The bioavailability of NovaSOL® curcumin is documented in a published, peer-reviewed human study. In a 2014 randomised trial in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, micellar (NovaSOL®) curcumin reached 185× the 24-hour bioavailability of a standard curcumin extract, with a 453× higher peak blood level and a much faster time-to-peak.¹
These are absorption (pharmacokinetic) facts about the ingredient — not health claims. Curcumin carries no authorised EU health claims, and this page makes none.
The study
A randomised study published in 2014 in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research compared how well 23 healthy adults absorbed a 500 mg curcumin dose given in three forms: a standard native extract, a micronised powder, and micellar (NovaSOL®) curcumin.¹
| Pharmacokinetic measure | What it tells you | NovaSOL® vs standard |
|---|---|---|
| AUC (0–24 h) | total amount absorbed over a day | 185× higher |
| Cmax | the peak blood concentration | 453× higher |
| Tmax | time to reach that peak | ~1.1 h vs ~7.5 h |
What each number means — and doesn't
- AUC (area under the curve) is the best single measure of how much actually reaches the blood over time — the shaded area in the chart above. 185× AUC means far more curcumin was absorbed; it does not mean curcumin "works" 185× better for any outcome.
- Cmax is how high the blood level peaks; 453× reflects how poorly standard curcumin dissolves and how completely the micellar form is taken up.
- Tmax ~1.1 h (vs ~7.5 h) means the micellar form is absorbed quickly rather than slowly trickling in.
- The limit: these are pharmacokinetic results — they describe absorption, not a clinical health effect. Higher absorption is a property of the delivery form, not a promise of benefit.
Why standard curcumin absorbs so poorly
Curcumin barely dissolves in water; in the gut most is never taken up, and what is absorbed is rapidly metabolised and cleared.¹ That is why standard-extract blood levels stay low and late — the lower curve.
How the micellar form changes that
NovaSOL® encloses curcumin in microscopic micelles, so it becomes water-soluble and stable across the pH range of the digestive tract and far more crosses into the blood.² It is a delivery technology; the curcumin itself is unchanged.
What this means for Licur
Licur Max and Licur 7000 each provide 720 mg of NovaSOL® micellar solubilizate per capsule (≈36 mg curcumin), once daily. This evidence is why BMPHARMA expresses one capsule as ≈6,600 mg standard-turmeric equivalent by absorption. → NovaSOL® vs standard turmeric comparison · Licur Max · Licur 7000
FAQ
What study supports NovaSOL® bioavailability?
Schiborr et al., Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 2014 — a randomised study in 23 healthy adults.
Does 185× mean it works 185× better?
No. It describes absorption (AUC), not a health effect.
What is AUC?
Area under the blood-concentration curve — the standard measure of how much of a substance reaches the bloodstream over time.
Is the curcumin itself different in NovaSOL®?
No — only the delivery form (micelles). The molecule is unchanged.
How much curcumin is in a Licur capsule?
720 mg NovaSOL® solubilizate, including about 36 mg curcumin.
Where can I compare curcumin forms?
See our NovaSOL® vs standard turmeric extract guide.
Published 4 June 2026 · Bio Medical Pharma Editorial Team · For information only, not medical advice. See our editorial & sourcing standards.
Sources: ¹ Schiborr C, et al. The oral bioavailability of curcumin from micronized powder and liquid micelles is significantly increased in healthy humans and differs between sexes. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014. ² NovaSOL® Curcumin manufacturer technology documentation.
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