Piperine and the absorption of curcumin
The question: Why is turmeric often paired with black pepper?
- Study type
- Pharmacokinetic study
- Population
- Rats and a small group of healthy volunteers
- Intervention
- Curcumin 2 g with piperine 20 mg
- Compared with
- Curcumin alone
- Duration
- Single dose
- Published
- Planta Medica, 1998
What was measured
Blood levels of curcumin over time.
What was found
Curcumin alone produced very low or undetectable blood levels. With piperine, levels were much higher, a reported increase in bioavailability of 2000 per cent.
Limitations
A single small study. Because the starting level was close to zero, a large percentage increase can overstate the absolute change.
What it means
It explains why bioavailability matters and why formulations pair curcumin with piperine. It is not evidence of any health outcome.
Source
Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, et al. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med. 1998;64(4):353-356.
Read the original (DOI 10.1055/s-2006-957450) · Source verified 8 October 2026
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Study summaries describe published research for education. They are not claims about any product and are not medical advice.