Black Pepper Extract Enhances Absorption

Nutrient absorption is a large part of the optimal nutrition equation and improving it could improve the health of people around the world—in addition to giving them more supplement for their money. Toward this end, researchers recently investigated whether piperine, a component of black pepper (Piper nigrum), could enhance absorption of beta-carotene, a fat-soluble nutrient.

Vladimir Badmaev, M.D., Ph.D., and Muhammed Majeed, Ph.D., of Sabinsa Corp., Piscataway, N.J., analyzed data collected by Edward P. Norkus, Ph.D., of Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y., who studied 12 healthy, non-smoking men aged 22 to 43. The subjects, screened for a certain serum beta-carotene level, weren't taking any medications or dietary supplements before or during the study. Researchers gave the subjects 15 mg of synthetic beta-carotene plus either placebo or 5 mg of Bioperine, a 98 percent pure alkaloid piperine concentrate provided by Sabinsa. Every morning for 14 days the subjects received their supplements and a fat-containing snack. On days two, four, seven, 10 and 14, researchers analyzed the subjects' beta-carotene levels. After 14 days, subjects returned to their normal routine for three months.

When the subjects' serum beta-carotene levels returned to what they were at the beginning of the study, they were crossed over: Subjects who had received placebo received piperine and vice versa.

The results, published in Nutrition Research [1999 Mar;19(3):385-92], showed serum beta-carotene levels between days one and 14 statistically greater after supplementation with piperine than placebo. In fact, the 5 mg/day dose of piperine taken with 15 mg beta-carotene resulted in a 60 percent increase in serum beta-carotene levels compared with placebo.

Researchers concluded, "Our findings suggest that piperine improves gastrointestinal uptake of beta-carotene leading to increased serum status and probably tissue status."