Citrus Bergamot Safety: Side Effects & Interactions

Citrus bergamot is a fruit that has been used in traditional medicine for many ailments. 

Many people today use citrus bergamot to improve cholesterol, lower blood sugar, lose weight, and combat inflammation.

This article overviews citrus bergamot safety, possible side effects, and any important citrus bergamot interactions. 

Citrus Bergamot Overview:

Citrus bergamot (Citrus bergamia) is a perennial in the citrus family. This citrus fruit is native to Calabria, which is a southern region in Italy. It is often referred to as bergamot orange, sour orange, or simply bergamot. 

Despite its name, bergamot orange is actually yellowish-green in appearance, often thought to be a hybrid of the common lemon and bitter orange. 

Citrus bergamot grows best in warm tropical climates with mild winters. 

Individuals may be familiar with citrus bergamot as it is used to make Earl Grey tea, one of the most popular teas in the world. Earl Grey tea is made by combining black tea with citrus bergamot oil.

Beyond its use in tea, citrus bergamot is noteworthy due to the presence of many health-promoting flavonoids, such as naringin, neohesperidin, and neoereocitrin. 

Citrus Bergamot Benefits & Uses:

Citrus bergamot is a well-researched herb and seems to offer many possible health benefits. Listed below are some of the potential benefits of citrus bergamot: 

• Improved Cholesterol: A review of the literature shows that citrus bergamot is effective for lowering LDL and total cholesterol and increasing HDL. Read more here.
• Reduced Blood Sugar: A number of clinical trials reveal that citrus bergamot improves blood sugar levels, likely due to its effects on insulin and glucose metabolism. Read more here.
• Weight Loss: A few clinical studies such as this one indicate that bergamot orange is effective for weight loss, possibly due to its effects on fat and sugar metabolism. Read more here.
• Decreased Inflammation: Citrus bergamot contains a high concentration of flavonoids and antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation. Read more here.

Overall, citrus bergamot offers many important benefits for human health. 

Is Citrus Bergamot Safe to Consume?

Yes, citrus bergamot is generally safe to consume for most individuals.

According to the Botanical Safety Handbook, citrus bergamot is in the safest category for herbs (Class 1) and has a very low potential for herb-drug interactions (Class A). 

However, there is some concern with citrus bergamot safety when used as an essential oil on the skin. There are possible phototoxic (sunlight sensitivity) and carcinogenic effects from furocoumarins that are present in bergamot orange. 

These problems can be mitigated by using furocoumarin-free bergamot oil, which is the most common variety today. Still, be sure to check the label and ask the manufacturer any questions you may have. 

What Medications Should Not Be Taken With Citrus Bergamot?

There are a few citrus bergamot drug interactions to be aware of. 

The first is with medications that cause sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity). Examples of such drugs are Elavil, Cipro, Noroxin, Maxaquin, and Floxin. This is true only for bergamot essential oils that have not removed furocoumarins.

Also, citrus bergamot may lower blood sugar, so caution is advised for anyone taking diabetes medications to lower blood sugar. Common medications for diabetes include: 

• Amaryl
• DiaBeta
• Exogoneous insulin
• Actos
• Avandia
• Diabinese
• Glucotrol 

Lastly, due to citrus bergamot’s effects on cholesterol, individuals taking statins or other cholesterol-lowering medications should talk with their doctor. Such medications include (but aren’t limited to):

• Lipitor
• Lescol XL
• Altoprev
• Crestor
• Zetia
• Praluent
• Nexlitol
• Colestid

Berberine may work as an effective alternative to citrus bergamot supplementation. Click here to learn the similarities and differences between the benefits of citrus bergamot and berberine.

Citrus Bergamot Side Effects:

There aren’t many side effects of citrus bergamot other than the potential phototoxic concerns when using citrus bergamot oil topically.

If bergamot oil contains furocoumarins, one may experience increased sensitivity to sunlight and possibly sunburn. Other potential skin reactions include rashes, itching, and burning.

Citrus bergamot side effects are rare when taken orally in a supplement form. That said, some individuals report heartburn or other digestive symptoms after taking citrus bergamot.

How Much Citrus Bergamot Should I Take?

Based on evidence from clinical trials, an effective dosage of citrus bergamot flavonoids extract is 500-1,000mg daily. Individuals should take a flavonoid-based citrus bergamot extract since it’s more concentrated in the compounds that lead to health benefits.

It’s unclear what the optimal dosage is when using a form of the whole fruit, although it would need to be higher given the decreased concentration of flavonoids.

Click here to read our article going over the recommended dosages for citrus bergamot.