Sinob Curcumin

What is Sinob Curcumin?

Sinob Curcumin is a turmeric extract in vegetable capsules, dosed at 250 mg of rhizome extract standardised to 95% curcuminoids, to which are added 3 mg of black pepper extract standardised to 95% piperine. The bottle holds 60 capsules.

What strikes you first is the dosage schedule: one capsule every three days, and not one a day. This is not a way of cutting corners, it is a direct consequence of the dose, and we explain why below. It also means that one bottle covers six months, which is unusual in this aisle.

Culinary turmeric contains roughly 2 to 5% curcuminoids. An extract standardised to 95% therefore concentrates the active fraction massively: the manufacturer states that one capsule is equivalent to around 94.8 g of turmeric powder. It is this concentration that makes all the difference between sprinkling a dish and taking a supplement — and it is also what calls for precautions that kitchen turmeric does not require. The rest of the German range appears in our Sinob aisle.

What does one capsule of Curcumin contain?

No nutrient reference value exists for curcuminoids or for piperine: a percentage column would make no sense here.

The decisive figure on this page is the following. EFSA has set an acceptable daily intake of 3 mg of curcumin per kilo of body weight, i.e. 180 mg a day for a person weighing 60 kg. One capsule provides around 237.5 mg. In other words, a single capsule already exceeds the acceptable daily intake on the day you take it, which the manufacturer acknowledges by citing that 180 mg benchmark itself. That is precisely the reason for the spaced-out dosage: by spreading it over three days, the average intake comes back down to around 79 mg a day. This rule is therefore not a comfort tip, it is the product's actual instructions for use, and there is nothing to be gained from exceeding it.

The piperine at 2.85 mg is not a token ingredient. Curcumin on its own is very poorly absorbed by the intestine and quickly eliminated; piperine slows its breakdown by the liver, which markedly increases the amounts that actually circulate in the body. That is what makes the extract useful — and it is also what explains some of the precautions listed below, since piperine alters the metabolism of certain medicines in the same way.

Two clarifications to finish. First, no health claim is authorised in Europe for turmeric or curcumin: not for the joints, not for digestion, not for inflammation. We can describe the plant, the standardisation and the dose; we cannot attribute any effect to them. Second, the previous description on this page mentioned a “marketing authorisation in all German pharmacies” together with a PZN number. A PZN is simply an article number used by German pharmacies for their orders: it is neither a marketing authorisation nor a certification. We have removed that statement.

Ingredients list

Turmeric rhizome extract (Curcuma longa) standardised to 95% curcuminoids, black pepper fruit extract (Piper nigrum) standardised to 95% piperine, capsule shell (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), bulking agent: microcrystalline cellulose, anti-caking agent: magnesium salts of fatty acids. No major allergen declared. Vegan formula, made in Germany.

How should Sinob Curcumin be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water, 250 ml. Timing: during a meal containing fat. Frequency: one capsule every three days, never more. Duration: the manufacturer recommends 8 weeks of use followed by 2 weeks off.

The fatty meal is not a refinement. Curcuminoids are not water-soluble and are absorbed far better in the presence of fat: a drizzle of olive oil, an avocado, a handful of nuts or a normally cooked dish are enough. A capsule swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water loses a large part of its point.

That is also why pairing it with omega 3 makes sense, not through some mysterious synergy but because fish oil capsules supply the fat at the exact moment of the intake.

Do not make up for a missed dose by doubling up. This is the most common mistake with this product, and the only one that really matters: two capsules on the same day take the intake to 475 mg of curcuminoids, well above the safety benchmark. If you have forgotten, simply pick the rhythm back up.

Note finally the course interval: eight weeks of use, two weeks off. At one capsule every three days, a course represents about twenty capsules, and one bottle covers three complete courses.

Who is this turmeric for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult who wants a standardised, readable extract rather than a rhizome powder whose actual content nobody knows. The capsule is vegetable and the formula declares no major allergen, which makes it an option open to most diets.

The contraindications, on the other hand, are serious and the manufacturer states them clearly. The product is contraindicated in the event of obstruction of the bile ducts, gallstones included, since turmeric stimulates bile secretion. It is not recommended for people on anticoagulants, curcumin and piperine both interfering with coagulation and with the metabolism of medicines. It calls for medical advice in the event of liver or biliary disease. Finally, it is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and must be kept out of reach of children under three.

One further element has to be added that the manufacturer does not mention and that a French buyer has a right to know: ANSES has published an opinion on turmeric-based food supplements and reported cases of liver damage, stressing that forms intended to improve absorption — such as the combination with piperine — increase the body's exposure. That is not a reason to give up, it is a reason to follow the dosage to the letter and to seek advice at the slightest unusual sign.

What you should not expect from it: it is not a painkiller, it is not a treatment, and no improvement should be hoped for on a diagnosed condition. Any question of that order is a matter for your doctor or your pharmacist, not for a food supplement.

Standardised turmeric or a joint complex?

The two often cross paths in the same basket, so the difference is worth setting out.

A joint complex based on glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM is taken daily, at doses of around a gram, and aims at maintaining cartilage over time. It is the better choice if your concern is mechanical and long-standing — runner's knees, weightlifter's shoulders — and if you accept taking it every day for several months. Its drawback is bulk: these are large tablets, and glucosamine is most often derived from shellfish.

Standardised turmeric follows a different logic: a spaced-out intake, a concentrated plant active, a tiny capsule and no major allergen. It is the better choice if you are looking for a readable plant extract, if you are allergic to shellfish, or if the idea of a daily tablet puts you off from the start. The trade-off is the contraindications listed above, which are real.

There is nothing to stop you combining the two, provided you check that neither product duplicates an ingredient of the other. The whole aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition selection.

Frequently asked questions

Why only one capsule every three days?

Because one capsule provides around 237.5 mg of curcuminoids, whereas the acceptable daily intake set by EFSA is 3 mg per kilo, i.e. 180 mg for a person weighing 60 kg. Spacing them three days apart brings the average intake back below that benchmark. It is the product's instructions for use, not a suggestion.

How long does a bottle last?

Six months, at one capsule every three days for 60 capsules. It is the longest duration in our entire supplements aisle, and it completely changes the calculation of the real cost compared with a turmeric to be taken daily.

What is the black pepper for in the formula?

Its piperine slows the breakdown of curcumin by the liver, which markedly increases the amount that circulates in the body. Without it, most of the curcumin swallowed would be eliminated without having served any purpose. It is also this mechanism that explains the precautions to be taken with certain medicines.

Can it be taken with an anticoagulant?

No, the manufacturer explicitly advises against it. Curcumin, like piperine, interferes with coagulation and with the metabolism of several treatments. If you are on an anticoagulant, the question is one for your doctor before any purchase, and the answer is generally no.

Is this product suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, of vegetable origin, and all the ingredients in the formula are too. The manufacturer also declares no major allergen, which makes this line accessible to most exclusion diets.

Should it be taken with a meal?

Yes, and preferably a meal containing fat. Curcuminoids are not water-soluble: on an empty stomach, a large part of the dose will not be absorbed. An ordinary cooked dish is enough, there is no need to add anything.

What should you do if you miss a dose?

Simply pick the rhythm back up at the next due date. You should not double the dose to catch up: two capsules on the same day would take the intake to around 475 mg of curcuminoids, far above the safety benchmark. With a product on a spaced-out schedule, a missed dose is of no consequence.

Where can you buy Sinob Curcumin?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the one product in the aisle where we insist as much on the dosage as on the contents: an extract standardised to 95% is not taken like a spice, and the three-day rule is not negotiable. The other plant extracts can be compared in our superfood ingredients aisle.