Xanthohumol
Summary
Xanthohumol is a flavonoid from hops. Human research is limited to safety trials: 24 mg a day for 8 weeks was well tolerated in 30 healthy adults and in 20 adults with Crohn disease, where GGT and BMI fell slightly (grade D). No trial has shown a health benefit in healthy people.
Key facts
- A prenylflavonoid found in hop flowers (Humulus lupulus)[1]
- 24 mg a day of 99.8% pure xanthohumol for 8 weeks caused no clinically relevant lab changes or serious adverse events in 30 healthy adults[1]
- In 20 adults, 24 mg a day for 8 weeks was well tolerated; BMI and GGT fell slightly more than with placebo[2]
- In the same 30 healthy adults, overall gut microbiota composition did not change significantly; shifts in individual taxa depended on each person’s enterotype[3]
- 2 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 11, 2026
How it works
ProposedXanthohumol has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and microbiome-modulating effects in lab studies; in people, microbiome changes depended on baseline gut type.[2][3]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy aging | Grade D | No effect | RCT · n = 30 · 2021 | 1 row |
| Gut | Grade D | Mixed | RCT · n = 20 · 2026 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and tolerability in healthy adults | No effect | Grade D | RCT · n = 30 · 2021 Healthy adults Form: Xanthohumol (99.8% pure) · Dose: 24 mg/day · Duration: 8 weeks No clinically relevant differences in labs, weight, vital signs or quality of life; no serious adverse events. | 33629812 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Safety and metabolic markers in Crohn disease | Mixed | Grade D | RCT · n = 20 · 2026 Adults with active Crohn disease Form: Xanthohumol · Dose: 24 mg/day · Duration: 8 weeks Well tolerated with no attributable serious adverse events; BMI and GGT fell slightly compared with placebo. | 41834265 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
Forms
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 24 mg of xanthohumol a day for 8 weeks, in both trials.[1][2]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No safety data were found in the trials we cite.[1]
- People with a gut condition
- The only patient trial was a small 8-week safety study; it does not show benefit for Crohn disease.[2]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Xanthohumol
Products from brands we partner with that contain Xanthohumol. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkXanthohumol3 capsules: 150 mg hop flower extract standardized to 10% xanthohumol (15 mg xanthohumol); 30 servings. Below the 24 mg a day tested for safety, and no trial shows a benefit at either dose.Shop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
What does xanthohumol do in people?
So far, human trials have tested safety: 24 mg a day for 8 weeks was well tolerated. Benefits seen in the lab have not been shown in people.[1][2]
Is xanthohumol the same as hops?
It is one compound found in hop flowers; hop extracts are standardized to it.[1]
How much was studied?
24 mg a day of purified xanthohumol.[1]
Does xanthohumol change gut bacteria?
Not overall: composition did not change significantly in healthy adults, though some individual bacteria shifted depending on each person’s baseline gut type.[3]
Sources
- [1]Xanthohumol Microbiome and Signature in Healthy Adults (the XMaS Trial): Safety and Tolerability Results of a Phase I Triple-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.. Mol Nutr Food Res, 2021. RCT
- [2]Safety and Tolerability of Xanthohumol in Adults With Crohn's Disease: Results of a Triple-Masked, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Trial.. Mol Nutr Food Res, 2026. RCT
- [3]Gut enterotype-dependent modulation of gut microbiota and their metabolism in response to xanthohumol supplementation in healthy adults.. Gut Microbes, 2024. RCT
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, year and journal taken from the PubMed record) and abstracts read for each cited row. Product details in Where to buy read from the brand page on the date shown. Self-reviewed in a second strict pass (no independent reviewer yet).