Overview

What is bitter orange?

What are bitter orange’s main benefits?

What are bitter orange’s main drawbacks?

How does bitter orange work?

Dosage Information

A recommended dosage is 10-20mg, taken thrice a day.

Acute dosages of 50mg are also frequently used, although not thrice a day.

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Examine Database: Bitter orange

Health Condition/Goal	Health Outcome	Evidence
General Cardiovascular Health	10 outcomes	7 Studies
Aerobic Exercise Performance	1 outcome	4 Studies
Metabolic Health	11 outcomes	4 Studies
Cycling Performance	1 outcome	3 Studies
Weight Loss & Maintenance	4 outcomes	3 Studies
Exercise Recovery	1 outcome	1 Study
Anaerobic Exercise Performance	3 outcomes	1 Study
Mood Improvement	7 outcomes	1 Study
Muscle Size & Strength	1 outcome	1 Study

General Cardiovascular Health

10 outcomes

Aerobic Exercise Performance

1 outcome

Metabolic Health

11 outcomes

Cycling Performance

1 outcome

Weight Loss & Maintenance

4 outcomes

Exercise Recovery

1 outcome

Anaerobic Exercise Performance

3 outcomes

Mood Improvement

7 outcomes

Muscle Size & Strength

1 outcome

Safety Information
New

Research FeedRead all studies

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bitter orange considered a performance-enhancing supplement for athletes?

Does bitter orange help with weight loss?

Does bitter orange increase blood pressure?

What are other names for Bitter orange?

Update History

November 20, 2025

Safety Information update
minor

Research written by

Gregory Lopez

Edited by

Conni Covington

Reviewed by

Giulia Guerrini

September 4, 2025

Safety Information added
major

Research written by

Marina Shkayeva

Edited by

Conni Covington

Reviewed by

Giulia Guerrini, Katie Jantz & Louie Neri

July 10, 2023

FAQ and database update
major

Research written by

Gregory Lopez & Marina Shkayeva

Edited by

Natalka Roshak

Reviewed by

Marina Shkayeva

References

Examine Database References

Safety Information

New

Visit Safety Checker Page

Summary
Side Effects
Interactions
Pregnancy & Lactation
Precautions
WADA Status

Safety Summary

Most of the safety concerns related to bitter orange supplements are from the chemical synephrine, which is found in the tree bark and unripe fruits.
Synephrine in combination with other stimulants has been associated with serious adverse events such as stroke and heart attack.
Synephrine should not be confused with methylsynephrine, a much more potent stimulant which should not be in supplements.
Bitter orange juice may increase the bioavailability of some medications by inhibiting CYP3A4 in the intestines, similar to but less potent than grapefruit juice. Notably, synephrine has not been shown to cause these interactions.
Bitter orange and synephrine should not be used during pregnancy and lactation due to safety concerns.

Caution: Quality concerns

A small study that tested 12 commercial supplements labeled to contain bitter orange extract found that only 5 of the 12 actually contained the plant extract.^[30] Another small study that tested 23 commercial bitter orange supplements found that only 5 products (22%) contained what was listed on the label, and 6 products were contaminated with the synthetic stimulants methylsynephrine and isopropyloctopamine.^[31]

Side Effects

Effect	Details
^[6]	Route: Oral Notes: Synephrine-containing extracts, often in combination with caffeine
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Interactions

Agent	Effect	Level of Evidence	Level of Severity
	Bitter orange juice may mildly reduce levels of colchicine, but it’s not known if bitter orange supplements standardized to synephrine have these effects.^[22]	Level of Evidence: Possible	Level of Severity: Minor
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Condition	Safety Information
Pregnancy Avoid	Research in animals has found that synephrine may reduce fertility and increase miscarriage. Bitter orange extract did not seem to affect fetal development, except for decreased maternal weight.^[20] Avoidance of bitter orange extract is warranted.
Lactation Avoid	There’s no human research regarding the safety of bitter orange supplements in breastfeeding. Use is not advised because constituents in bitter orange may slow the production of breast milk. Animal research has found that octopamine, a compound found in bitter orange, reduces breast milk production.^[32] Avoidance of bitter orange extract is warranted.

