Benefits
Working memory and attention in healthy older adults
In two small placebo controlled trials of 400 mg/day Longvida in healthy older adults, from one group and both maker funded, working memory was better than placebo at 4 and 12 weeks, and attention was better one hour after a first dose. Two other placebo controlled trials at 2,000 mg/day, over 12 weeks in healthy adults and 12 months in adults with chronic kidney disease, found no difference on test batteries.
Mood and fatigue ratings
In a 4 week maker funded placebo controlled trial of 400 mg/day Longvida in healthy older adults, with mood a named outcome, general fatigue and stress induced changes in calmness and contentedness were better than placebo. In a 12 week maker funded follow up, the main fatigue scale and mood ratings under a mental challenge, both primary outcomes, did not differ; a secondary mood questionnaire showed lower fatigue at 4 and 12 weeks.
Smaller rise in inflammation markers after hard exercise
In a placebo controlled trial in 28 young adults, partly funded by the maker, 400 mg/day Longvida from 2 days before to 4 days after a muscle damaging leg press session led to smaller rises in blood TNF-alpha, IL-8 and creatine kinase than placebo; IL-6, IL-10 and rated soreness did not differ. In healthy middle aged and older adults, two other trials found no change in blood inflammation markers.
Artery lining function in healthy middle aged and older adults
In a 12 week placebo controlled trial of 2,000 mg/day in 39 healthy adults aged 45 to 74, flow mediated dilation, an ultrasound measure of artery lining function, rose 36% with no change on placebo; artery stiffness did not change. This is a research measurement, not a heart outcome, and a 12 month trial in adults with chronic kidney disease found no difference on the same measure.
Mechanism of action
Solid lipid curcumin particle formulation
Longvida mixes curcumin with lipid and other carriers (stearic acid, dextrin, soy lecithin, ascorbyl palmitate, silicon dioxide) in a particle form intended to help free, unconjugated curcumin reach the blood. Claims that it reaches the brain or outperforms other curcumin forms are the maker's own; blood level studies disagree.
Free curcumin in blood: studies disagree
In one study, 650 mg of the formulation gave a mean peak of 22.43 ng/mL of free curcumin in healthy volunteers while the same amount of unformulated extract was undetectable. An independent crossover study found free curcumin below its 2 nM quantitation limit in all seven people given Longvida, with total curcumin exposure not significantly above plain curcumin.
Clinical trials
Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial of Longvida solid lipid curcumin 400 mg, tested 1 and 3 hours after a single dose, after 4 weeks of daily use, and 1 and 3 hours after a dose at 4 weeks; outcomes were cognitive tasks, mood and blood biomarkers. A trade press report states that Verdure Sciences, the maker, funded the study and supplied the active and placebo capsules; the later 12 week trial came from the same group. (Cox et al. 2015, J Psychopharmacol)
60 healthy adults aged 60 to 85; 4 weeks.
Compared with placebo, sustained attention and working memory were better one hour after the first dose, and working memory and mood (general fatigue and stress induced changes in calmness, contentedness and fatigue) were better after 4 weeks. Total and LDL cholesterol were lower, and hematological safety measures did not change.
Double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group partial replication trial of Longvida solid lipid curcumin, 400 mg daily containing 80 mg curcumin, assessed at 4 and 12 weeks; registered primary outcomes were cognitive tasks, mood reactivity to a cognitive challenge and the Chalder Fatigue Scale, with the Profile of Mood States a secondary outcome. Funded by a grant from Verdure Sciences, the maker of Longvida; three authors have received funding from the supplement industry. (Cox et al. 2020, Nutrients)
80 healthy adults aged 50 to 80 (mean age 68); 12 weeks.
Compared with placebo, working memory tasks (a primary outcome) were better at 12 weeks. The Chalder fatigue scale and mood ratings under a mental challenge, also primary outcomes, did not differ; on the secondary Profile of Mood States, fatigue was lower at 4 and 12 weeks and tension, anger, confusion and total mood disturbance at 4 weeks only. Blood glucose was significantly higher in the curcumin group. A maker-funded trial from the group that ran the earlier 4 week study.
Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial of Longvida 2,000 mg/day (about 400 mg curcumin) with NIH Toolbox motor and cognitive batteries, run alongside a vascular study; capsules were provided by Verdure Sciences. Fluid cognitive measures (processing speed, executive function, working memory, episodic memory) did not differ. (Santos-Parker et al. 2018, Nutr Healthy Aging)
39 healthy men and postmenopausal women aged 45 to 74; 12 weeks.
