Bergamot extract
Clinical Study 1:
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/21056640 "Hypolipemic and hypoglycaemic activity of bergamot polyphenols: from animal models to human studies." Fitoterapia 2011
237 patients were given bergamot extract.
It's behind a paywall, but results are described at http://bergamethealt...inical-studies/
"On average, those patients receiving bergamot extract 1,000mg daily demonstrated a reduction in total cholesterol 29%; LDL chol 36% & an increase in HDL chol 40%. The average reductions in triglycerides & blood glucose were 30% & 20% respectively."
Clinical Study 2:
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/24239156 "Bergamot polyphenolic fraction enhances rosuvastatin-induced effect on LDL-cholesterol, LOX-1 expression and protein kinase B phosphorylation in patients with hyperlipidemia." Int J Cardiol. 2013
Rosuvastatin and bergamot extract (BPF) were given separately and together. Pubmed does not give results for just the BPF. It's behind a paywall, but results are described at http://bergamethealt...inical-studies/
"In BPF-treated group, a 31+/-3 % reduction of LDL-C and significant improvement on lipid serum profile was seen, including a significant reduction by 37+/-3 % of triglycerides." Just rosuvastatin had little effect on triglycerides.
Study 3 (on rats):
https://www.ncbi.nlm...pubmed/26025327 "Bergamot polyphenol fraction prevents nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via stimulation of lipophagy in cafeteria diet-induced rat model of metabolic syndrome." J Nutr Biochem. 2015
This study used a rat model of nonalchoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). "BPF strongly reduced hepatic steatosis as documented by a significant decrease in total lipid content (-41.3% ± 12%..) "This study demonstrates that the liver and its lipid metabolism are the main targets of bergamot flavonoids, supporting the concept that supplementation of BPF is an effective strategy to prevent NAFLD." There was a dramatic reduction in the cellular lipid droplets (LDs), likely from increased lipophagy.
Dr Whitaker on bergamot:
http://www.drwhitake...ts-of-bergamot/
Supplements:
The strongest extract I found is standardized to 38% from Bergamet http://bergamethealt.../bergamet-mega/ .
It's likely this extract was used in the above studies.
Three 60 capsule bottles at 550 mg per capsule standardized to 38% is available from Amazon.
It's more at expensive directly from Bergamet, although the price is close if you buy six bottles + two free at 650 mg per capsule (38%). I would chose this brand.
The Jarrow website does not specify any standardization for its "Citrus Bergamot".
Swanson bergamot extract is 30 capsules at 500 mg per capsule standardized to 25% for US $19.99
Dr Whitaker has 60 capsules at 500 mg per capsule standardized to 30% for US $19.99 (sale price)
Several other supplement makers offer 500 mg on the label, but on the back specify a dose is 2 capsules.
Edited by RWhigham, 02 December 2016 - 06:12 AM.