Bergamot
Bergamot is two different products. The fruit extract taken as a supplement (polyphenolic fraction, BPF) lowered cholesterol in small trials, but a 2026 meta-analysis of 9 trials rated the evidence low to very low certainty, mostly at high risk of bias, so it does not establish that it works.
The essential oil, inhaled for anxiety, looks helpful in small, mostly open-label trials of students and patients that cannot rule out expectation, and on the skin it is phototoxic: bergapten in the oil can cause blistering burns in sunlight, including from vapour.
At a glance
Last reviewed 10 October 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Raised cholesterol (bergamot fruit extract, oral)Compare remedies for heart health → | Limited | A 2022 meta-analysis of 14 trials found large pooled falls in LDL cholesterol (weighted mean difference -55 mg/dL) and triglycerides, with a rise in HDL, but the authors called the results inconsistent for combination products and the efficacy unproven without better trials. A 2026 meta-analysis of 9 randomised trials (615 people) found LDL down by about 40 mg/dL and systolic blood pressure down by about 2 mmHg; six of the nine trials were at poor risk of bias and certainty was low to very low for every outcome, and the authors say it should not be read as establishing efficacy. The trials we read ran 30 days to 12 weeks and at least one tested a company's branded extract, so the size of the effect may be overstated.1,2,9 |
| Anxiety and stress (essential oil, inhaled)Compare remedies for stress and anxiety → | Limited | In 57 university students, aroma stones with bergamot oil lowered pre-exam state anxiety against stones with water on each of three days (large effect), but the trial was open-label and single-centre. In a 1-week crossover trial of 48 students, bergamot spray improved sleep measures and scores for depression, anxiety and stress. In 100 adults in substance-use treatment, inhaled bergamot three times daily for 7 days improved anxiety and depression scores against standard care, with no placebo. A blinded, placebo-controlled trial in ICU nurses of a blend that included bergamot found no significant change in anxiety. The positive trials could not blind people to a scent, so expectation may explain part of the effect.3,4,5,6 |
| Skin (essential oil) | Traditional | We found no clinical trial of bergamot oil for acne, skin or scalp. What the literature does document is harm: bergamot oil contains furocoumarins, mainly bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen), and two patients developed blistering phototoxic reactions after exposure to bergamot aromatherapy oil followed by ultraviolet light, one after only breathing evaporated oil in a sauna before a tanning bed.7,10 |
| Hair | Traditional | We found no human trial of bergamot oil or extract for hair growth or the scalp. Because the oil is phototoxic, putting it on the scalp before sun exposure carries the same risk as on other skin.7 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Skin use of bergamot oil before sun or tanning beds — blistering phototoxic burns are documented
- Swallowing the essential oil — the trials were of inhaled oil only
- Statin users taking the extract — ask your prescriber first; it added to rosuvastatin's effect in one trial
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children — we found no safety data for the extract or oil
- Expecting the extract to replace cholesterol medicine — the evidence is low certainty
Known interactions
Questions people ask
What are the benefits of bergamot oil?
There are two separate things. Inhaled bergamot essential oil eased anxiety in small trials, most of them open-label, so a scent expectation effect cannot be ruled out. The fruit extract, taken as a supplement, lowered cholesterol in small trials, but a 2026 meta-analysis rated the evidence low to very low certainty.
Is bergamot oil safe on the skin?
Only with care. The oil contains bergapten, and reports describe blistering burns after bergamot aromatherapy oil and sunlight or tanning-bed UV, including one case from breathing vapour. The fragrance industry caps it at 0.4% in leave-on products for sun-exposed skin. Avoid the sun after use and do not put the undiluted oil on skin.
Is bergamot oil good for your hair or skin?
We found no clinical trial of bergamot oil for hair or skin conditions, so we cannot say it helps. It is photosensitising, so the main documented skin effect is harm in sunlight.
Does bergamot lower cholesterol, and can I take it with a statin?
Bergamot fruit extract lowered LDL cholesterol in small trials, but the overall evidence is low to very low certainty and the trials were short. In one small trial it added to rosuvastatin's effect, so tell your prescriber before combining them and do not stop a prescribed statin.
Sources (10)
- Meta-analysis Sadeghi-Dehsahraei H, Esmaeili Gouvarchin Ghaleh H, Mirnejad R, Parastouei K. The effect of bergamot (KoksalGarry) supplementation on lipid profiles: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2022.
- Meta-analysis Chambari M, Mardani H, Roshandel M, et al. Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Food Sci Nutr. 2026.
- Randomised trial Wakui N, Togawa C, Ichikawa K, et al. Relieving psychological stress and improving sleep quality by bergamot essential oil use before bedtime and upon awakening: A randomized crossover trial. Complement Ther Med. 2023.
- Randomised trial Wakui N, Kagi H, Hirota Y, et al. Evaluation of the Anxiety-Reducing Effects of Aroma Stones with Bergamot Essential Oil before Examinations: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Integr Complement Med. 2026.
- Randomised trial Reven ME, Carpenter R, Smith MJ, Newhouse A, Wang K. Using an aromatherapy intervention with Citrus bergamia (bergamot) essential oil in adults in treatment for substance use disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Sci. 2025.
- Randomised trial Hubbard S, O'conner K, Lockhart ER, Carter KF, Harvey E. Impact of aromatherapy on anxiety among ICU nurses: A randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Nursing. 2024.
- Case reports Kaddu S, Kerl H, Wolf P. Accidental bullous phototoxic reactions to bergamot aromatherapy oil. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001.
- Randomised trial Gliozzi M, Walker R, Muscoli S, et al. 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.
- Randomised trial Pierdomenico M, Cicero AFG, Veronesi M, et al. Effect of Citrus bergamia extract on lipid profile: A combined in vitro and human study. Phytother Res. 2023.
- Safety assessment (industry panel, draft) Cosmetic Ingredient Review. Safety Assessment of Citrus-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics: Scientific Literature Review for Public Comment. 2013.
Last reviewed 10 October 2026 · Next review April 2027 · How we rate evidence
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.