Update 6/28/23. Can a citrus fruit naturally lower cholesterol levels? While it's true that eating more fruits and vegetables is generally associated with reduced cholesterol and better health, what about a specific type of fruit? Bergamot -also called citrus bergamot – is a type of orange that has been getting the attention that it might reduce cholesterol and be heart healthy. And there is some human research on this fruit too. So, in this review, let's look at the human research on Bergamot lowering cholesterol and try to help you decide if it's right for you.
Also, See These Reviews
What Is Citrus Bergamot?
Bergamot is a type of orange that grows in Italy, although because of its growing popularity, I'm sure it'll be eventually harvested elsewhere too. Its scientific name is Citrus bergamia, and it's also referred to as Citrus bergamia Risso.
Here in the US, it's usually just called “Bergamot.”
Bergamot is sometimes added to Earl Gray Tea but the levels in the tea are probably not high enough to significantly reduce cholesterol levels.
Bergamot And Cholesterol Research
Research suggests citrus bergamot can reduce cholesterol levels. To narrow things down, let's take out the lab animal research and test-tube studies and focus just on human studies. This will be the most useful since we are all people.
Study
Researchers in Italy published a study that involved both 237 people as well as rats. The people were followed for 30 days and divided into 3 groups:
- Group A received 500 mg of bergamot per day before meals.
- Group B received 1000 mg of bergamot per day before meals.
- Group C received a placebo before meals.
Results: Researchers noted bergamot caused a “strong reduction” in total cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol) and a significant increase in HDL (good cholesterol). A significant reduction in triglycerides was also seen. No significant changes were seen in those getting the placebo (that's good).
A “strong reduction” may not necessarily be a significant reduction. I thought some of the words used in this study were vague. Since this was an Italian study, might this could be due to language differences between cultures? I recommend that doctors read the study for themselves.
There was also a 4th group who had to stop taking their statin medications (cholesterol-lowering drugs) because of muscle pain and other side effects. They were given 1500 mg of bergamot per day. This group showed saw a 25% reduction in total cholesterol and a 27.5% reduction in LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. No negative side effects were reported.
In this study, those taking 1000 mg per day responded better than those getting 500 mg per day.
This study also reported bergamot improved vasodilation of the blood vessels. In other words, the blood vessels open up more easily to allow for better blood flow. Because of this finding, I predict this compound may one day be used in “male performance” and “pre-workout” supplements.”
Bergamot Research Video
Video 1
Video 2
Watch video on my YouTube channel if you prefer
Study
Italian researchers conducted another investigation where 77 people with high cholesterol were given 1000 mg of bergamot for 30 days. Results showed significantly reduce total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides while, at the same time, raising HDL (good cholesterol).
After 1 month of use, here is what the researchers found:
- The average total cholesterol dropped from 278 to 191.
- Levels of LDL decreased from an average of 191 to 113.
- Triglyceride levels dropped from 238 to 165.
- Levels of HDL increased from 38 to 45.
- The addition of bergamot to a cholesterol-lowering drug (Crestor) was also shown to enhance the effects of the drug.
Study
Researchers in the US and Italy published a 6 month-long investigation of bergamot. The study involved 80 men and women (average age 55) with moderately high cholesterol levels.
For 6 months, the people were given 150 mg of a supplement called Bergavit. This supplement, made by an Italian company called BioNap (BioNap.com) contains additional bioflavonoids.
After 6 months, the Bergavit supplement:
- Lowered total cholesterol
- Lowered LDL (“bad cholesterol”)
- Lowered triglycerides
- Raised HDL (“good cholesterol”)
- Reduced thickness in the carotid arteries
These results were said to be “significant” in other words, not likely due to chance, but rather a real effect. One problem with this study however was it did not have a placebo group.
Study
Other research has found the addition of bergamot to Crestor (a cholesterol-lowering drug), allowed people to reduce their statin medication.
Study
Researchers, looking at 20 previous human studies, determined citrus bergamot can lower cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and boost HDL levels when given at a dosage of between 150 mg to 1000 mg per day.
