What is bioperine®? Everything you need to know

In this post, we consider what is bioperine? How does it differ from piperine? What is it used for? And how can it help keep you healthy?

So, what’s the best way to get a dose of this compound? Whilst showering black pepper over your Sunday roast is a good start, it’s unlikely to have the same impact on your health as using a concentrated supplement like bioperine.

Bioperine contains a standardised amount of piperine (95% minimum.) This high concentration makes it a convenient and effective way to access the powerful health benefits.

Piperine is a bioactive compound in black pepper You can get piperine by adding black pepper to your meals Alternatively, bioperine is a manufactured product that delivers a concentrated dose of this compound

Aside from giving your favourite curry dish a fiery yellow punch, a traditional use of the culinary and healing spice is to treat problems arising from inflammation, pain and fatigue. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory and can help in the management of arthritis, anxiety and hyperlipidemia.⁵ It can also help alleviate post-exercise muscle soreness and inflammation.⁶

The active ingredients, and the compounds that make turmeric such a valuable healing spice, are curcuminoids. Curcumin also gives it its bright yellow colour. 

However, curcumin isn’t only beneficial for people with health complaints. In low doses it can also be beneficial for healthy individuals. For example, it exhibits a range of antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, research suggests that curcumin has such powerful anti-inflammatory properties that it may be able to inhibit inflammation at a molecular level.⁷ In addition, there’s evidence of positive impacts on memory, mood and cholesterol levels.⁸

Curcuminoids are actually found in small concentrations in turmeric – about 3-5%. Therefore, supplements with concentrated quantities are a more convenient and reliable way to benefit from turmeric’s wide-ranging medicinal power.

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Whilst curcumin has many benefits, it has poor bioavailability. This means the body can’t absorb it in the levels needed to have a tangible impact. That’s where piperine, or bioperine comes in. Taking bioperine with turmeric or curcumin can dramatically increase the levels of absorption by 2000%.⁹ This makes bioperine and turmeric a powerful combination.

Supplements containing high strength turmeric and curcumin, combined together with bioperine can facilitate nutrient absorption in convenient tablet form. 

In addition, people with liver disease, gallstones or medical conditions affecting the bile duct should avoid turmeric and curcumin, owing to their ability to increase bile secretion.¹⁰ 

As always, if you have a known medical condition, or are taking prescription medication, speak to your doctor before starting any supplement. They can alert you to possible interactions with medication or a condition itself. 

Bioperine and turmeric are a powerful combination. Whilst side effects appear to be few, there’s some evidence of implications for those with liver or bile conditions, or for those with blood clotting conditions. Anyone with such conditions should avoid bioperine, turmeric and curcumin other than under GP advice. If in doubt, or if you are on prescribed medication for any condition, speak to your GP before starting supplements containing these ingredients.