Citrus Bergamot Extract
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) polyphenol extract is a supplement promoted for lipid and glucose support. Among PED users it is taken to blunt the adverse cholesterol shifts — falling HDL, rising LDL — caused by anabolic steroids, particularly orals. Small human trials suggest modest lipid-lowering, but the evidence base is limited, heterogeneous and largely from a small number of research groups.
01 Overview
Bergamot's flavonoids — notably brutieridin and melitidin, which structurally resemble statins — are proposed to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and improve lipid handling, alongside antioxidant activity. Several small randomised and open-label studies report reductions in total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides with rises in HDL, though effect sizes and study quality vary and independent replication is limited.
PED users add it during cycles as a milder alternative to statins for supporting cholesterol, sometimes stacked with citrus-derived or omega-3 products. It is generally well tolerated. Honest framing matters: it is not a substitute for a statin where a steroid cycle produces a genuinely dangerous lipid profile, and the human data remain observational-grade rather than definitive.
02 Mechanism
Polyphenol/flavonoid extract whose statin-like constituents (brutieridin, melitidin) are proposed to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase and improve lipid metabolism, with additional antioxidant activity.
03 Dosing
| Tier | Dose | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lipid support | 500–1000 mg/day | Oral | Standardised bergamot polyphenol fraction used in most trials. |
| Higher supplemental use | 1000–1500 mg/day | Oral | Upper anecdotal range. |
04 Effects
| Effect | Magnitude | Evidence | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improved lipid profileSmall trials report lower total/LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and higher HDL; evidence is limited and variable. | modest | Observational | |
| Antioxidant activityFlavonoids show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory models. | in vitro / animal | Preclinical |
05 Side effects
| Effect | Severity | Frequency | Evidence | Countermeasures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mild GI discomfortOccasional heartburn or stomach upset. | Mild | Uncommon | Anecdotal | |
| Inadequate for dangerous lipidsUsers may rely on bergamot when a cycle has crashed HDL and raised LDL to a degree that warrants a statin. | Moderate | Situational | Anecdotal |