Turmeric and piperine: why they are combined, and how to choose your capsules

Turmeric and piperine are almost always found together in food supplements. This is no accident of formulation: piperine, taken from black pepper, is added because the curcumin in turmeric is poorly absorbed when taken on its own. This article explains this combination without any promises, shows how to read the label of a turmeric and piperine supplement, and reminds you how to take our capsules and with which precautions.

In brief

• Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a root from the ginger family; its characteristic compounds are the curcuminoids, including curcumin.
• Taken on its own, curcumin is poorly absorbed by the body.
• Piperine, a natural compound of black pepper (Piper nigrum), is combined with it for this reason in most turmeric supplements.
• Our capsules: 500 mg, turmeric standardised to 95% curcuminoids and piperine (5%), 100 vegetable capsules per box.

Turmeric and curcumin

Turmeric is the dried rhizome of a herbaceous plant from the Zingiberaceae family, the same as ginger. Ground into powder, it gives its orange-yellow colour to curries and many South Asian dishes, where it has been used for centuries. This colour comes from the curcuminoids, a group of compounds whose main member is curcumin. Kitchen turmeric contains only a few per cent of them; a turmeric "standardised to 95%" contains a much higher proportion, measured and stated on the label.

Piperine, a compound of black pepper

Piperine is the compound that gives black pepper its heat. It is obtained from the dried berries of Piper nigrum, a climbing vine grown in tropical regions. In a turmeric supplement it is present in small amounts: it is not the main ingredient, but a formulation companion.

Why combine them?

Curcumin is poorly soluble in water and, taken on its own, only a small share of it is absorbed by the body: this is what is called low bioavailability. Piperine is added to turmeric for this reason, which is why the two are almost always found together in turmeric food supplements. For the same reason, it is advisable to take the capsules with a meal that contains a little fat, such as olive oil or avocado.

This combination concerns the absorption of curcumin, not an effect on health. A food supplement is not a medicine: it does not prevent, treat or cure any disease, and we attribute no such effect to it.

How to read the label of a turmeric and piperine supplement

• Curcuminoid content: it indicates the share of curcuminoids in the turmeric used. Our capsules contain turmeric standardised to 95%.
• Share of piperine: it is small compared with the turmeric; in our capsules it accounts for 5%.
• Quantity per capsule and per box: 500 mg per vegetable capsule, 100 capsules per box.
• Recommended dose: this is what determines how long a box lasts; here, 1 to 2 capsules a day.

Capsules, powder or fresh root?

Powder and fresh root add flavour to cooking, but their curcuminoid content is low and varies from one product to another: the intake is hard to measure. Capsules provide a fixed amount at each intake, with no taste and no preparation. Nothing stops you from keeping turmeric in your cooking, with a pinch of black pepper, as culinary tradition has it.

If you choose our capsules

• Dose: 1 to 2 capsules a day.
• When: with a meal, with a large glass of water; a meal containing some fat is recommended.
• Usual duration: a course of 2 to 3 months.
• How long a box lasts: 100 days at 1 capsule a day, 50 days at 2 capsules a day. For a 3-month course at 2 capsules a day, the pack of 3 boxes is enough, with about 2 months to spare.

Precautions

Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or for children, or in case of bile duct obstruction, stomach ulcers or anticoagulant treatment. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are on any treatment. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there piperine in a turmeric supplement?

Because curcumin on its own is poorly absorbed. Piperine, from black pepper, is added to turmeric in most food supplements for this reason.

What does "standardised to 95%" mean?

That the turmeric used contains 95% curcuminoids, the family of compounds to which curcumin belongs. Kitchen turmeric powder contains only a few per cent.

When should I take the capsules?

With a meal, with a large glass of water, preferably a meal that contains a little fat.

How long does a box last?

50 days at 2 capsules a day, 100 days at 1 capsule a day.

Who should not take them?

Pregnant or breastfeeding women and children, as well as people with bile duct obstruction or stomach ulcers, or on anticoagulant treatment. If you are on any treatment, ask your doctor before use.

Customer reviews

1. Marie L.: "I started using Turmeric + Piperine a few weeks ago and I already see an improvement. My joint inflammation has gone down and my digestion has clearly improved. I highly recommend it!"

2. Luc P.: "This product has worked wonders for my chronic pain. I use it alongside a treatment for my joints and I feel much better. Very satisfied with the product."

3. Sophie M.: "I have been using this supplement for a month, and my energy levels are much higher. The combination of turmeric and piperine works very well, and delivery was fast."

4. Pauline G.: "The product is of very good quality. It helps reduce arthritis-related pain and improve mobility. I recommend it to anyone looking for a natural and effective solution."

Read also

• Curcumin capsules (Curcuma longa): the essentials
• Where does turmeric come from?

Find all our plant capsules in the collection Herbal pharmacopoeia and plant capsules.

Food supplement. This article is provided for information purposes and does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional.