The scientific studies to support our claims on bergamot are published in the following peer review journals:
Study: Bergamot polyphenolic fraction enhances rosuvastatin-induced effect on LDL-cholesterol, LOX-1 expression and protein kinase B phosphorylation in patients with hyperlipidemia by Gliozzi M et al, 2013 RCT Randomised placebo controlled 77 Human participants.
What it’s about:
Statins are medicines commonly used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. However, some people experience side effects from statins. Researchers thought that adding a natural supplement made from bergamot fruit (called bergamot-derived polyphenols, or BPF) might help patients lower their cholesterol with smaller doses of statins.
What they did:
- They tested 77 people with high cholesterol and triglycerides, splitting them into groups that received either:
- A placebo (no active treatment)
- Low or high dose of the statin rosuvastatin
- BPF supplement alone
- BPF plus a low dose of rosuvastatin
- All treatments lasted 30 days.
What they found:
Both statins and BPF alone helped reduce “bad” cholesterol (LDL), total cholesterol, and improved other cholesterol-related measures. When BPF was added to the statin, the cholesterol-lowering effect was even stronger. Also, this combination lowered markers in the blood that show damage to blood vessels caused by oxidation (a harmful process).
What it means:
Adding bergamot extract to statin therapy may boost the benefits of statins, helping to lower cholesterol more effectively and protect blood vessels. This might allow some patients to use lower doses of statins and reduce side effects while still controlling cholesterol well.
Study: Bergamot Reduces Plasma Lipids, Atherogenic Small Dense LDL, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Subjects with Moderate Hypercholesterolemia: 6 Months Prospective Study by Peter P. Toth et al, 2016 RCT Randomised placebo controlled 80 Human participants.
What it’s about:
Some people have side effects from statins or prefer natural treatments to manage high cholesterol (dyslipidemia). Bergamot, a citrus fruit, has been shown to lower blood fat levels thanks to its high flavonoid content. This study looked at how a specific bergamot extract affects cholesterol, blood fats, and early signs of artery disease.
What they did:
Eighty people with moderately high cholesterol took a daily dose of a bergamot extract (called Bergavit®) containing flavonoids for 6 months. Researchers measured their cholesterol types, including different forms of LDL (bad cholesterol), and used ultrasound to check artery thickness (a sign of early artery disease).
What they found:
- After 6 months, people taking the bergamot extract had:
- Lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL (bad cholesterol)
- Higher HDL (good cholesterol)
- More large, less harmful LDL particles and fewer small, dense LDL particles (which are more likely to cause artery problems)
- Reduced thickness of the carotid artery wall, indicating less artery disease risk
What it means:
Taking bergamot extract daily helped improve cholesterol levels and the quality of cholesterol particles, and also reduced early artery damage in people with high cholesterol, all within 6 months. This suggests bergamot could be a useful natural option to support heart health.
Study: Hypoglycemic and Hypolipemic effects of a New Lecithin Formulation of Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction: A Double Blind Randomised, PLacebo Controlled Study by V. MOLLACE ET AL, 2018 Randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial 60 human participants.
What the study looked at:
People with type 2 diabetes often have high cholesterol and blood sugar, which increases heart disease risk. While statins help, they can cause side effects. Natural antioxidants from citrus fruits like bergamot might help, but they’re usually poorly absorbed by the gut. This study tested a new, better-absorbed form of bergamot extract (called BPF Phyto) versus the standard form and a placebo.
What they did:
60 patients with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol were split into three groups. One took a placebo, one took the regular bergamot extract (BPF), and one took the new phytosomal version (BPF Phyto). Researchers measured blood sugar, cholesterol, and the type of LDL (bad cholesterol) particles.
What they found:
- Both bergamot groups had:
- Lower fasting blood sugar
- Lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
- Higher HDL (good cholesterol)
- Fewer small, dense LDL particles, which are more harmful
- No big difference in blood sugar or cholesterol results was seen between the regular and phytosomal forms. But tests showed the phytosomal form was absorbed at least 2.5 times better in the body.
What it means:
The new BPF Phyto formula gets absorbed better, which might make it a more effective natural supplement for managing blood sugar and cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes and heart risk.
Study: The Effect of Bergamot derived Polyphenolic Fraction on LDL Small Dense Particles and Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Metabolic syndrome. Micaela Gliozzi, Cristina Carresi, Vincenzo Musolino, Ernesto Palma, Carolina Muscoli, Cristiana Vitale, Santo Gratteri, Giuseppe Muscianisi, Elzbieta Janda, Saverio Muscoli, Francesco Romeo, Salvatore Ragusa, Rocco Mollace, Ross Walker, James Ehrlich, Vincenzo Mollace*Randomised, placebo controlled 107 human participants
What the study looked at:
Metabolic Syndrome (MS) and fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increase the risk of heart problems, especially in people with type 2 diabetes. This study tested whether bergamot extract (BPF) could help improve these conditions.
What they did:
107 patients with Metabolic Syndrome and fatty liver disease were split into two groups. One took a placebo, and the other took 650 mg of bergamot extract twice daily for 4 months. Researchers measured blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, liver health, and LDL particle size.
What they found:
The group taking bergamot extract had:
- Lower fasting blood sugar
- Lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
- Higher HDL (good cholesterol)
- Improved liver health (shown by ultrasound and metabolic tests)
- Fewer small, dense LDL particles, which are linked to higher heart risk
What it means:
Bergamot extract helped improve blood markers and liver health in people with Metabolic Syndrome and fatty liver disease. This suggests bergamot might help reduce heart disease risk in these patients.
