08/05/2025
IN OFFICE SUPPLEMENT HIGHLIGHT - Thorne Meriva Curcumin
As a reminder, we carry a handful of select supplements in our office that Dr. Marv has handpicked because he not only believes in them but uses them in his personal life as well.
Meriva curcumin (a specific phospholipid formulation of curcumin which is the active ingredient in turmeric) has demonstrated several clinically relevant benefits for joint pain, inflammation, and overall health. It is without a doubt one of Dr. Marv’s favorite supplements of all time (especially as he damaged his kidneys from excessive NSAID use for his chronic pain so this helped him tremendously in that regard). It is one of the few times you actually NEED to pay extra for a patented form for absorption purposes (usually fancy patented forms are a way to charge more for something that doesn’t really matter much), and taking it with a fat source (such as a high quality fish oil) will amplify it’s absorption while provide a potent 1+1=3 punch for inflammation control.
Here’s what the data says about this specific form of curcumin:
1. Reduces joint pain and improves function in osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, with efficacy comparable to NSAIDs but with fewer gastrointestinal side effects.
2. Decreases systemic and local inflammation, as evidenced by reductions in inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP and ESR in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Enhances physical performance and quality of life in individuals with joint disorders, including improved walking distance and daily activity scores.
4. Demonstrates a favorable safety profile, with a low incidence of adverse events, making it suitable for long-term adjunctive use in chronic inflammatory conditions.
5. May reduce the need for concomitant analgesic or anti-inflammatory medications in osteoarthritis, potentially lowering overall medication burden and associated risks (but we do NOT take anyone off of Rx/change dosage – only the prescribing clinician can do so).
As you can see, there is a lot to like and these benefits are supported by both randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, with Meriva’s…⤵️