Study
Can bergamot help people lose weight too? In this investigation researchers recruited 64 people who were overweight and had mildly elevated cholesterol. They were given either a placebo or 1000 mg of bergamot phytosome a day for 3 months. People took 1 capsule either for breakfast or another capsule with dinner. These researchers noted significantly greater visceral fat loss (the worst kind of body fat to have) compared to those taking a placebo. Interestingly, body weight did not change. Bergamot was also associated with lower total cholesterol, LDL to HDL ratio, and improved level of apolipo protein A (ApoA).
Study
In a review of previous human studies, it was estimated that citrus bergamot reduces total cholesterol 12% to 31% and LDL cholesterol by between 7% and 41%. Triglyceride levels may be lowered by between 11% to 40%.
Not All Studies Are Positive
To be fair, not all studies have shown bergamot works. For example, Italian researchers gave 500 mg of bergamot to 28 people (24 completed the study) who were taking antipsychotic medications. They did this for 60 days. These researchers found no change in cholesterol or LDL levels in this group.
This study has some problems. For example:
- This was an open-label study. So the subjects and researchers knew who was getting the supplement (not a big deal because they found it didn't work, but it's still a weakness in my opinion).
- Researchers used 500 mg which is the low end of other studies finds might work.
- There didn't appear to be a placebo group.
- The people were using antipsychotic medications. How do we know this didn't affect outcomes?
These same researchers published a very similar study that same year. This study involved 15 people who were taking anti-psychosis drugs. The difference was these people were given 1000 mg of bergamot daily for 30 days.
Results show a “statistically significant reduction of body weight.” Oddly, there was no change in cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides or any other blood parameter tested. One big problem with this study was that it involved only 15 people – and again, they were taking antipsychotic drugs.
Bergamot And Cholesterol Research Summary
Here's a quick breakdown of what research has noted:
- Reduced total cholesterol
- Reduced LDL (bad) cholesterol
- Reduced triglycerides
- Elevated HDL (good) cholesterol
- Vasodilation of blood vessels
The amounts of citrus bergamot needed to achieve these results ranged from 500-1000 mg per day. Results were seen in as little as 30 days.
How Does Bergamot Work?
Citrus bergamot contains compounds called flavonoids (a class of phytonutrients) that can reduce an enzyme involved in making cholesterol, called HMG-CoA reductase. This is also how some cholesterol-lowering medications work. However, research so far does not show any of the side effects like muscle pain and rhabdomyolysis (“rhabdo”) that some people report when they take statin medications.
Bergamot contains many compounds that may work in different ways. Some of the active ingredients include:
- naringin
- neroeriocitrin
- neohesperidin
- rutin
As such, a reduction in the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme may only be part of how it works.
For example, lab animal research notes bergamot increases the excretion of cholesterol in the feces. This appears to be another way it helps lower cholesterol.
Bergamot And CoQ10?
If bergamot works by knocking out the enzyme HMG-CoA, like cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins do, does that mean it should be taken with CoQ10 supplements as is sometimes recommended for people who take statins?
Not necessarily. Research has not shown bergamot causes muscle pain as statins can. If that's the case, then CoQ10 supplements may not be needed. If anyone has experienced muscle pain, leave a comment below.
Does It Contain Synephrine?
Bergamot is different than synephrine (citrus Aurantium / bitter orange), a stimulant found in some weight loss supplements. To be clear, bergamot is not citrus Aurantium. There is no synephrine in bergamot. So, it should not increase heart rate or blood pressure like bitter orange can.
What About Bergamot Oil?
Bergamot oil is different than the citrus bergamot supplements we are talking about here. The oil refers to essential oils that are either inhaled in a diffuser or placed on the skin. Citrus bergamot usually refers to supplements that are taken orally. Inhaling the essential oils will probably not have the same cholesterol-lowering effects as supplements.
Buy Citrus Bergamot
This stuff is getting pretty popular so you should be able to find it at many places like GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World, Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, Costco, Rite Aid, BJs, Kroger, and Acme, to name a few. The supplement is not expensive either, which is another reason it makes an attractive option.
Which Supplement Is Best?
There are many different supplements available. Some products combine bergamot with other ingredients like vitamin C, resveratrol, red yeast rice or CoQ10. Companies sometimes add other ingredients to their supplements in the hopes of getting better results. In theory, combinations of different ingredients may work better, but it will take research to know for sure.
