Piperine — answers to black pepper extract
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An alkaloid compound isolated from black pepper (Piper nigrum) that gives the spice its characteristic pungency.
Why it’s used
Taken mainly to increase the absorption of other supplement ingredients taken alongside it, such as curcumin, and sometimes marketed on its own as a mild metabolism aid.
What the evidence is for
increasing the bioavailability of co-administered compounds such as curcumin.
What the evidence says
A small, frequently cited human study found that co-administering piperine substantially increased blood levels of curcumin. This bioavailability-enhancing effect has some support, though most of the underlying research involves small samples and specific combinations rather than piperine studied alone for broad health outcomes.
Dose studied
5–20 mg — piperine dose used in curcumin bioavailability studies.
Context
The original human bioavailability study used piperine in the range of about 5-20 mg alongside curcumin; later formulations have used similar small amounts for the same purpose.
Educational information, not medical or safety advice. Consult a professional for allergies or medical concerns.