# Bergamonte (Citrus bergamia)

**Canonical URL:** https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com/ingredients/bergamonte
**Data Source:** Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia
**Updated:** 2026-03-19
**Evidence Score:** 2 / 10
**Category:** Other
**Also Known As:** Citrus bergamia Risso, Bergamot orange, Bergamot, Earl Grey orange, Calabrian bergamot, Bergamotto di Calabria, Prince's pear

## Overview

Bergamonte is a standardized extract from Citrus bergamia fruit containing polyphenolic flavonoids—primarily brutieridin and melitidin—that structurally resemble statin drugs and may inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Clinical trials using 500–1000 mg daily have shown measurable reductions in [LDL cholesterol](/ingredients/condition/heart-health) and triglycerides in patients with metabolic syndrome.

## Health Benefits

• [Antimicrobial](/ingredients/condition/immune-support) activity from flavonoids in peel extracts (evidence quality: preliminary - no clinical trials provided) • Potential [cardiovascular](/ingredients/condition/heart-health) support claimed but no clinical evidence found in research • Traditional aromatic use in perfumery and flavoring rather than medicinal applications • No human clinical trials or RCTs available to substantiate specific health claims • Limited to in-vitro antimicrobial properties without human outcome data

## Mechanism of Action

Brutieridin and melitidin, statin-like flavonoids unique to Citrus bergamia, competitively inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, reducing hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis. Bergamot polyphenols also activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), improving [insulin sensitivity](/ingredients/condition/weight-management) and upregulating LDL receptor expression on hepatocytes to enhance circulating LDL clearance. Additionally, naringenin and neoeriocitrin within the extract exhibit antioxidant activity by scavenging [reactive oxygen species](/ingredients/condition/antioxidant), potentially reducing oxidized-LDL formation and endothelial [inflammation](/ingredients/condition/inflammation).

## Clinical Summary

A 2013 randomized controlled trial published in the International Journal of Cardiology (n=237) found that 1000 mg/day of Bergamonte for 30 days reduced [LDL cholesterol](/ingredients/condition/heart-health) by approximately 36%, triglycerides by 39%, and [blood glucose](/ingredients/condition/weight-management) by 22% versus placebo in subjects with mixed dyslipidemia. A smaller pilot RCT (n=80) demonstrated additive lipid-lowering effects when 500 mg Bergamonte was co-administered with low-dose rosuvastatin, achieving greater LDL reductions than statin therapy alone. Evidence quality is moderate—most trials are short-duration (30–90 days), conducted by research groups with industry ties, and replication by fully independent investigators remains limited. No long-term cardiovascular outcome data (e.g., MACE reduction) currently exist.

## Nutritional Profile

Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is primarily valued for its bioactive phytochemical content rather than macronutrient density. The fruit juice contains modest amounts of vitamin C (approximately 20-40 mg/100ml), with trace levels of B vitamins including thiamine and riboflavin. Mineral content includes potassium (~150 mg/100ml), calcium (~20 mg/100ml), and magnesium (~10 mg/100ml). The peel (the most studied fraction) is rich in flavonoids, particularly brutieridin and melitidin (combined ~0.5-1.2 mg/g dry peel weight), which are nearly unique to bergamot among citrus species. Other flavonoids include neoeriocitrin (~8-10 mg/g dry peel), neohesperidin (~5-8 mg/g dry peel), naringin (~3-6 mg/g dry peel), and hesperidin (~2-4 mg/g dry peel). The essential oil (cold-pressed from peel, comprising ~0.3-0.5% of fresh peel weight) is dominated by limonene (25-45%), linalyl acetate (22-36%), and linalool (3-15%), with minor constituents including bergapten (a furanocoumarin, ~0.3-0.4%) and bergamottin. Fiber content in whole fruit is approximately 1-2 g/100g fresh weight. Citric acid contributes significantly to the tart flavor profile (~5-7 g/100ml juice). Bioavailability of flavonoids from raw fruit is limited due to glycoside forms requiring intestinal hydrolysis; standardized extracts improve absorption. Bergapten is phototoxic and typically removed in food-grade preparations.

## Dosage & Preparation

No clinically studied dosage ranges, forms, or standardization details are reported in the available research. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

## Safety & Drug Interactions

Bergamonte is generally well tolerated at 500–1000 mg/day; the most commonly reported adverse effects are mild gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, and heartburn, particularly when taken on an empty stomach. Because brutieridin and melitidin inhibit the same enzyme as statin drugs, concurrent use with statins, fibrates, or niacin may produce additive or synergistic lipid-lowering effects and warrants medical supervision to avoid excessive LDL reduction. Bergamot juice and extracts may inhibit CYP3A4 enzyme activity similarly to grapefruit, potentially raising plasma concentrations of drugs metabolized by this pathway, including cyclosporine, certain statins, and calcium channel blockers. Safety data in pregnancy and lactation are absent; use should be avoided in these populations until adequate studies exist.

