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Bgm6.5
Bergamot Research
Likely helps
31 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Bergamot appears to help in 4 of 4 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2011–2026 with a typical study size of 98 participants.
Based on 31 studies · 3 meta-analyses · 19 RCTs · 15,002 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
4helped· 27 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Cholesterol & lipidsImproved cholesterol ratios and cardiovascular markers within 4-8 weeks · 4-8 weeks
Likely helps29 studies
Weight management
Likely helps9 studies
InflammationSignificant LDL and triglyceride reduction · 4-12 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational8 studies
Heart & blood pressureImproved cholesterol ratios and cardiovascular markers within 4-8 weeks · 4-8 weeks
2Systematic ReviewCited 26×n=442 · medium study2020
Promising findings reveal an alternative therapeutic option in dyslipidemia management with bergamot supplementation, especially in subjects with statins intolerance.
Lamiquiz-Moneo I et al. · Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2020)
Although statins can reduce LDLc by 50-60%, less than 20% of patients with high risk of CVD achieve LDL targets.
Based on data, 75% of studies showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDLc.
The decrease in total cholesterol varied from 12.3% to 31.3%, from 7.6% to 40.8% in LDLc and from 11.5% to 39.5% in triglycerides.
Various MediterrAsian diet products or natural extracts may represent a potential intervention treatment to raise HDL-C in dyslipidemic subjects.
Rondanelli M et al. · BioMed research international (2016)
The results of this systematic review indicate that the dietary supplementation with red yeast rice, bergamot, artichoke, and virgin olive oil has promising effects on the increase of HDL-C serum levels.
Various MediterrAsian diet products or natural extracts may represent a potential intervention treatment to raise HDL-C in dyslipidemic subjects.
Preclinical data suggest that polyphenols are potent multifunctional agents capable of breaking the feedback loops of cardiorenal injury.
Carollo C et al. · Nutrients (2026)
Preclinical data suggest that polyphenols are potent multifunctional agents capable of breaking the feedback loops of cardiorenal injury.
While bioavailability remains a significant translational challenge, novel nano-delivery systems and synthetic analogs offer promising strategies for clinical application.
Integrating these bioactives into CRS management could provide a decisive adjunctive strategy to improve metabolic homeostasis and prevent end-stage organ failure.
This review summarizes the mechanisms of action and available clinical evidence and outlines potential indications for bergamot use in selected patient subgroups.
Carpenito M, Coletti F, Muscoli S, Guarino L, Di Cristo A, Cammalleri V, Mega S, Emerenziani S, Cicala M, Fanali C, Ussia GP, Grigioni F. · Nutrients (2025)
Derived from food sources, they represent a promising adjunctive or alternative therapeutic option in specific clinical contexts, particularly in individuals with mild dyslipidemia or those who fail to achieve lipid targets despite optimal pharmacological treatment.
Bergamot-alongside its lipid-lowering effects-has demonstrated multiple additional properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vascular benefits.
While lipid effects are supported by several clinical studies, evidence for vascular and inflammatory pathways is based mainly on preclinical studies.
To summarize, this review suggests that the Mediterranean Diet and nutraceutical supplements may help prevent and manage cancer, but more research is needed to confirm their benefits.
Altomare C, Macrì R, Serra M, Ussia S, Ritorto G, Maiuolo J, Muscoli C, Perri E, Mollace V. · Nutrients (2025)
Promising results show that key compounds such as bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF), cynaropicrin, oleuropein, quercetin, resveratrol, and serotonin can modulate oxidative stress, inflammation, the tumor microenvironment, the cell cycle, and drug resistance.
A significant observation is that many of these substances demonstrate dual dose-dependent activity; they function as antioxidants in healthy cells but induce pro-oxidant and pro-apoptotic effects in cancerous cells.
Their ability to boost chemotherapy's effectiveness and safety while lessening side effects and offering combined advantages is also explored.
Therefore, this review aims to gather the latest literature supporting the beneficial role of both bergamot derivatives and waste products in different models of inflammatory-based diseases, thus highlighting the great potentiality of a waste re-evaluation perspective.
