More Evidence that Bergamot Improves Cholesterol

It sounds incredible, but having high cholesterol is nearly the norm and not the exception: 39% of all adults in the world have high cholesterol. The bergamot fruit may offer a safe, effective solution.

Bergamot is a citrus fruit from Italy that is especially common in Calabria. Several studies have shown it to be a very effective cholesterol fighter.

This new double-blind study of 60 people with high levels of the bad LDL cholesterol gave half of them a placebo and half of them 375mg of bergamot extract standardized for 150mg of flavonoids. The study lasted for 4 months.

At the end of the study, bergamot had significantly reduced LDL cholesterol by 11.5%. LDL cholesterol in the placebo group continued to rise, and the advantage for the bergamot was significant.

When it came to HDL cholesterol, bergamot’s benefit was present but less clear. At the 3 month mark, it had significantly increased the heart healthy HDL cholesterol. But by the end of the study, though it had still improved HDL cholesterol by 5.5%, the improvement was just shy of being significant.

Bergamot reduced total cholesterol by a significant 8.8%. It also reduced triglycerides by 16.7% versus 7.4% in the placebo group, but the difference was not significant.

Bergamot’s affect on HDL cholesterol still needs to be clarified. In this study, it increased it, but the increase was not significant compared to placebo. An earlier systematic review found that bergamot significantly improved HDL cholesterol in 8 out of 12 studies (Adv Nutr. 2017, 8, 226–239). A more recent meta-analysis of 5 studies concluded that bergamot does significantly increase HDL cholesterol. And a 2023 double-blind study also demonstrated significant increases in HDL cholesterol (Phytother Res. September 2023;37(9):4185-4195).

The new study adds to the evidence that bergamot extract improves cholesterol, especially by reducing the harmful LDL cholesterol.

Foods. 2024;13(23):3883.

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For much more on preventing and treating cholesterol problems, see our books The Family Naturopathic Encyclopedia and, happily, Chocolate: Superfood of the Gods.

For comprehensive natural help with your health, including cardiovascular health and cholesterol, make an appointment to see Linda Woolven now. Linda’s clinic is now open for in person and virtual appointments.

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