Bergamot Spices Up Heart Health

Citrus bergamia, known as Bergamot,is a fragrant fruit the size of an orange with a yellow color similar to a lemon. It’s native to southern Italy, where more than 80 percent are found. It is also grown in southern France for the essential oils and in southern Turkey for its marmalade.

It’s a bitter fruit with a surprising amount of cardio-protective and cholesterol-lowering antioxidants. This is exciting, given the fact that the drugs used to treat heart disease, our nation’s number one killer, are largely ineffective and come with a whole host of dangerous side effects.

The spicy and bitter juice of Bergamot is sure to make an impact in the supplement industry. Its antioxidants have already shown to be effective in improving lipid profiles and in reducing heart disease risk.

Statin-like Properties of Bergamot

Bergamot essence and juice contains flavonoid glycosides, plant-based antioxidants with inhibitory effects on cholesterol synthesis. The key compound isolated by the University of Calabriais 3-hydroxymethylglutaryl.

After isolating the compound, researchers from Calabria, Italy, discovered that it can inhibit the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary-CoA reductase, better known as HMG-CoA, the enzyme that makes cholesterol.

You could image their excitement. They discovered a natural compound with statin-like properties right in their own home town. Researchers from different Italian universities immediately began collecting efficacy and safety data on Bergamot extracts enriched with flavonoid glycosides. The results published so far are impressive and definitely warrant further investigation.

Bergamot Lowers Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Bergamot is producing lipid-lowering effects in animal models and small human clinical studies. Researchers initially administered bergamot extract to rats fed a high fat diet and to 237 human patients suffering from hyperlipidemia.

In both studies, bergamot was given orally for 30 days. The extract was well-tolerated with no adverse events reported. The bergamot extract significantly raised HDL-cholesterol, while simultaneously lowering both LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The researchers also reported a significant decrease in blood glucose.

Based on previous data obtained on bergamot’s effects, the researchers concluded that the extract inhibited HMG-CoA reductase activity and enhanced reactive vasodilation. They believe that bergamot is an efficient therapeutic approach for treating hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemic disorders.

What You Need to Know

Bergamot’s flavonoid glycosides show promise as safe and effective cholesterol, triglyceride, and sugar-lowering agents. The previous research conducted on animals and humans produced significant results and should encourage supplement manufacturers to design, implement, and publish larger clinical trials.

It’s time to go beyond anecdotal claims of improved health and scientifically test bergamot’s cardiovascular health benefits. Manufactures that take the lead and follow up on Italy’s earlier research will likely reap the benefits in terms of healthier customers and profits.

Please note: If you plan on using bergamot oil, protect it from sunlight. A compound called bergaptene, is phototoxic and can irritate your skin. Bergamot oil should be stored in dark bottles in dark places. Even exposure to sunlight should be avoided after it is applied or rubbed on skin.