A new clinical study confirms positive effects of BCM-95, a high-potency turmeric extract in treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and anxiety.
 
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted by Adrian Lopresti, PhD, and Peter Drummond, PhD, of Murdock University, in Perth, Western Australia, and will be published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, volume 207, January 1, 2017.
 
BCM-95 was studied for its effects on Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and anxiety in more than 110 subjects, aged 18-65 years. Three groups of subjects received twice-daily doses of 250 mg BCM-95 combined with 30 mg of saffron, or 500 mg and 1000 mg BCM-95 alone. The groups were compared to each other, and collectively against a placebo.
 
“The positive results of this clinical study support findings that BCM-95 could help patients who suffer from depression, or could reduce anxiety in depressed adults,” said Shavon Jackson-Michel, ND, medical and scientific affairs advisor for DolcCas Biotech. “BCM-95 is high potency and can be effective even in smaller dosages—as little as 500 mg per day—and has a completely neutral flavor.” Depression treatment responders were qualified by attaining a 50% decrease in their IDS-SR₃₀ score over the 12 weeks of the study.
 
The BCM-95 and BCM-95-plus-saffron groups collectively showed decreased depression symptoms at each of the four week intervals, with little difference found between groups. Although the placebo groups also improved over the first four weeks, those improvements were not maintained throughout the full 12-week study. Measurements of present anxiety and generalized anxiety in the BCM-95 groups during the 12 weeks decreased by seven and six points, respectively, over the placebo group.
 
Interestingly, the atypically depressed subgroups were found to be the most responsive to BCM-95 treatments over the duration of the study, with a 65% decrease in IDS-SR30 score. Atypical depression, has been found to be associated with higher inflammatory markers, like C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) of which curcumin, a potent anti-inflammatory, is a known modulator.
 
Few differences in effectiveness of low doses of curcumin over high doses were observed, or of low-dose curcumin with and without saffron. However, the early identification and exclusion of 30 subjects that were placebo-‘sensitive’ or had unstable symptoms might have affected the ability to discriminate small, between-group differences.
 
“BCM-95 is backed by dozens of clinical research studies that show numerous health benefits,” noted Benny Antony, PhD, joint managing director for Arjuna. “BCM-95 curcumin is manufactured by synergistically combining curcumin and essential oil of turmeric, without synthetic additives. The therapeutic benefits of turmeric can be attained at its best by combining curcumin with ar-turmerone, an active compound derived from essential oil of turmeric.”
 
Arjuna and DolCas have full control on BCM-95’s supply chain, from farm (grown in Arjuna fields by its farmers) to finished supplement, minimizing the chance of contamination. Arjuna and DolCas recently received self-affirmed GRAS status for BCM-95 turmeric extract following a comprehensive review by a panel of qualified experts. The pure, high-potency ingredient is now available for use not only in food and supplements but also in medical foods.