2024, Volume 30, Issue 4

THE IMPACT OF BERGAMOT SUPPLEMENTATION ON HUMAN METABOLIC AND MENTAL HEALTH – A REVIEW OF CURRENT CLINICAL STUDIES

PATRYCJA N. DADYŃSKA¹, MATEUSZ BARTKOWIAK¹, NATASZA BOLESŁAWSKA-KRÓL², ALICJA DRZEWIECKA², ELŻBIETA JANDA³, IZABELA BOLESŁAWSKA⁴, SŁAWOMIRA DRZYMAŁA-CZYŻ⁴
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¹Karol Marcinkowski University Hospital in Zielona Gora
²Student Society of Radiotherapy, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora
³Department of Health Sciences, Campus Germaneto, Magna Graecia University
⁴Department of Bromatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences


Autor korenspondencyjny: IZABELA BOLESŁAWSKA; Department of Bromatology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences; email: ibolesla@ump.edu.pl

Streszczenie

Introduction: Given the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly metabolic disorders and mental health issues, there is increasing interest in natural bioactive substances as complementary interventions alongside conventional therapies.
The aim of this review was to critically evaluate the available clinical studies assessing the efficacy of bergamot (Citrus bergamia) supplements and essential oils in the prevention and treatment of selected metabolic conditions, such as dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, hepatic steatosis, and inflammatory markers, as well as sleep and mood disorders.

Methods: This review was based on a literature search conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases, covering publications published between 2019 and 2025. Only studies reporting clinical data on the effects of bergamot extracts in humans were included, while in vitro and animal studies were excluded.

Results: Clinical studies indicate that bergamot preparations most consistently improve the lipid profile, particularly by lowering total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides, with less consistent effects on HDL-C, glycaemia, and inflammatory markers. Essential oil inhalation may reduce stress, cortisol, and sleep disturbances, although the evidence remains heterogeneous.

Discussion and Conclusions: Bergamot demonstrates broad therapeutic potential, including beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, cardiovascular function, hepatic homeostasis, and mental health. Therefore, it may be of particular relevance to military aviation personnel, who are exposed to chronic stress, sleep disturbances, and high cognitive and physical demands.
However, the potential of bergamot as a safe and well-tolerated supportive intervention in environments with a high psychophysiological burden warrants further well-designed clinical trials.

Słowa kluczowe

bergamot (Citrus bergamia), lipid profile, insulin resistance, body weight, liver parameters, inflammatory markers, mental health