Can Bergamot Help Your Cholesterol?

High levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood can contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries. This puts you at greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

There are several strategies for reducing cholesterol that are backed by strong scientific evidence. But what about bergamot to lower high cholesterol? Cardiologist Ashish Sarraju, MD, explains what we know.

Does bergamot reduce cholesterol?

Bergamot is a citrus fruit that contains polyphenols and flavonoids that some believe can help reduce cholesterol levels. But there’s currently no evidence to recommend bergamot supplements for lowering cholesterol or lowering the risk of heart attack or stroke.

“When we think about heart disease reduction, we want to focus — first and foremost — on large trials that study outcomes,” explains Dr. Sarraju. “Generally, bergamot and other supplements aren’t studied in that setting, so they don’t really rank in the same tier as proven therapies like statins, PCSK9 inhibitors or even lifestyle changes.”

Some smaller studies have been done on bergamot supplements, but Dr. Sarraju says they’re not linked to cardiovascular outcomes in a robust manner.

“That makes it really hard to determine any kind of widely applicable LDL cholesterol or total cholesterol benefit,” he adds.

Another factor? As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate supplements, that makes things a little trickier.

“It’s hard to know how much people are getting when they take a bergamot supplement because the dosage isn’t going to be as tightly controlled as it is for prescription medications,” stresses Dr. Sarraju. “All those things make it difficult to say that bergamot is an acceptable replacement, or even a weak equivalent, of the proven cholesterol-lowering medicines.”

Who shouldn’t take bergamot?

In general, bergamot supplements are considered safe. But it’s not recommended for children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Additionally, bergamot supplements may interact with certain medications, like antibiotics, statins and diabetes treatments. In some cases, you may experience an increased sensitivity to sunlight or have an allergic reaction. Some people have reported having heartburn or digestive issues, too.

Talk to your doctor before using a bergamot supplement

While there’s no proven research that bergamot supplements can lower your cholesterol, Dr. Sarraju says it’s worth having a conversation with your healthcare provider if you’re curious about supplements.

“I tell my patients that they can try bergamot if they would like to, as long as it has no interactions with anything else that they’re taking and that they’re tolerating the supplement well,” he shares. “But I wouldn’t view taking bergamot as a replacement — or even potentially a supplementation — of proven medications.”

What has been shown to work is making certain changes to your lifestyle, such as adding more fiber to your diet and getting the recommended amount of exercise. Your doctor may also recommend a statin or another cholesterol-lowering medication.

“I’m all about patient empowerment, and I want patients to feel like they’re in charge of their health, along with their healthcare providers,” advocates Dr. Sarraju. “So, having these discussions is important.”