Gamma cyclodextrin helps natural medicines reach their full potential in regard to absorption and bioavailability
Whether it’s been mentioned by your colleagues or patients, you may have had to contend with the belief that supplemental ingredients are too difficult for the body to absorb, and therefore of little use. And to be fair, there is some truth there; nutrients do have to be absorbed in order to be useful. To make natural medicines of any type more effective and consistent, they may require an extra boost. That’s where gamma cyclodextrin comes in.
Sometimes, nutrients that have already shown promise just need a little help to make them better and easier to take. Curcumin from turmeric is a great example. It is considered one of the plant’s most valuable compounds, but to get much benefit from it, large doses — up to 12 grams in some cases — were previously recommended. That’s why I prefer curcumin blended with turmeric essential oil for better absorption and bioavailability — compared to standard extracts, it is 700% better absorbed.1
But what about nutrients that don’t have analogous absorption systems, like turmeric oil is for curcumin? How do you get fat-soluble ingredients, which are by their very nature tougher for the body to absorb, into the bloodstream so they can provide your patients with real, noticeable benefits?
Gamma cyclodextrin for absorption
Gamma cyclodextrin is an oligosaccharide — a plant-based ingredient — that improves the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients by enveloping them in an open-ended microscopic structure, sometimes described as “bucket shaped” or as a “truncated cone.” The exterior of this molecule is water-soluble, which allows it to escort ingredients through intestinal walls for better absorption.
But however you want to think about it, the important thing to remember is that gamma cyclodextrin makes nutrients that may be difficult for the body to absorb and use into much more beneficial, efficacious and consistent natural medicines.2
Berberine, for example, is a compound many practitioners recommend to help their patients regulate blood sugar levels, reduce triglycerides and protect DNA. But large doses of berberine have become the standard for many practitioners, because the absorption rate is normally so low. But paired with gamma cyclodextrin, this absorption-resistant nutrient could do its good work much more efficiently.3-5
Other nutrients that become even more useful when paired to gamma cyclodextrin include CoQ10, quercetin, propolis and red ginseng.
In fact, the case for combining CoQ10 with gamma cyclodextrin is an especially strong one: it’s been shown to boost absorption by as much as 800%.6
Clinical examples
Recent clinical work shows that the addition of gamma cyclodextrin to a proprietary, hydroponically-grown red ginseng (HRG80) improved the energy, stamina and mental clarity effects of the botanical in individuals dealing with post-viral fatigue.7
It appears that simply adding gamma cyclodextrin meant that people could experience the same benefits at an even lower dosage level of red ginseng compared to an encapsulated version that didn’t include the compound (although, it should be noted that both forms reduced symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and post-viral states).
Other work with caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a component of propolis, found that the compound’s anti-tumor activity was greatly enhanced when it was combined with gamma cyclodextrin — most likely because this pairing made the polyphenol-rich ingredient more stable and bioavailable.8
And quercetin, a natural ingredient that moderates allergic reactions and bolsters viral immunity, has extremely variable bioavailability.9 Combining it with gamma cyclodextrin, along with vitamin C to help recycle the nutrient in the body, could be a key to delivering consistent levels of compounds to the bloodstream, making it a much more reliable option for your patients who struggle with allergies or who want to strengthen their immune responses.
Greater bioavailability and added health properties
But aside from absorption enhancement, gamma cyclodextrin has health-promoting properties all on its own. For example, research shows that the compound lowered postprandial glucose levels by 47%.10 If you’ve noticed patients struggling with their weight or blood sugar, that’s one more good point in favor of recommending a supplement that includes it in the formulation.
Bioavailable and bioactive forms of botanicals, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are already incredibly valuable for their inherent healing abilities and their practicality for any patient’s regimen. After all, if a given nutrient is better absorbed, it requires fewer dosages, and that generally means better patient compliance.
Gamma cyclodextrin can greatly assist compliance and, as a result, efficacy as well. It provides the full potential — and the positive results — of the natural medicines you recommend to your patients.
TERRY LEMEROND is a natural health expert with more than 40 years’ experience. He has owned health food stores, founded dietary supplement companies, and formulated more than 400 products. A published author, he appears on radio and television, and is a frequent guest speaker. He can be contacted through europharmausa.com.