Full profile

Also known asLongvida, Curcuminoids
Best forWorking memory support · Mood support
Evidence gradeGrade B — Moderate — several human trials, some mixed results
Studied dose range400 mg/day of Longvida (delivering roughly 80 mg curcuminoids).
Time to effectSome acute mood effects; working-memory benefit studied over 4 weeks.
Best formLongvida or an equivalent lipidated/phospholipid-complexed curcumin — plain turmeric powder has poor bioavailability.

Evidence, honestly graded

Cox 2015 and a 2020 follow-up (same research group, healthy older adults) found modest working-memory and mood/fatigue benefits with the Longvida lipidated formulation versus placebo. Capped at B because the positive trial base is internal (same-group) replication rather than independent cross-sponsor replication, and the studied population skews 50+ rather than a broad healthy-adult range.

See the full grading rubric — study type, replication, population match, and dose adequacy — in The Evidence Standard.

Side effects

  • Generally well tolerated
  • Mild GI upset in some users

Who should avoid it or check first

  • Gallbladder disease without clinician guidance
  • Scheduled for surgery (theoretical bleeding risk)

Interactions

  • Theoretical antiplatelet effect — caution with anticoagulants — discuss with a clinician

Stacks well with

  • Omega-3

What to look for on a label

  • Specify the bioavailability-enhanced form (e.g. Longvida) and its curcuminoid delivery — plain turmeric extract does not match the studied material.

References

  • Cox 2015, J Psychopharmacology — Longvida curcumin RCT. Healthy older adults; acute and 4-week dosing improved working memory and mood/fatigue measures versus placebo. Educational, not a product claim.
  • Cox 2020 — Longvida curcumin follow-up. Same research group; broadly replicated the working-memory and mood signal in an older-adult sample. Internal (same-group) replication — noted as the honest caveat behind the B grade rather than A.

Primary citations for some entries above are still being compiled; those without a linked identifier are editorial summaries of the wider literature.

Grades and studied doses are our conservative reading of the human research, shown for education. They are not product claims, and a studied dose is not a recommended dose.

See how Curcumin (lipidated) compares on grade, dose, and goal in the Evidence Explorer.