Citrus Bergamot Extract | 30% Polyphenols | Vit4ever

Vit4ever Citrus Bergamot Extract

Citrus bergamot is a citrus fruit that you won't easily find at the greengrocer, but it is increasingly appearing as an extract in supplement jars. Vit4ever processes 750 mg of Citrus Bergamot extract per capsule, standardized to 30% polyphenols. This amounts to 225 mg of polyphenols per capsule, a fixed amount that remains the same with every batch. The jar contains 120 capsules. Anyone looking for a concentrated bergamot extract with clear standardization will find these figures appealing.

What exactly is Citrus bergamot?

Citrus bergamot, in Latin Citrus bergamia, is a cross between a bitter orange and a lemon. The fruit grows almost exclusively in the coastal strip of Calabria, in the extreme south of Italy, where the microclimate is apparently just right for this specific citrus fruit. Outside this small coastal area, growing bergamot is hardly successful, which gives the fruit a rather regional character compared to lemon or orange, which grow almost everywhere in the Mediterranean region. The peel of bergamot has traditionally been used to extract essential oil, for example in Earl Grey tea, but it is primarily the polyphenol content in the fruit that has been receiving attention in the supplement world in recent years. Polyphenols are a broad group of plant compounds that naturally occur in fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and bergamot is among the citrus fruits with a relatively high content of these. Other citrus fruits such as orange and grapefruit also contain polyphenols, but the concentration and exact type differ per fruit and per plant part. Vit4ever uses an extract that is specifically standardized to this polyphenol content, instead of processing raw peel or pulp. This makes it possible to guarantee a fixed amount of polyphenols per capsule, something that is not feasible with fresh fruit pulp or dried peel due to natural fluctuations in the fruit itself.

Extract Ratio: 5:1 according to the ingredient list

In some places in the marketing of such products, the term 7:1 appears, but the ingredient list of this specific product states an extract ratio of 5:1. This figure indicates how many kilograms of fresh plant material are needed to produce one kilogram of extract: for a 5:1 extract, that means five kilograms of raw material for one kilogram of finished product. Since the ingredient list is the legally binding specification, Vit4ever adheres to 5:1 as the guiding principle here, even if other texts might mention a different number. This is a small but relevant difference for those who like to know exactly what is in a capsule, and it explains why this page consciously chooses the ingredient list as its source. Marketing texts and packaging information are not always one hundred percent synchronized, and in such cases, the legally required ingredient list is the most reliable source.

The addition of black pepper extract

In addition to the bergamot extract, the formula contains 10 mg of black pepper extract per capsule, of which 9.5 mg is piperine. Piperine is the substance that gives black pepper its characteristic pungency and is often added to plant extracts in the supplement industry. In this product, piperine is listed separately next to the main ingredient, with an exact amount that you can find in the table on this page. It is a fixed addition to the formula, exactly as the manufacturer has composed it, and not a separate component that you would have to dose separately. Anyone who has ever seen a label with only a main ingredient and a long list of 'other ingredients' will appreciate this transparency: every substance is listed with an exact figure.

Vegan capsule without unnecessary additives

The capsule shell consists of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, a plant-based raw material that is considered the standard alternative to gelatin in the industry. This makes the product suitable for those who eat vegetarian or vegan. The ingredient list remains short: Citrus Bergamot extract 5:1, the plant-based capsule shell, and black pepper extract. No unnecessary fillers, no artificial colorings. For those who prefer to read a short, recognizable ingredient list instead of a long series of E-numbers, this is a pleasant detail.

Bergamot as a citrus fruit remains less known in the Netherlands than orange or lemon, and the same applies to its extract as a supplement. Nevertheless, interest is growing, partly because manufacturers are increasingly opting for a standardized extract instead of loose powder from the peel. With 120 capsules per jar and a clear specification of both the polyphenol content and the extract ratio, this product offers a concrete starting point for those who want to know exactly what is in the capsule. For people who are used to supplements with vague or unclear ingredient lists, this is a pleasant difference.