Bergamot for Cholesterol: What the Research Really Says

Updated 2026-10-08 · HarmoHealth Editorial Team

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Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a fragrant citrus fruit grown mainly in the Calabria region of southern Italy, best known as the flavor in Earl Grey tea. Over the past two decades, extracts of its juice and peel have become one of the most popular "natural" cholesterol supplements. This guide explains what the research shows, where it falls short, and how to use that information safely.

Does bergamot lower cholesterol?

The research is encouraging but not conclusive. Two systematic reviews give the clearest picture:

• A 2020 systematic review in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition included 12 studies. About three-quarters reported significant drops in total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides, and eight reported higher HDL. The authors also stressed that study designs varied widely and that the scientific quality was "quite limited."
• A 2022 meta-analysis in Phytotherapy Research pooled 14 randomized trials and found improvements in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL. It also found that results for products combining bergamot with other ingredients were inconsistent, and concluded that bergamot's clinical efficacy needs to be established through higher-quality studies.

In short, bergamot is one of the better-studied botanicals for blood lipids, but most studies are small, short and use different extracts and doses.

Why is the bergamot evidence still considered limited?

Several issues come up again and again in these reviews:

1. Small studies. Many trials enrolled relatively few people, which makes results less certain.
2. Different products. Extracts vary in how they are made and what they contain, so results do not transfer neatly from one brand to another.
3. Short follow-up. Most trials lasted weeks to months, not years.
4. No hard outcomes. Studies measured cholesterol numbers, not heart attacks or strokes.
5. Inconsistent combinations. Products mixing bergamot with other ingredients showed less consistent results.

That is why no major medical body recommends bergamot in place of proven treatments.

What is BPF in a bergamot supplement?

BPF stands for Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction, the concentrated mix of plant compounds (flavonoids such as naringin, neohesperidin and others) used in much of the research. When a label mentions BPF, look for the percentage of polyphenols or flavonoids and the amount per serving. A label that only says "bergamot" without a standardization figure is harder to compare with the studies.

How should I read a bergamot supplement label?

Use this checklist before buying any bergamot product:

• Amount per serving in milligrams.
• Standardization, such as a stated polyphenol or flavonoid percentage.
• Other ingredients, especially if the product is a blend.
• Daily serving size (one or two tablets or capsules).
• Third-party testing by a named organization, if any.
• Warnings about medications, pregnancy and allergies.

For example, the Bergamot Plus sales page states 675 mg of bergamot extract per tablet and two tablets daily, and mentions BPF certification without giving the percentage in its text.

See the Bergamot Plus label on the official site

Can I take bergamot with a statin?

Only with your doctor's knowledge. The 2020 review described a possible additive effect when bergamot was given alongside statins. That might sound like a plus, but it means your lipid results could change and your doctor may want to recheck them. Never stop or reduce a statin on your own. MedlinePlus explains how statins work and why they are prescribed. Our interactions guide covers other combinations.

Is bergamot better than red yeast rice?

They are very different. Red yeast rice can contain monacolin K, which NCCIH describes as structurally identical to the prescription drug lovastatin, and the amount varies enormously between products. That means red yeast rice can behave like an unregulated statin, with the same cautions. Bergamot works differently and is not a hidden statin, but its evidence base is smaller. Neither should be combined with a prescribed statin without medical advice.

Who should not take bergamot supplements?

• People on cholesterol-lowering medicines, unless their doctor agrees.
• People with diabetes on glucose-lowering drugs, since some bergamot studies also looked at blood sugar.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women and children.
• People with liver or kidney disease.
• Anyone allergic to citrus.

How does bergamot compare with blended cholesterol supplements?

Single-ingredient bergamot products make it easier to know what you are taking and to match the dose to research. Blends such as ColestZen list many ingredients without amounts, and most of ColestZen's ingredients are discussed for blood sugar rather than cholesterol. See ColestZen vs Bergamot Plus for a direct comparison.

What else helps cholesterol besides supplements?

The basics remain the most reliable: a diet lower in saturated fat and higher in fiber, regular physical activity, a healthy weight and not smoking. The NHLBI's blood cholesterol page explains how cholesterol is tested and treated, and MedlinePlus has a plain-language overview. If your doctor has prescribed medicine, those lifestyle steps add to it rather than replace it.

How can I tell whether bergamot is doing anything?

You cannot feel cholesterol changes, so the only way to know is a blood test. A sensible approach:

1. Get a baseline lipid panel before starting, or use a recent one.
2. Change one thing at a time. If you also overhaul your diet, you will not know which change helped.
3. Take the product consistently at the labeled dose.
4. Ask your doctor to repeat the lipid panel after a few months.
5. Stop if your numbers do not improve, if you notice side effects, or if your doctor advises it.

The bottom line on bergamot and cholesterol

Bergamot extract has more research behind it than most botanicals marketed for cholesterol, and the results lean positive. But the studies are small and inconsistent, no product-specific data replaces your doctor's judgment, and bergamot is not a substitute for a statin. If you want to try it, choose a clearly labeled product and tell your doctor so your next lipid test can be read correctly.

Sources consulted: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, medlineplus.gov, nccih.nih.gov, nhlbi.nih.gov.