Naringenin
Also called citrus flavanone naringenin, naringenin aglycone, 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavanone.
Best grade D across 6 graded outcomes Other Last checked
The short answer
From 7 sourcesNaringenin is a citrus flavonoid. Single doses up to 900 mg caused no relevant side effects in 18 healthy adults. In one 4-week trial of 44 adults with fatty liver, 200 mg a day lowered triglycerides and LDL versus placebo, but liver enzymes did not change. A 36-week memory trial of a low-dose citrus extract found no benefit.
Every graded outcome on this page
6 rows · line = participants- DGrade DSymptom duration and complications in childhood bronchial pneumoniaInfectionn 180
- DGrade DMemory and thinking scores in subjective cognitive declineCognitionn 80
- DGrade DTriglycerides and cholesterol in fatty liverBlood lipidsn 44
- DGrade DFatty-liver severity grade and liver enzymesLivern 44
- DGrade DBMI, visceral fat and atherogenic indexBody weightn 44
- DGrade DSingle-dose safety and blood levelsSafetyn 18
- 3 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- Blood lipids
- 200 mg/day for 4 weeks lowered triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol and raised HDL vs placebo in 44 overweight adults with fatty liver2
- Liver
- The same trial reported better fatty-liver severity grades but no change in ALT, AST or the NAFLD fibrosis score2
- Single-dose safety
- Doses of 150, 300, 600 and 900 mg caused no relevant adverse events or blood-marker changes in 18 healthy adults1
- Half-life
- About 2.7 to 3 hours after a single dose, with blood levels rising in proportion to dose1
- One trial, two papers
- The lipid and the cardiovascular-risk results come from the same 44-patient trial23
- Memory
- A citrus peel extract with 3 mg naringenin a day did not beat placebo on memory tests over 36 weeks in 80 older adults6
What it is
Naringenin is a flavanone found in grapefruit, oranges and other citrus fruits, sold as a supplement or in whole-orange extracts.
How it works
ProposedNaringenin is the aglycone (sugar-free form) of naringin and narirutin; gut bacteria release it from those citrus glycosides. Researchers propose effects on fat metabolism in liver and fat cells; it was active in primary human fat cells at about 8 μM, and peak blood levels after single 150 mg and 600 mg doses were higher than that. Whether this translates into effects in people is not established.1
Forms, side by side
2 forms named in our sources. The rest show what our data holds, and say plainly where it holds nothing yet.
Naringenin forms compared
2 forms| 2 forms | Capsules | Whole-orange extract standardized to naringenin |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption in people | Not measured in the fatty-liver trial.2 | Peak serum levels about 2.4-3.2 hours after a dose; half-life about 2.7-3 hours; levels rose in proportion to dose.1 |
| GI tolerance | Adverse events are not described in the trial abstracts.23 | No relevant adverse events after single doses up to 900 mg naringenin.1 |
| Studied for | Blood lipids, liver fat, body weight | Single-dose safety and pharmacokinetics |
- Naringenin capsules
- Absorption in people
- Not measured in the fatty-liver trial.2
- Studied for
- Blood lipids, liver fat, body weight
- Whole-orange extract standardized to naringenin
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
6 graded outcomes, largest study first6 graded outcomes: 3 improved, 1 mixed, 2 no effect. The largest, a 2021 randomized trial of 180 people on symptom duration and complications in childhood bronchial pneumonia, found an improvement.
1Symptom duration and complications in childhood bronchial pneumonia
Improved · Grade D · RCT, 180 people, 2021
Hospitalized children aged 1.5–6 years with bronchial pneumonia (China)
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom duration and complications in childhood bronchial pneumonia | Improved | 180 | Grade D · RCT, 2021 | Hospitalized children aged 1.5–6 years with bronchial pneumonia (China) |
| Memory and thinking scores in subjective cognitive decline | No effect | 80 | Grade D · RCT, 2024 | Older adults with subjective cognitive decline (Italy) |
| BMI, visceral fat and atherogenic index | Improved | 44 | Grade D · RCT, 2022 | Overweight or obese adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Iran) |
| Triglycerides and cholesterol in fatty liver | Improved | 44 | Grade D · RCT, 2021 | Overweight or obese adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Iran) |
| Fatty-liver severity grade and liver enzymes | Mixed | 44 | Grade D · RCT, 2021 | Overweight or obese adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Iran) |
| Single-dose safety and blood levels | No effect | 18 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2020 | Healthy adults (USA) |
Every graded row
6 rowsShowing 6 of 6 outcomes. Human trials only.
DGrade DSymptom duration and complications in childhood bronchial pneumoniaInfectionFaster symptom resolution vs azithromycinRCT
n 180 · 2021
Improved Compared with azithromycin, the naringenin group had shorter time to symptom resolution, fewer complications and fewer adverse reactions such as nausea (1.1% vs 11.1%).
