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Bergamot: What It Is, What the Evidence Shows and How to Choose a Supplement
Citrus bergamia · Also known as Citrus bergamia, bergamot polyphenol fraction
BioMedic Africa Editorial Desk
Published 29 August 2026 · Last updated 29 August 2026 ·
Editorial policy
Bergamot is the citrus behind Earl Grey tea, and its fruit polyphenols are studied for their effect on blood lipids. The supplement ingredient is the juice or peel extract, not the essential oil used in perfumery.
What is bergamot?
Bergamot is a citrus fruit grown mainly in Calabria, southern Italy. Its juice and albedo are rich in a distinctive group of flavonoids including brutieridin and melitidin.
Supplement products use a standardised bergamot polyphenol fraction. This is chemically different from bergamot essential oil, which is a fragrance material and is not taken internally at supplement doses.
Traditional and regional use
Bergamot has no African traditional use; it arrives as an imported extract in cardiovascular and metabolic formulas, and as a flavouring in tea.
What does the research say?
Evidence, not endorsement. What follows describes published research about the ingredient. It is not a claim about any specific product, and no supplement containing this ingredient may claim to treat a disease.
Several small to medium randomised trials have examined standardised bergamot extract in relation to total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, with a number reporting favourable changes.
Reviewers note the evidence is promising but concentrated in a limited number of research groups and preparations.
It is not a substitute for lipid-lowering medication where that has been prescribed.
How is it used in supplements?
Bergamot polyphenol extract appears in cardiovascular, cholesterol-support and metabolic formulas, sometimes with artichoke, olive leaf or red yeast rice.
Forms and sources
- Standardised bergamot polyphenol fraction capsules
- Combination cardiometabolic formulas
- Bergamot juice concentrate
Safety
- Well tolerated in the published trials at studied doses.
- Bergamot essential oil is phototoxic on skin and is a different product entirely.
- Long-term safety data are limited.
Possible side effects
Mild digestive discomfort and occasional heartburn.
Interactions
Citrus extracts can affect drug-metabolising enzymes. If you take statins or other chronic medication, confirm with a pharmacist before adding it.
Who should seek professional advice
Anyone taking statins or other lipid-lowering medication, and anyone pregnant or breastfeeding.
How to choose a supplement containing bergamot
- Look for a stated polyphenol standardisation and the daily dose in milligrams.
- Check that the label names the fruit extract, not the essential oil.
Products containing bergamot
Products documented in African markets whose supplier material names this ingredient.
Supplement categories using this ingredient
Related health topics
Frequently asked questions
Is bergamot the same as the oil in Earl Grey tea?
The tea is flavoured with bergamot oil. The supplement uses a polyphenol-rich fruit extract, which is a different preparation with a different purpose.
Can it replace a statin?
No. If a doctor has prescribed lipid-lowering treatment, a supplement is not an alternative and stopping medication without advice is unsafe.
Related ingredients
References
Medical disclaimer. BioMedic Africa publishes consumer health information and supplement research summaries. It is not a pharmacy, a clinic or a medicines regulator, and nothing here is a diagnosis, a prescription or a treatment plan. Dietary supplements are foods, not medicines: they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak with a pharmacist or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, living with a long-term condition, or taking prescription medication.