If it's going to work, remember the studies only used bergamot -and nothing else.
If it doesn't work, a couple of things to take a look at include:
- Aged Garlic Extract (read review)
- Metamucil (read review)
- Apple cider vinegar (read review).
Bergamot vs. Cholesterol 360
Cholesterol 360 is a popular supplement for elevated cholesterol levels. Cholesterol 360 contains bergamot as well as other ingredients like vitamin C and green tea. So far, no studies have compared Cholesterol 360 to bergamot alone. For more insights, see:
Bergamot Side Effects
The supplement appears safe in healthy people. In the human studies summarized above, there were no serious side effects. The most common side effect reported was mild heartburn. Here are some general things to consider for those who are thinking of trying this supplement.
If you take ANY medications, talk to your doctor/pharmacist. Bergamot contains Bergamottin, a compound that may interfere with how fast or slow medications break down in the body.
This is sometimes called the grapefruit effect because grapefruit also contains a compound called bergamottin that can interfere with an enzyme (called cytochrome P450 enzyme) that helps us break down medications. The bergamot orange also has this compound.
Disrupting this enzyme may lead to some drugs being broken down to fast and others not fast enough. Either way, this might be a problem. If you take medications, speak to your doctor/pharmacist first. This is the smartest thing you can do.
- Speak to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Start with less than recommended for the first week to see how you react.
- Stop taking the supplement at least two weeks before surgery.
- Bergamot might reduce blood sugar levels. This could be an issue for diabetics or those with hypoglycemia.
- If you experience any odd side effects while taking the supplement, stop taking it and speak to your doctor/pharmacist.
Longer lasting clinical studies need to be done to better determine side effects.
Quick Reference Summary
Because research can be complicated, here is a quick rundown on what I think is good and not so good with this supplement.
What's Good | What's Not So Good |
---|---|
Supplement has human clinical research | Some studies have problems |
Supplement is relatively inexpensive | More drug interactions research needed |
Seems to have few side effects | |
Should see benefits in a month |
Research for lower cholesterol, research uses 500-1000 mg per day.
Does Bergamot Work?
Given the research and few reported side effects, this might be something to try if you have high cholesterol, LDL, or triglycerides. Before you start taking a bergamot supplement, first get a full blood test to see what your cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, etc. are. Tell your doctor you want to try the supplement and see what she/he thinks. Try it for a month. Then, get another blood test. If citrus bergamot is going to work, the research says you should see the changes in a month.
Here's Citrus Bergamot on Amazon
it has been 2 weeks since my last cholesterol check and I told you the bergamot did not seem to help.
I decided to keep it for another 2 months
i had my physical and got my results back yesterday.
the doctor was amazed at my results.
the HDL went up to 45 from 25 last year. it was 38 2 weeks ago and that was a no change from when I started using bergamot a month earlier.
the LDL dropped to 88 with the total levels 144 and triglycerides 65
my ratio was 3.2 which was a tremendous change from year ago.
not sure if its the bergamot or not but probably did not hurt
I had a heartscan today and i was really disappointed as it went up since last year
i have changed to a plant based diet, running a 5k 6 times a week, and a few select supplements, basically for HDL and LDL help.
this month is a year since I changed with great results and feeling really healthy, other than the heart scan.
any suggestions on a natural way of lowering or maintaining my calcium score as i do not want to go on statins
i did add a K2 supplement with D3 a few months ago but have not been on it all that long.
Thanks
Hi Tony, those sound like some pretty impressive results to me! Be joyed with what you have accomplished and continue to accomplish. your LDL and triglyceride numbers are VERY good.
Don’t worry too much about coronary calcium heart scan. What was the number this time and the last coronary calcium scan?
Coronary calcium scans are getting popular but one issue as I see it is they dont measure the softer plaque, the kind that is likely to cause heart attacks. They only measure the hard plaque which from what I understand, doesn’t do too much to us.
What does your doctor say about your coronary calcium scans?
I forget if I mentioned this before but have you ever looked at age garlic extract? Here’s my aged garlic extract review.