Precautions

Precautions for specific demographics, populations, and/or conditions

Population/Condition	Details
	Use caution in people with cardiovascular disease, because bitter orange may worsen symptoms or cause adverse events. Bitter orange supplements, standardized to synephrine content, have been associated with increased blood pressure and heart rate. Synephrine with other stimulants, such as caffeine, has been associated with cases of heart attack, stroke and arrhythmia.^[20]
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

World Anti-Doping Agency
Not Prohibited

Although bitter orange is not identified as a prohibited substance by the 2025 WADA List of Prohibited Substances, the bitter orange ingredient synephrine is being monitored by WADA to determine whether it is being abused in sport. Notably, synephrine is listed as a banned stimulant by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It’s also worth noting that octopamine, a compound found in bitter orange, is in the 2025 WADA List of Prohibited Substances. Furthermore, there are reports of bitter orange supplements being contaminated with the synthetic stimulant methylsynephrine, which is in the 2026 WADA List of Prohibited Substances; this highlights the importance of purchasing bitter orange supplements from reputable sources.^[31]

Health Condition/Goal	Health Outcome	Evidence
General Cardiovascular Health	10 outcomes	7 Studies
Aerobic Exercise Performance	1 outcome	4 Studies
Metabolic Health	11 outcomes	4 Studies
Cycling Performance	1 outcome	3 Studies
Weight Loss & Maintenance	4 outcomes	3 Studies
Exercise Recovery	1 outcome	1 Study
Anaerobic Exercise Performance	3 outcomes	1 Study
Mood Improvement	7 outcomes	1 Study
Muscle Size & Strength	1 outcome	1 Study

Route: Oral
Notes: Synephrine-containing extracts, often in combination with caffeine

Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Bitter orange juice may mildly reduce levels of colchicine, but it’s not known if bitter orange supplements standardized to synephrine have these effects.^[22]

Level of Evidence:

Possible

Level of Severity:

Minor

Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Pregnancy

Avoid

Research in animals has found that synephrine may reduce fertility and increase miscarriage. Bitter orange extract did not seem to affect fetal development, except for decreased maternal weight.^[20] Avoidance of bitter orange extract is warranted.

Lactation

Avoid

There’s no human research regarding the safety of bitter orange supplements in breastfeeding. Use is not advised because constituents in bitter orange may slow the production of breast milk. Animal research has found that octopamine, a compound found in bitter orange, reduces breast milk production.^[32] Avoidance of bitter orange extract is warranted.

Population/Condition	Details
	Use caution in people with cardiovascular disease, because bitter orange may worsen symptoms or cause adverse events. Bitter orange supplements, standardized to synephrine content, have been associated with increased blood pressure and heart rate. Synephrine with other stimulants, such as caffeine, has been associated with cases of heart attack, stroke and arrhythmia.^[20]
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Use caution in people with cardiovascular disease, because bitter orange may worsen symptoms or cause adverse events. Bitter orange supplements, standardized to synephrine content, have been associated with increased blood pressure and heart rate. Synephrine with other stimulants, such as caffeine, has been associated with cases of heart attack, stroke and arrhythmia.^[20]

Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Bitter orange

Overview

What is bitter orange?

What are bitter orange’s main benefits?

What are bitter orange’s main drawbacks?

How does bitter orange work?

Dosage InformationMedical disclaimer

Supplements Demystified: Get Our Unbiased, Evidence-Based Guide

Examine Database: Bitter orange

Safety InformationNew

Research FeedRead all studies

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bitter orange considered a performance-enhancing supplement for athletes?

Does bitter orange help with weight loss?

Does bitter orange increase blood pressure?

What are other names for Bitter orange?

Update History

Safety Information updateminor

Safety Information addedmajor

FAQ and database updatemajor

References

Examine Database References

Safety InformationNew

Table of Contents

Safety Summary

Caution: Quality concerns

Side Effects

Interactions

Pregnancy and Lactation

Precautions

Precautions for specific demographics, populations, and/or conditions

World Anti-Doping Agency Not Prohibited

Examine Database: Bitter orange

Table of Contents

Safety Summary

Caution: Quality concerns

Side Effects

Interactions

Pregnancy and Lactation

Precautions

Precautions for specific demographics, populations, and/or conditions

World Anti-Doping Agency Not Prohibited

Dosage Information

Safety Information
New

Safety Information update
minor

Safety Information added
major

FAQ and database update
major

Safety Information
New

World Anti-Doping Agency
Not Prohibited

World Anti-Doping Agency
Not Prohibited