammation of arthritis. Turmeric's combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects explains why many people with joint diseases find relief when they use the spice regularly, and in a recent study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Turmeric was compared to phenylbutazone and produced comparable improvements in shortened duration of morning stiffness, lengthened walking time, and reduced joint swelling.

Cystic Fibrosis: Curcumin, the major constituent of turmeric that gives the spice its yellow color, can help correct the genetic defect that is responsible for cystic fibrosis, as suggested by an animal study published in the April 2004 issue of Science. Cystic fibrosis, a fatal disease that attacks the lungs with a thick mucus, causing life-threatening infections, and afflicts about 30,000 American children and young adults, who rarely survive beyond 30 years of age.

Colon and Prostate: Turmeric's antioxidant effects help protect the colon cells from free radicals that can damage cellular DNA -- a significant benefit particularly in the colon where cell turnover is quite rapid. By improving liver function, it also helps the body to destroy mutated cells so that they cannot spread through the body and cause more harm. Even more interesting, when Turmeric was combined with the vegetable Cauliflower, the protection was even more pronounced, leading researchers to believe the combination of cruciferous vegetables and curcumin could be an effective therapy to prevent prostate problems. Time to start eating cauliflower with turmeric!

Improved Liver Function: Recent studies have shown that Turmeric increases the detoxification enzymes in the liver, so much so that one set of researchers commented, "Turmeric used widely as a spice would probably mitigate the effects of several dietary carcinogens". In our polluted, often carcinogenic-laden environment, diet and lifestyles these days, this is a good thing.

And more: From cardiovascular protection benefits (reduced heart attack and stroke risk) to serving as a great source of vitamin B6 to further overall anti-oxidization, detoxification and blood-brain benefits. The health benefits of Turmeric continue to be revealed and discovered by new scientific studies each year.

Milk Thistle: Its proper scientific name Silymarin, is beneficial for the liver in both protecting and regenerating it and is one of the best examples of preventative medicine that we have today. It not only protects each cell of the liver, kidneys, gall bladder, skin, brain and other tissues from incoming toxins, but at the same time encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances, such as alcohol, drugs, medications, mercury and heavy metals, pesticides, anesthesia, and even the most poisonous of mushrooms, the Amanita or Death-cap mushroom.

Additional Benefits of Silymarin:

• Silymarin accelerates protein synthesis by the liver cells. It stimulates the liver to produce SOD, a potent free radical scavenger. It prevents depletion of glutathione in the liver.
• Researchers have shown that Silymarin stimulates the synthesis of RNA (an important molecule that helps carry out and control protein synthesis).
• Silymarin protects the kidneys and is beneficial to those with skin problems like psoriasis.
• Silymarin blocks allergic and inflammatory reactions.
• Silymarin in mucilaginous and increases immune response, eradicates infection and soothes inflamed tissue.
• Silymarin has been found to maintain the basic function of the liver, thereby keeping the blood vascular system clean, which has an overall effect of maintaining health in the entire body.
• This is an excellent herb for anyone who is under stress, uses alcohol, recreational drugs, prescription medications, or lives in today's modern times of pesticides, environmental toxins, and pollution.

Sources:

*Journal reference: Lah JJ, Cui W, Hu KQ. Effects and mechanisms of silibinin on human hepatoma cell lines. World J Gastroenterol 2007; 13(40): 5299-5305

Bio Span+ Contains 300 mg of concentrated Curcumin in each dose of 2 Vcaps. With Biotivia you can be assured that you are getting the potency you are paying for.

 

Scienfitic Studies

Patented Process for Producing Natural Substance GenePrint’s Synthetic Curcumin (1/7/10 update)

Curcumin Medical Journal References 3-30-09.pdf

Curcumin Medical Journal References- 4-10-09.pdf

Curcumin Summary- Linus Pauling Institute.pdf