There is some preliminary evidence it may help coronary calcium https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16484554
1000 per day
1 morning
1 last meal
I did see where it said in studies where there was not much difference in glucose level with the 500 vs 1000
Tony, yes 1000 seems right for cholesterol. lets see what a little longer brings. 🙂
I used Jarrow the one you suggested
My only issues with cholesterol is my hdl is at 38
All other levels are good
I did some other research on bergamot and it does say in some cases it can help glucose levels
I think I will stay on it for 60 more days and see what happens
Have you seen a supplement called Fruitflow that seems to have very good success in the UK and Europe
Thanks !
Tony, how much of the bergamot did you use -500 or 1000 mg? Thanks for the heads up on FruitFlow. I will take a look at it
Here is the review of Cholesterol 360 – a bergamot containing supplement.
http://supplementclarity.com/cholesterol-360-review/
Very interesting supplement that is quite popular from what I saw. Thanks to Tony putting the bug in my ear to do this review 🙂
Does cholesterol 360 contain grapefruit of any kind?
Hi Nancy, excellent question. I touched on this in the side effects section of the review. As you know grapefruit can interfere with the breakdown of several different kinds of medications in the body. this is because grapefruit interferes with an enzyme involved in drug breakdown.
Bergamot might also interfere with the breakdown of medications. There is some evidence it will do this. I suggest you show bergamot to your pharmacist and ask her/him if there will be any interaction.
If you have any other questions, just ask.
It’s called cholesterol 360
You talked snout apple cider vinegar
I take 2 tablespoons with water almost every day
Hi Tony, I looked at cholesterol 360. While it has bergamot (500 mg per capsule) it also has vitamin C, green tea and grape seed extract too. The research studies only used bergamot and nothing else. It may be a fine product but the key ingredient is bergamot and not the other things.
I toss apple cider vinegar into my smoothies -with green tea (I cut open the tea bag and toss it in)
in the morning I take a protein shake called Tikva, then I wait 30 minutes before breakfast
Should I take the bergamot before the breakfast then my supplements after food ?
The only difference would be the before food change
I ordered it yesterday and should have it tomorrow so I can start this Monday
I see it gives a few people heartburn. Hope I don’t get that ????
Thanks
Hi Tony, I took a look at the studies and people took the bergamot before meals. The research doesn’t specify how long before meals. My guess it was not more than 20-30 minutes before meals. I see no reason why you can’t take it with your protein shake. BTW Thanks for the heads-up on Cholesterol 360. I’m writing the review on it now 🙂
I have been on Jarrow bergamot for 30 days.
my HDL actually dropped 1 point but my other cholersterol levels stayed about the same.
one interesting thing is my glucose level dropped 13 % from 95 to 83
TC: 144
ldl went up 1 point from 97 to 98
trg up 4 points from 55 to 59
TC/HDL went up from 4.0 to 4.2
I find some sites say within one month it should help and others say 60-90 days.
Your thoughts
Thanks !
Hi Tony, the research with bergamot showed results in just 30 days. Could some take longer? its possible. There have not yet been a bunch of studies yet on it. That is quite interesting about your blood sugar going down. What brand of bergamot did you use? Overall it doesnt look like your levels ere too bad to begin with 🙂
Will Bergamot essential oil which is from the rind of the fruit have same effects? Is the supplement from the juice or the rind? Thanks.
Hi Barbara, are you referring to bergamot essential oil which is inhaled? If yes, I dont think that will reduce cholesterol. Likewise Ive never seen any studies of bergamot oil placed on the skin lowering cholesterol either. The research is on Bergamot fruit which is consumed. I looked at various supplements and their labels say it comes from the fruit, which I take to mean the whole fruit.
Does that help?
I am on a plant based diet with exercise and have lowered my cholesterol to 167, hdl is 40, ldl is 119 cholesterol ratio 4.5. My triglycerides are 58.
all better over a period of 9 months.
I have been using supplements like kyolic, olive leaf and omega and am on no medications.
The first 6 months was the biggest change but now the only thing I have not been able to do in the past 3 months is raise my hdl and lower my ldl.
do you think this product would help
Thanks
Hi Tony,
the research does seem to show bergamot might raise HDL. Granted there’s not a lot of studies but they seem to agree there may be something to it.
Have you lost weight since you started the plant based diet and exercise program? Sometimes weight loss can raise HDL and lower LDL.
