What Is Bergamot?

What Is Bergamot? Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a type of citrus fruit native to Italy. Essential oils from the peel and the extract from the juice are used to make medicine. Bergamot oil has several active chemicals and is commonly used as aromatherapy. When applied to the skin, the chemicals in bergamot oil can make the skin sensitive to sunlight. Bergamot is used for high levels of cholesterol or other fats in the blood. It is also used for anxiety, mental alertness, joint pain, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.

What Does Bergamot Smell Like?

Bergamot has a spicy citrus scent. It's responsible for the distinct flavor of Earl Grey tea8 and has a bitter taste similar to grapefruit.

Benefits of bergamot supplements

Bergamot may have several health benefits, including the following:

Reducing cholesterol

A 2019 reviewTrusted Source cites several studies that suggest bergamot can help reduce lipids in the body and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The studies found that taking a daily supplement of bergamot-derived polyphenol fraction (BPF) reduced total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol.

BPF is a powder with high concentrationsTrusted Source of polyphenols and is made from the juice and pith of bergamot.

A 2021 studyTrusted Source notes that combining bergamot phytosome, or phyto, with artichoke leaf extract leads to similar decreases in cholesterol and a reduction in waist circumference and fat tissue in adults with overweight. This might be more effective than supplementing with bergamot alone.

However, this was a small, short duration study with only 60 participants. Larger scale studies are necessary to verify these findings.

Managing blood glucose

Various studiesTrusted Source have looked into the effect of bergamot supplements on managing blood glucose levels in people with metabolic syndrome, which causes symptoms such as high:

• blood glucose levels
• HDL cholesterol
• blood pressure

A 2019 study recruited 60 people with type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The researchers assigned the participants to one of three groups:

• Group 1 took a BPF supplement.
• Group 2 took a BPF phyto supplement, a formulation rich in polyphenols with enhanced bioavailability, which means the body can absorb and distribute it more easily.
• Group 3 took a placebo.

People in groups 1 and 2 showed a considerable reduction in fasting plasma glucose, serum LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol.

However, BPF phyto may be more beneficial than standard BPF. People in group 2, who took BPF phyto, absorbed 2.5 times as much naringin as those who took standard BPF. Naringin is the major component of BPF.

These results suggest that the specific formulation of BPF could impact the benefits a person derives.

However, this was a small study, and more research is necessary to verify its results.

Reducing inflammation

Bergamot may help reduce inflammation in the body.

The authors of a 2015 studyTrusted Source looked at the effect of bergamot on reducing inflammation in mice. The mice showed fewer markers of inflammation following a daily dose of bergamot juice.

The researchers conclude that the anti-inflammatory properties of bergamot might be beneficial for treating conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease in humans.

However, there is currently not enough evidence that bergamot can have similar anti-inflammatory effects in humans.

Alleviating anxiety

Bergamot is a common ingredient in many aromatherapy oils and preparations.

One 2020 studyTrusted Source tested people’s anxiety levels before they underwent gallbladder surgery. The researchers asked 30 participants to inhale bergamot orange essence, and another 30 to inhale odorless grapeseed oil.

The group that inhaled bergamot orange essence experienced lower anxiety levels.

The researchers suggest that people could use bergamot orange aromatherapy to alleviate their anxiety before other surgical procedures.

Bergamot as a Supplement

Bergamot extract is available as a supplement in capsule, gummy, or liquid form. Most people take bergamot in doses of up to 1,000 mg daily for 4–12 weeks, and products may be standardized to include 11–19% total flavonones for optimal health benefits.2

Several purported benefits of bergamot supplements exist, but few are supported by high-quality research. Possible benefits include treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, managing schizophrenia, and promoting weight loss. The studies of these effects are either low-quality or small in size or use bergamot in combination with other ingredients. Therefore, it's unclear whether bergamot itself actually exerts a beneficial effect.2

As mentioned above, some research supports the benefits of bergamot extract on cholesterol, inflammation, and potentially blood sugar.

How to take bergamot

Bergamot-derived products are available in many forms, including:

• liquid extract, which people can add to tea or use as a cooking ingredient
• pills or capsules ranging between 500 and 1,200 milligrams (mg) per serving
• powder, which a person can add to juices or smoothies
• juice, which people can dilute with water or drink as is

A person should read product labels carefully to ensure they do not exceed the recommended dose.

If a person is taking other medications, they should check with a doctor before supplementing with bergamot, to avoid drug interactions.

Miranda Zhang