- Design
- RCT, n = 180, 2021
- Population
- Hospitalized children aged 1.5–6 years with bronchial pneumonia (China)
- Form
- Naringenin tablets vs azithromycin
- Dose
- 5 mg/kg/day naringenin (azithromycin 10 mg/kg/day in the comparison group)
- Duration
- 5 days
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 34310866 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DMemory and thinking scores in subjective cognitive declineCognitionNo difference vs placeboRCT
n 80 · 2024
No effect RBANS total scores improved in both groups with no difference between extract and placebo (p for time × treatment = 0.910); IL-8 changes also did not differ, and adverse events were balanced.
- Design
- RCT, n = 80, 2024
- Population
- Older adults with subjective cognitive decline (Italy)
- Form
- Citrus peel extract providing naringenin and auraptene vs placebo
- Dose
- 400 mg/day extract containing 3.0 mg naringenin and 0.1 mg auraptene
- Duration
- 36 weeks
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 39482712 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DTriglycerides and cholesterol in fatty liverBlood lipidsLower TG and LDLRCT
n 44 · 2021
Improved Triglycerides (p < .001), total cholesterol (p = .01) and LDL (p = .02) fell and HDL rose (p = .02) compared with placebo.
- Design
- RCT, n = 44, 2021
- Population
- Overweight or obese adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Iran)
- Form
- Naringenin capsules vs identical placebo
- Dose
- 100 mg twice daily (200 mg/day)
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 34516703 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DFatty-liver severity grade and liver enzymesLiverGrade improved, enzymes unchangedRCT
n 44 · 2021
Mixed The share of patients in each fatty-liver grade improved vs placebo (p < .001), but ALT, AST and the NAFLD fibrosis score did not change significantly.
- Design
- RCT, n = 44, 2021
- Population
- Overweight or obese adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Iran)
- Form
- Naringenin capsules vs identical placebo
- Dose
- 100 mg twice daily (200 mg/day)
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 34516703 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DBMI, visceral fat and atherogenic indexBody weightLower BMI and visceral fatRCT
n 44 · 2022
Improved Atherogenic index of plasma, non-HDL cholesterol and several cholesterol ratios fell; BMI (p = 0.001) and visceral fat level (p = 0.039) fell vs placebo; systolic blood pressure change was marginal (p = 0.055).
- Design
- RCT, n = 44, 2022
- Population
- Overweight or obese adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Iran)
- Form
- Naringenin capsules vs placebo
- Dose
- 200 mg/day
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 34860705 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DSingle-dose safety and blood levelsSafetyNo relevant adverse eventsCrossover RCT
n 18 · 2020
No effect No relevant adverse events or changes in blood safety markers at any dose; peak serum levels about 15.8 μM (150 mg) and 48.5 μM (600 mg); half-life 3.0 and 2.65 hours.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 18, 2020
- Population
- Healthy adults (USA)
- Form
- Whole-orange extract providing naringenin (28% naringenin) vs placebo
- Dose
- Single doses of 150, 300, 600 and 900 mg naringenin
- Duration
- Single doses, at least 1 week apart
- Source
- Reference 1 · PubMed 31468636 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
One trial behind the claims
Doses across trials differ about 67-fold
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Naringenin meets
2 cited rowsMedicines 2
Supplements and foods 0
No supplement rows in our sources.
- Measured in a human study
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited:
Fexofenadine and other OATP1A2-transported medicines
PK studyMeasured in a human study
Fexofenadine and other OATP1A2-transported medicines, for example Fexofenadine (Allegra): Naringin, at the concentration found in grapefruit juice, cut fexofenadine exposure by about 25% in a crossover study by blocking the gut transporter OATP1A2. Naringenin itself was not tested.
Source 5, Clin Pharmacol Ther (2007)
Medicines broken down by CYP3A4
PK studyMeasured in a human study
Medicines broken down by CYP3A4, for example Medicines with a grapefruit warning, such as some statins and calcium-channel blockers: In human liver microsomes, naringenin at 100 μM inhibited CYP3A4 activity by 39%. Peak blood levels after single 150 mg and 600 mg doses were about 16 and 49 μM, so whether supplement doses do this in people is unknown.