On the plus side, I plugged your numbers into a cholesterol/HDL/LDL ratio calculator. It said your total cholesterol/HDL ratio was 4.1 which is less than 5, so that’s good. Your triglyceride to HDL ratio is 1 which is “ideal”
Here’s a link to the calculator: http://www.hughcalc.org/chol.php
Exercise generally does raise HDL but it can vary from person to person. What kind of exercise are you doing? cardio/strength combo, HIIT training, low intensity cardio?
Here is a link to my review of Apple Cider Vinegar. While I was looking at its weight loss research, I did find some research showing it may raise HDL
Polycosanol which is a supplement might also raise HDL levels as well as lower cholesterol too.
The good news about bergamot is you should see a change in HDL in a month. That’s what the studies are showing. Let me know what happens if you try it. 🙂
I go to the gym 3 times a week and do weights
I also run a 5k 5-6 times a week
The weight loss cane after the change of diet along with the running
I check my cholesterol every 3 months to know where it is at
The last one was 6/7
Thanks
Tony, thanks. That’s pretty intense. Lets see what the begamot helps. Again, you should know in a month if its working according to the research.
I see one called 360
Which one do you think is best
I have a regimen of supplements and hope they work together well
Mainly cinnamon, niacin, omega, krill oil, olive leaf, kyolic, and K2 with D3
I have a product called Tikva I drink in the morning and 1 protein shake that I add 1 tablespoon flaxseed and 2 tablespoon PBfit powder everyday
The rest is plant based with fruit smoothies and veggies subs or salads
Trying to stay as healthy as I can for my age if 63
Tony, I searched for “bergamot 360” but didn’t see anything. This is supplement to look at. it’s from a company called Jarrow.
So I didn’t know what to expect, but I implemented Bergamet as part of a revamped approach to my health. Total chol was 236, LDL was 172 in November. I began a regimen of 550mg tablet twice a day, 400mg CoQ10, 2000 mg flaxseed oil, and 1000 mg of niacin, stepped up to 2000 mg over maybe four weeks.
I’m 53, no olympian, but I get decent exercise. Diet mods – no fried food, cut out pretty much anything with a crust, no ice cream, pies, cakes, cookies, deli meat, cheese, pork (not having bacon took effort, its my favorite color lol!). No Skyline for five months was tough (Cincinnati chili)
Blood test last month – total chol at 180, LDL at 104…in five months. TriG went up, all the ratios improved, and I went from 220lbs to 200lbs. Went to Skyline to celebrate!!! 😀
I maintain now with 650mg Bergamet, 1000mg niacin, 400 mg CoQ10, and if I remember the flaxseed, great. Enjoying *some* of the restricted foods, but there has to be a semi-permanent change, I can never go back to ‘all the bacon I can hold’ mentality.
Hi Craig, congrats! That is fantastic! Dropping your cholesterol from 236 to 180 and LDL from 172 to 104 and losing 20 pounds is impressive! Im glad the bergamot and other supplements helped you 🙂
You mentioned mild heartburn as a sometime side effect. What to do about this? I’m eager to lower cholesterol without statins, but heartburn may cause other issues.
Hi Ava, the heart burn was reported by only some people. How likely heart burn is when taking Bergamot I cannot say. My hunch is there would be less heart burn if you took it with food. If you try Bergamot, let me know what happens. if its going to work, you should see a difference after a month.
Also see the review on Black Seed Oil too
Once Cholesterol levels decrease is it necessary to stay on bergamet long term .?
Hi Gil, I believe yes if Bergamot lowered cholesterol then it would be necessary to take it long term to keep cholesterol levels low. Now, remember cholesterol can often be be reduced losing weight, exercise and eating less saturated fat. If those areas need to be addressed, give them a try too. it might be that through weight loss, etc, your cholesterol would go down and you might not need bergamot long term.
Any other questions just ask 🙂
Thankyou for your reply, I think it’s important to know that as statins are usually taken long term.
Gill, its a good point you make. If you try bergamot, let us know how your cholesterol changed 🙂
How do you divide up the 2 citrus bergamot pills that equal 1000 mg total. One before breakfast and 1 before dinner? Please advise.
