Piperine

Long hailed as the “king of spices,” black pepper is a staple seasoning in many households around the globe. Its distinct flavor is due to the presence of piperine, a compound that has been linked to a long list of health benefits. Because most of us only enjoy a dash or two of black pepper with each meal, some people opt to take a piperine supplement to boost their intake.

BioPerine is a patented piperine extract, containing at least 95% piperine in a form that is well absorbed by your body. It’s found in many supplements, either alone or alongside other ingredients like turmeric.

This article looks at some of the top benefits of BioPerine and piperine supplements.

 

May Increase Nutrient Absorption

Piperine has been shown to increase the absorption of several nutrients and beneficial plant compounds.

For example, studies show that piperine can increase the absorption of curcumin by up to 2,000%. Curcumin is an active plant compound found in turmeric. It’s believed to possess anti-inflammatory properties (1).

What’s more, studies show that piperine can boost the absorption of beta carotene, another beneficial plant compound. It’s known to enhance immune function and act as an antioxidant to prevent cell damage in your body (2, 3). 

Similarly, piperine may increase the absorption of selenium, a key mineral with powerful anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties (2, 4, 5).

Could Boost Brain Function

Some animal studies suggest that BioPerine could offer several brain-boosting benefits.

For example, one study showed that piperine decreased inflammation and protected the health of brain cells in mice with chemically induced Parkinson’s disease (6).

Based on the results of another mouse study, piperine extract may also prevent mental impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease (7).

Lastly, a rat study found that piperine improved memory and protected against damage to the myelin sheath – an insulating layer around nerve fibers in your brain and spinal cord. As such, piperine could have potential as a future therapy for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) (8).

Keep in mind, though, that these studies were conducted in animals. As such, human research is needed to confirm whether piperine would exert similar effects in people.

 

May Alleviate Inflammation

Inflammation is a normal immune response. It helps protect your body against illness and infection.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, can significantly harm your long-term health. It may even contribute to certain health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes (9).

Promisingly, studies show that piperine could possess powerful anti-inflammatory properties to help keep chronic inflammation at bay (10).

For instance, one test-tube study showed that piperine extract helped protect skin cells against ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin damage and inflammation (11).

In another test-tube study, piperine blocked the production of several markers of inflammation in brain and spinal cord cells (12).

Several older animal studies also suggest that piperine could reduce inflammation associated with conditions like arthritis and asthma (13, 14, 15).

However, further research is needed to determine how piperine supplements, including BioPerine, affect inflammation in humans.

 

Could Block Cancer Cell Growth

Due to its antioxidant effects, some research suggests that BioPerine could help block the growth, division, and spread of cancer cells (16).

In particular, piperine has been studied for its therapeutic effects against breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells (17, 18, 19, 20). 

Plus, one test-tube study found that piperine extract could boost the effectiveness of a type of therapy used to treat aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (21).

Still, keep in mind that most research on the topic was conducted in test tubes using highly concentrated and large amounts of piperine. Ultimately, more studies are needed to better understand how BioPerine could affect cancer development in humans.

 

May Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels

Some studies have suggested that BioPerine could support improved blood sugar management through various mechanisms.

For example, one test-tube study found that piperine increased the absorption of sugar from the blood into cells, which could help prevent high blood sugar levels (22).

Some research in animals suggests that it may also help prevent insulin resistance. This condition impairs your body’s ability to use insulin to transport sugar from your bloodstream to your cells (23, 24).

What’s more, another study in mice with diabetes showed that piperine increased the effectiveness of metformin — a medication used to manage blood sugar levels (25).

Still, additional studies are needed to determine whether BioPerine may offer similar benefits in humans.