How does bitter orange work

Bitter orange has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for indigestion, nausea, and constipation. Today, various bitter orange products are promoted for heartburn, nasal congestion, weight loss, appetite stimulation or suppression, and athletic performance. Bitter orange is also applied to the skin for pain, bruises, fungal infections, and bedsores.

Bitter orange is used in cooking and for adding flavor to beer and spirits. The fruit of bitter orange contains p -synephrine and other naturally occurring chemicals. The U. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of ephedra in dietary supplements because it raises blood pressure and is linked to heart attack and stroke.

Bitter orange is commonly used as a substitute for ephedra in dietary supplements. How Much Do We Know? A small number of studies have investigated the usefulness of bitter orange for health purposes in people. What Have We Learned? Bitter orange is likely safe when used orally in amounts commonly found in foods.

There is one case report of a woman having a faster-than-normal heart rate at rest after taking a dietary supplement that contained only bitter orange. There are other case reports of healthy people experiencing fainting, angina, heart attack, and stroke after taking bitter orange as part of multicomponent products.

However, because these products contained multiple ingredients, it is difficult to know the role that bitter orange played.

Evidence regarding the effects of bitter orange alone or combined with other substances, such as caffeine and green tea on the heart and cardiovascular system is inconclusive. Keep in Mind. Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared, well-informed decisions.

For More Information. Over the six to eight weeks of the studies, those taking one of the supplements lost an average of kg, while those in the placebo groups lost an average of kg. However, it is not possible to determine from these studies if bitter orange contributed to the weight loss because of all the ingredients contained in each remedy.

Ephedra was taken off the US market because of hundreds of reports of adverse effects. These were primarily heart-related, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, but also psychiatric disturbances.

Purified synephrine has been found to increase blood pressure and lead to similar cardiac effects as ephedrine. In recent years, a small number of adverse events have been reported for people taking bitter orange.

The events are primarily cardiac problems such as those reported with ephedra, including at least two deaths in Canada. Bitter orange contains synephrine which acts as a stimulant on the body.

While its effects can be felt, there is almost no evidence that this safely helps people lose weight. The best advice on weight loss continues to be the same basic principles: decrease calorie intake, increase exercise output and find people to support you as you develop a healthier lifestyle.

While safe and effective medications have their place during weight loss, bitter orange does not appear to offer much — unless you like marmalade, which is perfectly safe. It contains next to no synephrine. In September , the US magazine, Consumer Reports, worked with an independent research group to assess various food supplements. Bitter orange was included in their list of 12 food supplements that consumers should avoid completely.

The evidence would support that conclusion. Please update your payment details to keep enjoying your Irish Times subscription. Does it work? Can bitter orange help in weight loss? Tue, Feb 15, , Talk with your doctor before taking herbal supplements. All rights reserved. Terms of Use. Bitter orange weight-loss supplements: Do they work? Answer Section While some research suggests that bitter orange Citrus aurantium can help with modest weight loss when combined with diet and exercise, it's probably not worth the risk.