Hi Roberta, yes that’s a fine way to take it. I think dividing up the dosage is better than taking a lot at the same time. Let me know what happens after a few months. Also take a look at my apple cider vinegar review. Some of the research has also noted improved cholesterol .
Does anyone ever come back and post if bergamot helped them or not?!
Hi Teresa, I wish more would. Im curious too. I even got my brother to experiment with it and have not heard back from him either. Ill reach out to him and see if I can get some feedback. Have you tried Bergamot?
The brand Ortho molecular says that their Bergamot product has all of the furocoumarins removed. This is what causes the grapefruit effect. Therefore, it should be safe to take with statins.
Hi Susan, thanks for that info. I dont believe Ive heard of Ortho Molecular supplements. I tried to download the Bergamot fact sheet they had and supplement facts but it was just word-pad gobbledygook so I could not read it. Im sure its a glitch that will be fixed eventually.
I have been on bergamet pro + tablets 1 twice a day and coq10 150mg 1 a day for over six months.
My cholesterol was 6.9 prior to taking the above and it is 6.9 after the 6 month period that I have been on them.
So this means that they did NOTHING to lower my cholesterol
Normal range of cholesterol is 5.5 and doctor suggests statins but was hoping bergamet would lower it from 6.9 but for some reason it hast
For those wondering, 5.5 is, 5.5 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Most in the US use the other convention which is milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).
Hi Chris, thanks for that feedback. can you tell me how many mg of Bergamot was in each tablet? Id like to try to match that up with what the research used.
If I remember there is a study on Bergamet but that might not be the same thing as Bergamot (the names sound similar). Have you tried a supplement thtat contained Bergamot? I feel there is more research on that.
Hows your body weight? losing weight can often help lower cholesterol.
currently taking citrus bergamot, total cholesterol/242, hdl/64, after 2 months daily of taking a capsule, what will total/hdl look like?
Hi Phil, while I can’t give you specific numbers, if the research is right, your cholesterol should have gone down by now. Get another blood test and let us know what happened.
I read your review a couple of months age when my Doctor wanted me to go on to statins.
I know now several months later that my bp has dropped from93 over 154 after taking bergamot for about six weeks. Will be going in for blood work in the nest week or two and will post it at that time
Hi Graham, let me know what happens when you get the other blood work done. I’m curious.
I, due to a financial (ahem) complication , did not get the Bergomot until a couple of weeks ago. Have been taking 2 daily, 1 tab prior to main meal. Have another 2 weeks and will get tested. Will report back at that time. I have not forgotten ~ apologies for not posting earlier. Hanging in there!. Great to see others with positive results (so far! yea) Oh, and I did purchase the one the study was done on, BergaMet
Sharon, sounds good and I will look forward to learning how your blood test went 🙂
It worked for me! Both my LDL and triglycerides came down out of the danger zone. I tried because my doctor wanted to put me on statins. I get blood work every 6 months. Just to make sure, this 6 months, I have stopped the Bergamot and have a pescaterian diet. If the cholesterol increases, then it will be back to the Bergamot.
flamerritt, that is great news! If you remember, do let me know what happens including before and after cholesterol numbers.
Hello – I am very interested in your comments re; Bergamot. I an unable to tolerate statins, and have extremely high familial cholesterol.
I will give your suggestion of 30 days a try, as I just had my blood work done two weeks ago. 30 Days will surely tell the tale.
Thank you again. Will publish the results here ~ hopefully they will be close to the reports.
If I can come close to these drops I will be totally ecstatic !
•The average total cholesterol dropped from 278 to 191.
•Levels of LDL decreased from an average of 191 to 113.
my tryglicerides are fine, hdl is almost in range.
Thanks again for your site and your very astute comments for our protection.
Sharon, you are very welcome and I do hope bergamot helps you. I will look forward to hearing what happens in a month.
Which brand do you recommend? 🙂
Hi Jami, I didn’t see anything in the research that made me think any brand was better than another. That said I have seen others mention that this product from Jarrow was good.
I think if the product has only bergamot and has between 500 – 1000 mg, then all of them should work about the same. I think the best way to know if it works is to follow the advice I mentioned in the last section of my review. If you do try this and it helps, I hope you will let me know. I’m curious about this stuff.