Russo C, Lombardo GE, Bruschetta G, Rapisarda A, Maugeri A, Navarra M. · Nutrients (2024)
Based on this, the need for novel agents endowed with anti-inflammatory effects prompted to search potential candidates also within the plant kingdom, being recognized as a source of molecules currently employed in several therapeutical areas.
Indeed, the ever-growing evidence on the anti-inflammatory properties of dietary polyphenols traced the route towards the study of flavonoid-rich sources, such as Citrus bergamia (bergamot) and its derivatives.
Interestingly, the recent paradigm of the circular economy has promoted the valorization of Citrus fruit waste and, in regard to bergamot, it brought to light new evidence corroborating the anti-inflammatory potential of bergamot byproducts, thus increasing the scientific knowledge in this field.
9Serum lipid profile and inflammatory parametersRCTCited 9×n=118 · medium study2022
The evaluated nutraceutical combination did not change serum lipid profile and inflammatory parameters, at least not with the daily dose applied in the present study.
Protic O et al. · Nutrients (2022)
Borderline
Compared to the placebo, at 6 and 12 weeks, NC did not significantly reduce total cholesterol (p = 0.083), LDL cholesterol (p = 0.150), and triglycerides (p = 0.822).
No changes were found in hs-CRP (p = 0.179), interleukin-32 (p = 0.587), interleukin-38 (p = 0.930), miR-21 (p = 0.275), miR-126 (p = 0.718), miR-146a (p = 0.206), myoglobin (p = 0.164), and creatine kinase (p = 0.376).
The evaluated nutraceutical combination did not change serum lipid profile and inflammatory parameters, at least not with the daily dose applied in the present study.
10Cardiometabolic risk factorsRCTCited 5×n=90 · small study2024
Overall, these findings support the use of the tested dietary supplement containing dry extracts of bergamot and artichoke as a safe and effective approach for the prevention and management of a broad spectrum of cardiometabolic disorders.
Fogacci F et al. · Nutrients (2024)
Borderline
After 6 weeks, the active-treated group experienced significant improvements in levels of triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo B-100), and apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI) versus baseline.
Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (Non-HDL-C), and hs-CRP also significantly decreased in the active-treated group compared to both baseline and placebo.
Improvements in TC, LDL-C, Non-HDL-C, TG, fatty liver index (FLI), hs-CRP, and endothelial reactivity were also detected compared to placebo (p < 0.05 for all).
12Athletic performance and vasodilationRCTCited 1×2025
Given the small sample size, this study serves as a pilot, and further research is needed to validate these findings on a larger scale.
Mollace R et al. · Nutrients (2025)
No harmful adverse effects were observed.
Max supplementation, providing beneficial effects on the antioxidant state and preserving the vascular endothelium might be a supplementation strategy to improve athletic performance and potentiate results.
Given the small sample size, this study serves as a pilot, and further research is needed to validate these findings on a larger scale.
In vitro data have been validated in a dedicated double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial performed in 50 healthy moderately hyper-cholesterolemic subjects.
Pierdomenico M et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2023)
In vitro data have been validated in a dedicated double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial performed in 50 healthy moderately hyper-cholesterolemic subjects, undergoing supplementation with either Brumex™ (400 mg) or placebo for 12 weeks.
Clinical and blood laboratory data were evaluated at the baseline and at the end of the trial.
Brumex positively impacted on both plasma lipid pattern and liver enzymes compared with the placebo, mainly in terms of significant reduction of total cholesterol (TC), TG, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-C).
14Liver fat content reductionRCTCited 18×n=140 · medium study2022
Our results showed that a new combination of bioactive molecules as nutraceutical was safe and effective in reducing liver fat content over 12 weeks in individuals with hepatic steatosis.
Ferro Y et al. · Journal of translational medicine (2022)
The CAP score reduction (%) was even greater in those with aged 60 or less, low baseline HDL-C, AST reduction as well as in men.
Our results showed that a new combination of bioactive molecules as nutraceutical was safe and effective in reducing liver fat content over 12 weeks in individuals with hepatic steatosis.
In conclusion, the synergism between Citrus Bergamia polyphenols and Cynara cardunculus extracts may be an effective option and may potentially broaden the therapeutic role of botanicals in dyslipidemic patients.