No differences between the groups in strength, dexterity, fatigability, mobility, endurance, balance or any fluid thinking test after 12 weeks. A reading decoding score rose 3% within the curcumin group only. The authors concluded the supplement did not improve these functions in this group.
Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial; primary outcome brachial artery flow mediated dilation, with nitroglycerin mediated dilation, pulse wave velocity and NIH Toolbox cognition scores as secondary outcomes. Longvida and a matching placebo were provided by Verdure Sciences; the authors report no conflicts of interest. (Gimblet et al. 2024, Antioxidants (Basel))
88 adults with stage 3b or 4 chronic kidney disease (mean age 66, 75% men); 12 months.
No difference from placebo in flow mediated dilation (the primary outcome) or in any secondary outcome. Reported adverse events did not differ between the groups and no serious adverse events were reported with curcumin.
Randomized, double blind, placebo (rice flour) controlled trial; supplement taken from 2 days before to 3 or 4 days after 60 eccentric leg press repetitions, with soreness and blood markers measured daily for 4 days. Partly funded by a grant from Verdure Sciences, with a further grant from the National Strength and Conditioning Association; the funders had no role in data collection or analysis. (McFarlin et al. 2016, BBA Clin)
28 young adults (16 curcumin, 12 placebo); about 6 days.
Compared with placebo, rises in creatine kinase (48% smaller), TNF-alpha (25% smaller) and IL-8 (21% smaller) were blunted after the session. IL-6, IL-10, rated quadriceps soreness and soreness during daily activities did not differ between the groups.
Placebo (starch) controlled trial of Longvida 400 mg/day (80 mg curcumin); results were reported as changes within the curcumin group that did not occur on placebo, not as direct comparisons between groups. Supported by a grant from Verdure Sciences. (DiSilvestro et al. 2012, Nutr J)
38 healthy adults aged 40 to 60 (19 per group); 4 weeks.
Within the curcumin group only, plasma triglycerides, salivary amylase, plasma beta amyloid, sICAM and ALT fell, and salivary radical scavenging capacity, plasma catalase, myeloperoxidase and nitric oxide rose. These are laboratory markers without a symptom or function outcome.
Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial with forearm blood flow and brachial artery ultrasound; capsules were provided by Verdure Sciences and the work was funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Circulating markers of oxidation and inflammation did not change. (Santos-Parker et al. 2017, Aging (Albany NY))
39 healthy men and postmenopausal women aged 45 to 74 (20 curcumin, 19 placebo); 12 weeks.
Forearm blood flow response to an infused vessel dilating agent rose 37% and brachial artery flow mediated dilation rose 36% on curcumin, with significant group by time interactions versus placebo; aortic pulse wave velocity and carotid compliance did not change. One curcumin participant left the study because of dizziness.
Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of Longvida 1.0 g/day during a 14 day high intensity interval training program on a cycle ergometer; curcumin takers were analyzed as faster and slower subgroups. One author is affiliated with Verdure Sciences, the maker. (Kisiolek et al. 2022, J Diet Suppl)
36 adults (16 men, 20 women); 14 days.
Time trial gains over 16.1 km were 8.15% on placebo, 5.04% in the slower curcumin subgroup and 0.57% in the faster curcumin subgroup, with no statistically significant differences, and no changes in blood lactate or the other measures.
Pharmacokinetic study using a validated HPLC assay (detection limit 1 ng/mL), with single doses in healthy volunteers and 2, 3 and 4 g doses in late stage osteosarcoma patients. (Gota et al. 2010, J Agric Food Chem)
Healthy volunteers and 11 patients with osteosarcoma.
After 650 mg of the formulation, mean peak free curcumin was 22.43 ng/mL, while the same amount of unformulated 95% curcuminoid extract was not detected. Levels varied widely between people and did not rise in proportion to dose.
Independent crossover pharmacokinetic study of plain curcumin with and without piperine, NovaSOL and Longvida (five capsules, 525 mg curcumin); the authors declare no competing interests. (Kroon et al. 2025, iScience)
Nine healthy men; seven took the Longvida dose.
Free (unconjugated) curcumin stayed below the 2 nM quantitation limit in everyone given Longvida, and total curcumin exposure after Longvida was not significantly higher than after plain 600 mg curcumin. The authors concluded that blood levels of free curcumin stay minimal even with enhanced formulations.