Source 4, J Pharm Pharm Sci (2001); Source 1, Diabetes Obes Metab (2020)
Interactions
2 agents| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines2 | ||
| Medicines broken down by CYP3A4e.g. Medicines with a grapefruit warning, such as some statins and calcium-channel blockers | In human liver microsomes, naringenin at 100 μM inhibited CYP3A4 activity by 39%. Peak blood levels after single 150 mg and 600 mg doses were about 16 and 49 μM, so whether supplement doses do this in people is unknown.41 | PK study |
| Fexofenadine and other OATP1A2-transported medicinese.g. Fexofenadine (Allegra) | Naringin, at the concentration found in grapefruit juice, cut fexofenadine exposure by about 25% in a crossover study by blocking the gut transporter OATP1A2. Naringenin itself was not tested.5 | PK study |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Naringenin and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Naringenin.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
6 groups- People with liver disease
- The only efficacy trial lasted 4 weeks in 44 people and did not change liver enzymes. It does not support using naringenin in place of medical care.2
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No trial included pregnant or breastfeeding women, so there are no safety data for them.12
- Children
- The only pediatric trial gave naringenin to hospitalized children with pneumonia for 5 days under medical care, compared with an antibiotic. No source covers supplement use in children.7
- Drug interactions
- No human studies have tested naringenin supplements with medicines. In human liver microsomes, naringenin at 100 μM inhibited CYP3A4, an enzyme behind many grapefruit-drug interactions, by 39%. Naringin, the sugar-bound form that gut bacteria convert to naringenin, lowered fexofenadine absorption by about 25% in people by blocking the gut transporter OATP1A2.45
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
3 checksNaringenin vs naringin
Extracts vary
The safety study used a whole-orange extract that was 28% naringenin; check how much naringenin a serving actually provides.1
Count naringenin, not extract weight
In the 36-week memory trial, 400 mg of citrus peel extract supplied only 3 mg of naringenin. Look for the naringenin amount per serving, not just the extract total.6
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
8 answersDoes naringenin lower cholesterol?
In one 4-week trial of 44 adults with fatty liver, 200 mg a day lowered triglycerides and LDL compared with placebo. It has not been confirmed in other trials.2
Does naringenin help memory?
Not shown. In a 36-week trial of 80 older adults with memory complaints, a citrus peel extract providing 3 mg of naringenin a day did no better than placebo.6
Is naringenin safe?
Single doses up to 900 mg caused no relevant side effects in 18 healthy adults. Long-term safety has not been studied.1
How much naringenin has been studied?
Does naringenin interact with medicines?
Is naringenin safe in pregnancy or for children?
Is naringenin the same as naringin?
What is naringenin?
A flavanone from citrus fruit, especially grapefruit and oranges. It is the sugar-free form of naringin.1
Sources
7 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
7 sources- 1Safety and pharmacokinetics of naringenin: A randomized, controlled, single-ascending-dose clinical trial.Crossover RCT Diabetes Obes Metab, 2020 · PMID 31468636
- 2Does naringenin supplementation improve lipid profile, severity of hepatic steatosis and probability of liver fibrosis in overweight/obese patients with NAFLD? A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.RCT Int J Clin Pract, 2021 · PMID 34516703
- 3Effects of naringenin supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight/obese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a pilot double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.RCT Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2022 · PMID 34860705
- 4Inhibition of human CYP3A4 activity by grapefruit flavonoids, furanocoumarins and related compounds.PK study J Pharm Pharm Sci, 2001 · PMID 11737987
- 5Naringin is a major and selective clinical inhibitor of organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1A2 (OATP1A2) in grapefruit juice.PK study Clin Pharmacol Ther, 2007 · PMID 17301733
- 6Citrus supplementation in subjective cognitive decline: results of a 36-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.RCT Nutr J, 2024 · PMID 39482712
- 7The therapeutic effects of naringenin on bronchial pneumonia in children.RCT Pharmacol Res Perspect, 2021 · PMID 34310866
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
3 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence, studied doses, summary, safety, FAQ, label guide, insights | PubMed search 2021–2026 for naringenin trials: added the 36-week citrus-extract memory RCT (PMID 39482712, null) and the pediatric pneumonia RCT versus azithromycin (PMID 34310866; dose 5 mg/kg/day read from PMC8312741; marked as clinical use). No 2023–2026 meta-analysis of naringenin in humans was found. Studied doses widened to 3–900 mg and 36 weeks; children note added; FAQ expanded to 8. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z page audit |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review (first draft). Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (titles and years taken from the record, none retracted) and the abstract read for each cited row. Studied doses are reported as research doses, not dosing advice. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
| interactions, who should avoid | Review fixes: replaced the grapefruit note that attributed the interaction only to furanocoumarins with a CYP3A4 interaction (39% inhibition at 100 μM in human liver microsomes, Ho 2001, PMID 11737987) and an OATP1A2 interaction (naringin cut fexofenadine AUC to 75% of water, Bailey 2007, PMID 17301733); added a caution for people on medicines with a grapefruit warning. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: adversarial review |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.