Sabinsa's Tetrahydrocurcuminoids Ingredient Receives Great Britain Novel Food Positive Opinion

Sabinsa’s standardized tetrahydrocurcuminoids ingredient derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), Curcumin C3 Reduct, has received a positive opinion concerning novel food authorization for use in food supplements across England, Scotland, and Wales, issued jointly by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS).¹

The news supports use at a maximum daily dose of 140 mg for adults 18 years and older (excluding pregnant and lactating women) for finished product manufacturers operating in or exporting to Great Britain.

“This positive opinion represents an important milestone for Curcumin C3 Reduct and underscores Sabinsa’s commitment to rigorous science and regulatory transparency,” commented Dr. Shaheen Majeed, global CEO & Managing Director of Sabinsa. “We are pleased that both the FSA and FSS have concluded that our tetrahydrocurcuminoids ingredient is safe under the proposed conditions of use, and we look forward to supporting supplement brands in Great Britain with our well-characterized curcuminoid ingredient after final authorization.”

What Is the Regulatory Pathway Behind GB Novel Food Authorization?

Sabinsa Europe GmbH submitted a comprehensive safety dossier to the FSA in September 2023. The application was supported by multiple toxicological studies, genotoxicity assessments, compositional analyses, and human data. Following its review, the FSA and FSS found no concerns regarding allergenicity, genotoxicity, or product stability, and concluded that consumption of the ingredient at the proposed intake level is not nutritionally disadvantageous.

The Great Britain (GB) positive opinion builds on a previous positive scientific opinion issued by the European Food Safety Authority in October 2021, which evaluated the same ingredient under EU novel food regulations. The EU subsequently authorized tetrahydrocurcuminoids from Curcuma longa L. as a novel food in 2022. The ingredient also holds “Generally Recognized as Safe” status in the United States. The alignment of these three major regulatory jurisdictions, GB, EU, and the US, provides manufacturers with a comparatively clear compliance framework across several large markets simultaneously.

“Receiving the recognition in Great Britain is a significant achievement for our European operations and reflects the strength of the scientific dossier our team assembled in support of this application,” said Dr. Umar Jan, Sabinsa’s president of European operations. “The final authorization will open new opportunities for supplement brands across England, Scotland, and Wales to incorporate Curcumin C3 Reduct® into their product lines with confidence, backed by the thorough review of both the FSA and FSS.”

How Do Tetrahydrocurcuminoids Differ From Standard Curcumin?

The ingredient is produced through catalytic hydrogenation of curcuminoids extracted from turmeric rhizomes, yielding a purified powder containing 95% tetrahydrocurcuminoids, specifically tetrahydrocurcumin, tetrahydrodesmethoxycurcumin, and tetrahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin. The hydrogenation process eliminates the chromophore responsible for curcumin's yellow pigment, resulting in a colorless ingredient with a confirmed shelf life of 60 months under ambient conditions.

From a formulation standpoint, tetrahydrocurcuminoids have attracted interest primarily because of their improved chemical stability relative to native curcumin. A 2025 review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences described tetrahydrocurcumin as exhibiting superior bioavailability, chemical stability, and antioxidant activity compared to its parent compound, noting its capacity to regulate inflammatory pathways including NF-κB and the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling axis.²

What Is the Market Context for Curcumin Derivatives in Finished Products?

The broader curcumin category continues to be one of the most commercially active spaces in the botanical ingredient market, driven by sustained consumer interest in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant applications. Curcumin's well-documented bioavailability challenges have spurred the development of numerous delivery formats and chemically modified derivatives, of which tetrahydrocurcuminoids represent one distinct approach.

A 2025 meta-analysis in Inflammation Research covering randomized controlled trials of curcumin and Curcuma longa extracts found measurable effects on inflammatory biomarkers in autoimmune populations, though noted that heterogeneity across trials limits the strength of conclusions.³

For manufacturers, the colorless profile of tetrahydrocurcuminoids is a practical differentiator that expands formulation compatibility with products where curcumin's yellow pigment poses aesthetic or stability challenges.

References

1. Sabinsa Corporation. Sabinsa’s Curcumin C3 Reduct receives positive opinion as novel food in Great Britain. June 12, 2026. Accessed June 15, 2026. Press release provided via email.

2. Zeng A, Quan Y, Tao H, Dai Y, Song L, Zhao J. The role of tetrahydrocurcumin in tumor and neurodegenerative diseases through anti-inflammatory effects. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(8):3561. doi:10.3390/ijms26083561

3. Liu AJ, Wu PC, Chen YP, Chu HT, Chang HH. Effects of curcumin and Curcuma longa extract on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Inflamm Res. 2025 Dec 10;75(1):2. doi:10.1007/s00011-025-02135-z

NOTE: This article was updated to reflect that Cucumin C3 Reduct received a positive opinon, but was not approved in Great Britain. There is one more step before official approval.