Bergamot supplement may lead to effective lipid-lowering treatment. - GreenMedInfo Summary
The effect of bergamot on dyslipidemia.
Phytomedicine. 2016 Oct 15 ;23(11):1175-81. Epub 2015 Dec 30. PMID: 26851838
Rosaria Vincenza Giglio
BACKGROUND: Statins are the most common used lipid lowering drugs but they may cause adverse effects and despite their well-established therapeutic benefits residual cardiovascular (CV) risk remains. The use of other lipid lowering drugs and nutraceuticals alone or as add-on lipid-modifying therapy can be an option in such cases. Several studies have reported health-related properties of the Citrus fruits, among which bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso) differs from others by particularly high content of certain compounds.
PURPOSE: This narrative review summarizes the current evidence on the effects of bergamot on lipid parameters based on studies involving animals and humans.
MAIN EVIDENCE: This natural supplement may lead to effective lipid-lowering treatment. Its lipid-lowering activity is attributed to different flavonoids. However, the exact mechanisms involved remain unclear.
CONCLUSION: It is expected that ongoing and future studies will confirm the benefit of bergamot in dyslipidemic and other cardiometabolic disorders, potentially leading to reduced overall CV risk.