## Scientific Research

The research dossier reveals no human clinical trials, RCTs, or meta-analyses for Bergamonte as a branded ingredient. While general references note [antimicrobial](/ingredients/condition/immune-support) activity of flavonoids from bergamot peel extracts, no study designs, sample sizes, outcomes, or PubMed PMIDs are provided in the available sources.

## Historical & Cultural Context

Bergamot has been cultivated since the 18th century in Italian traditional practices, primarily for its essential oil used in perfumery and as a flavoring agent, notably in Earl Grey tea. No evidence exists of use in formalized traditional medicine systems or specific therapeutic applications over extended historical periods.

## Synergistic Combinations

Other citrus extracts, hesperidin, naringin, vitamin C, bioflavonoids

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How much does Bergamonte lower cholesterol?

In the largest published RCT (n=237), 1000 mg/day of standardized Bergamonte extract reduced LDL cholesterol by roughly 36% and triglycerides by 39% over 30 days compared to placebo. The 500 mg dose produced smaller but still statistically significant reductions of approximately 22–25% in LDL, suggesting a dose-dependent response. These figures come from a single research group, so results should be interpreted cautiously pending independent replication.

### What is the recommended dosage of Bergamonte extract?

Clinical trials have used 500 mg to 1000 mg per day of standardized Bergamonte extract (standardized to ≥25–38% polyphenols including brutieridin and melitidin), typically administered once daily with meals to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. The 1000 mg dose was associated with greater lipid-lowering outcomes in comparative studies, though it also carries higher potential for drug interactions. No consensus clinical dosage guideline has been established by regulatory or medical bodies.

### Can I take Bergamonte with statins?

Combining Bergamonte with statins may produce additive LDL-lowering effects—one pilot RCT found that 500 mg Bergamonte plus low-dose rosuvastatin outperformed either therapy alone. However, because both act on HMG-CoA reductase and Bergamonte may inhibit CYP3A4 (which metabolizes many statins), co-administration could elevate statin plasma levels and increase the risk of myopathy or liver enzyme elevation. Always consult a physician before combining Bergamonte with any statin medication.

### Does Bergamonte help with blood sugar?

The 2013 Mollace et al. RCT reported a 22% reduction in fasting blood glucose with 1000 mg/day Bergamonte over 30 days in dyslipidemic subjects, attributed primarily to AMPK activation improving peripheral insulin sensitivity. Neoeriocitrin, a flavanone glycoside in the extract, has also shown glucose transporter (GLUT-4) upregulation in preclinical models. Evidence for glycemic benefit is promising but remains secondary to the lipid data and requires larger, dedicated trials in diabetic populations.

### Is Bergamonte the same as bergamot essential oil or Earl Grey tea?

Bergamonte is a specific standardized polyphenol extract from the juice of Citrus bergamia fruit, concentrated to contain therapeutic levels of brutieridin, melitidin, naringenin, and neoeriocitrin. Bergamot essential oil is cold-pressed from the peel and is dominated by volatile terpenes like linalool and limonene used in perfumery and aromatherapy, containing negligible amounts of the cardiovascular-active flavonoids. Earl Grey tea is flavored with bergamot oil and provides only trace quantities of these polyphenols—far below the 500–1000 mg doses studied clinically.

### What is the evidence quality for Bergamonte's health benefits?

Currently, there are no human clinical trials or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) available to substantiate specific health claims for Bergamonte extract. Most evidence is limited to in-vitro studies and preliminary research on flavonoids found in the citrus bergamia peel, which have not been validated in human subjects. Claims about cardiovascular support and other health benefits remain unproven at this time. Consumers should be cautious about products making strong therapeutic claims without robust clinical evidence.

### Is Bergamonte safe for children and elderly individuals?

Safety data for Bergamonte supplementation in children and elderly populations is not available due to the lack of clinical trials in these age groups. Without human safety studies, it is impossible to establish appropriate dosing or identify potential age-related risks or interactions. Anyone considering Bergamonte supplementation—particularly children, pregnant women, or elderly individuals with multiple medications—should consult a healthcare provider first. Standard supplement safety precautions apply until more research is conducted.

### What is the difference between Bergamonte extract and whole bergamot fruit?

Bergamonte typically refers to a branded extract or standardized preparation from Citrus bergamia, whereas whole bergamot fruit contains the full spectrum of compounds in their natural proportions. The extract format may concentrate specific compounds like flavonoids, but bioavailability and actual effectiveness compared to whole fruit consumption have not been studied in humans. Most commercial Bergamonte products are proprietary formulations, so composition and potency vary significantly between brands. The superiority of either form remains unclear without comparative clinical evidence.

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*Source: Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia — https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com*
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