Black Pepper Extract
Black Pepper Extract (Piperine/BioPerine)
A powerful bioavailability enhancer that increases absorption of many supplements and nutrients.
Black Pepper Extract, standardized to piperine (commonly sold as BioPerine), is best known as a bioavailability enhancer. It can dramatically increase the absorption of many supplements including curcumin, CoQ10, resveratrol, and vitamins. Piperine works by inhibiting enzymes that metabolize compounds and by increasing intestinal absorption.
Mechanisms of Action
Metabolic Enzyme Inhibition
Blocks enzymes that break down compounds
Enhanced Absorption
Increases intestinal absorption
Thermogenesis
May slightly increase metabolic rate
Recommended Dose
5-20mg piperine daily
Loading: Not required; take with the supplement you want to enhance
Optimal Timing
- With the supplements you want to enhance
- With meals containing fat
Take with food
Best Form
BioPerine (95% piperine standardized extract)
Alternatives: Generic piperine extract, Black pepper powder (much less potent)
BioPerine is the most researched branded form. 5mg BioPerine = approximately 1 tsp black pepper.
Duration
Minimum: 1 weeks
Optimal: 4 weeks
Cycling: Not required
Note: Take at the same time as the supplement you want to enhance (e.g., curcumin, CoQ10).
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Enhanced Supplement Absorption
Dramatically increases absorption of many supplements
Drug Interactions
Can also increase absorption of medications
Consult pharmacist or doctor before use
Who Should NOT Take This
- Taking medications with narrow therapeutic windows
Drug Interactions
May alter drug levels; avoid without oncologist guidance
Can increase blood levels of many drugs including statins, blood thinners, antidepressants
Possible Side Effects
Tip: Take with food
Warnings
- Can significantly increase absorption of medications
- Consult healthcare provider if taking any medications
Top studies from 40+ peer-reviewed papers
Aragón-Vela J et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2024)
“Consequently, longer trials utilizing high doses of curcumin could diminish the positive impact of curcumin in reducing serum levels of aminotransferases in patients with NAFLD.© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.”
Key Findings:
- Subgroup analysis revealed that adding piperine to curcumin did not benefit aminotransferase levels in NAFLD patients.
- Additionally, we found a negative correlation between the duration of the intervention and the relative (mg/kg/day) curcumin dose with the reduction in liver aminotransferases.
- In summary, the sources of heterogeneity identified in our study are likely attributed to the duration of the intervention and the relative dose of curcumin.
- Consequently, longer trials utilizing high doses of curcumin could diminish the positive impact of curcumin in reducing serum levels of aminotransferases in patients with NAFLD.© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Vajdi M et al. • Nutrition reviews (2025)
“Curcumin supplementation improved AST and ALT levels compared with the control group.”
Key Findings:
- Curcumin supplementation significantly reduced ALT (weighted mean difference [WMD], -4.10, 95%CI, -7.16 to -1.04) and AST (WMD, -3.27; 95%CI, -5.16 to -1.39), but not ALP (WMD, -0.49; 95%CI, -1.79 to 0.82).
- Curcumin plus piperine supplementation had no significant effect on ALT (WMD, -3.79; 95%CI, -13.30 to 5.72), and AST (WMD, -1.1; 95%CI, -3.32 to 1.09).
- Curcumin supplementation improved AST and ALT levels compared with the control group.
- However, better-designed randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and of higher quality are needed to assess the effects of curcumin on ALP.
Hosseini H et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2023)
“However, further long-term RCTs are required to ascertain their clinical benefit.© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.”
Key Findings:
- The combined results by the random-effects model demonstrated that curcumin plus piperine significantly decreased total cholesterol and LDL-C in patients suffering from metabolic syndrome.
- In comparison, the results of the overall effect size did not show any significant change in triglyceride concentrations.
- Our results were robust in sensitivity analysis and were not dependent on the dose of curcumin, the dose of piperine, and the duration of treatment.
- Our results showed that co-administration of piperine and curcumin supplementation improves the lipid profile in metabolic syndrome.
Takooree H et al. • Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2019)
“As a conclusive remark, P. nigrum should not only be regarded as "King of spices" but can also be considered as part of the kingdom of medicinal agents, comprising a panoply of bioactive compounds with potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.”
Key Findings:
- The major bioactive compound identified in P. nigrum is piperine although other compounds are also present including piperic acid, piperlonguminine, pellitorine, piperolein B, piperamide, piperettine, and (-)-kusunokinin, which also showed biological potency.
- Most pharmacological studies were conducted in vitro (n = 60) while only 21 in vivo and 1 clinical trial were performed.
- Hence, more in vivo experiments using a pharmacokinetic and pharmacokinetic approach would be beneficial.
- As a conclusive remark, P. nigrum should not only be regarded as "King of spices" but can also be considered as part of the kingdom of medicinal agents, comprising a panoply of bioactive compounds with potential nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.
Qin S et al. • Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) (2018)
“All rights reserved.”
Key Findings:
- The standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to present the results.
- There was a significant reduction in circulating MDA concentrations (SMD = -0.769, 95% CI: -1.059 to -0.478) and a significant increase in SOD activity (SMD = 1.084, 95% CI: 0.487 to 1.680) following curcumin supplementation.
- This effect was greater when combined with piperine than curcuminoids alone (SMD = -1.085, 95% CI: -1.357 to -0.813; SMD = -0.850, 95% CI: -1.158 to -0.542).
Study Type Distribution
Goals This Supplement Supports
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any supplement.