Riva A et al. · Nutrients (2021)
Between the two groups, total and LDL cholesterol in the supplemented group (compared to placebo) showed significant decreases overtime.
A significant reduction of waist circumference and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was recorded in the supplemented group (compared to placebo), even in subjects who did not follow a low-calorie diet.
The metabolic parameters and DXA body composition were evaluated at the start, after 30 and 60 days.
16Fasting plasma glucose and lipid parametersRCTCited 58×n=60 · small study2019
These data suggest that better absorption and tissue distribution of BPF Phyto formulation represents an innovative approach in supplementation treatments of cardiometabolic disorders.
Mollace V et al. · Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets (2019)
In the groups receiving BPF and BPF Phyto, a significant reduction of fasting plasma glucose, serum LDL cholesterol and triglycerides accompanied by increased HDL cholesterol was observed.
This effect was associated with significant reduction of small dense atherogenic LDL particles, as detected by means of proton NMR Spectroscopy, thus confirming the hypolipemic and hypoglycemic effect of bergamot extract both when using standard formulation as well as BPF Phyto.
However, when comparing the pharmacokinetic profile of naringin (the major component of BPF) and its metabolites, in patients treated with BPF Phyto, an at least 2,5 fold increase in its absorption was found, confirming in human studies the better profile of BPF Phyto compared to standard BPF.
17Visceral adipose tissue and plasma lipid profilesRCTCited 18×n=64 · small study2021
In conclusion, this clinical study gives evidence that bergamot phytosome provides beneficial effects, such as decrease of VAT and modulation of metabolic alterations, after just 30 days of supplementation, resulting a very promising protection of cardiovascular health.
Rondanelli M et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2021)
As to the within differences, the parameters of VAT, total and LDL-cholesterol were significantly decreased in the bergamot phytosome group, but not in the placebo group.
The other parameters (glucose, insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fat free mass, fat mass) were not significant.
In conclusion, this clinical study gives evidence that bergamot phytosome provides beneficial effects, such as decrease of VAT and modulation of metabolic alterations, after just 30 days of supplementation, resulting a very promising protection of cardiovascular health.
Ferro Y et al. · Frontiers in endocrinology (2020)
Huge benefit
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Likely real
However, after adjustment for weight change, the percentage CAP score reduction was statistically significant only in those over 50 years (44 vs. 78% in placebo and nutraceutical, respectively, p = 0.007).
Conclusions: This specific nutraceutical containing bioactive components from Bergamot and wild cardoon reduced the liver fat content during 12 weeks in individuals with liver steatosis over 50 years.
If confirmed, this nutraceutical could become the cornerstone treatment of patients affected by liver steatosis.
19Glucose, lipid and inflammatory biomarkersRCTCited 1×n=45 · small study2024
BBB consumption is a safe nutritional adjunct in the context of a well balanced diet.
Maggiolo G et al. · Food & function (2024)
Aim: To assess the effects, if any, of a bergamot-based beverage (BBB, bergamot juice ≤25%) on lipid, metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers.
Methods: Forty-five healthy subjects were randomised 1 : 1 to BBB intake (400 mL day-1) (55.5%) or control (44.5%) for 12 weeks.
Results: Both groups exhibited a time-related significant decrease in total cholesterol (p = 0.02), fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.016), insulin (p = 0.034), BMI (p < 0.001) and waist circumference (p = 0.04), but with no significant between-arm difference.
20Oxidative stress and inflammation gene expressionRCTCited 20×n=24 · very small study2023
These data based on the nutrigenomics approach demonstrated that supplementing 2 weeks of MAB juice to the MedDiet could contribute to a reduction in the risk of CNCDs.
Gualtieri P et al. · Genes (2023)
Likely real
Moreover, a significant reduction in total cholesterol/HDL index (p < 0.01) was pointed out between the two groups.
Body composition evaluation analysis showed a gain in lean mass (p < 0.01).
Gene expression analysis highlighted an increase in MIF (p ≤ 0.05), PPARγ (p < 0.001), SOD1 (p ≤ 0.05), and VDR (p ≤ 0.05) expressions when comparing MedDiet and MedDiet + MAB juice groups.