Supplement
Black pepper is a common spice whose active compound, piperine, gives it its bite and slows some of the enzymes your body uses to break down nutrients. People mostly look at it to help the body absorb other compounds, and studies found it raised absorption of curcumin, CoQ10, beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin B6 and resveratrol, with the evidence rated moderate. Findings on inflammation and metabolic rate were limited, and most studies were fairly small.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 7 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 4
- Outcomes
- 4
- Graded outcomes
- 0220
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curcumin Bioavailability 20mg piperine increased curcumin bioavailability by 2000% in humans (PMID: 9619120); consistent enhancement across multiple studies | Improves (the measure goes up) | Large effect | 60 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrient/Drug Absorption Piperine enhances absorption of CoQ10, beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin B6, and resveratrol via enzyme inhibition | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 200 people |
Inflammation
- Inflammatory Markers: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory Markers Modest reduction in inflammatory markers; synergistic anti-inflammatory effect when combined with curcumin | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 120 people |
Metabolic Health
- Thermogenesis: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermogenesis TRPV1 activation increases thermogenesis; modest effect on metabolic rate in humans | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 40 people |
Key findings
- Curcumin BioavailabilityImproves (the measure goes up)
- Nutrient/Drug AbsorptionImproves (the measure goes up)
- Inflammatory MarkersImproves (the measure goes down)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Black Pepper products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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Studies cited
7 studies from PubMed
- Piperine, an alkaloid of black pepper seeds, anti-cancer activities and pharmacokinetics
- Anti-inflammatory effects of piperine in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV2 microglial cells
- Effects of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of resveratrol in healthy volunteers
- Piperine inhibits the activities of cytochrome P450 2C9, 2C19 and 3A4 in vitro
- Black pepper and health claims: a comprehensive treatise
- Piperine, a major principle of black pepper, inhibits human P-glycoprotein and CYP3A4
- Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers