Bitter Melon: Benefits, Dosage, Contraindications
Other name(s)
Bitter Gourd, Kugua, Karela
Scientific name(s)
Momordica charantia
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Alkaloids
Sterols
Indications
Rating methodology
EFSA approval.
Type 2 Diabetes ✪✪✪✪✪
Bitter melon shows promising effects in preventing and slowing diabetes complications in animal studies. Various preparations have been studied for their hypoglycemic activity, but sample sizes are small and statistical analyses unclear. A Cochrane systematic review including four randomized controlled trials found no significant improvement in blood sugar levels with bitter melon compared to placebo. Another trial demonstrated a significant reduction in fructosamine levels with 2000 mg/day of bitter melon. Fructosamine is an indicator of glycemic control reflecting the average blood sugar over the previous 2 to 3 weeks. It is formed by the reaction between glucose and plasma proteins, primarily albumin. A more recent meta-analysis on bitter melon in type 2 diabetic patients showed a reduction in fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels and a slight decrease in HbA1c with doses of 0.5 to 12 g per day. However, study results are variable and depend on the formulation of bitter melon used, study size, and duration. Overall, some preliminary research suggests an improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin secretion, but other studies have not confirmed significant improvement compared to placebo.
Posologie
Oral: fruit
500 - 2000 mg
12 - weeks
dry extract
Hypoglycemic efficacy and safety of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Lower hypoglycemic but higher antiatherogenic effects of bitter melon than glibenclamide in type 2 diabetic patients
Momordica charantia L. lowers elevated glycaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Metabolic Syndrome ✪✪✪✪✪
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions including abdominal obesity (measured by waist circumference), an abnormal lipid profile, high blood pressure, and elevated blood sugar. These factors are closely related as they reflect insulin resistance and an inflammatory state that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Studies on bitter melon show mixed results regarding its impact on obesity, lipid profile, and blood sugar. In a pilot study, 24 obese patients were randomized to receive either 2000 mg/day of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) or a placebo for 12 weeks. While reductions in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage were observed in the bitter melon group, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Nonetheless, a significant decrease in triglyceride levels was observed, suggesting a beneficial effect on the lipid profile. Another study in pre-diabetic adults found a decrease in blood glucose after taking 800 mg of bitter melon three times a day for 12 weeks, without affecting insulin levels or other indicators of insulin resistance. These results suggest a potential effect of bitter melon on certain aspects of metabolic syndrome, although further research is needed to confirm these effects.
Posologie
Oral: fruit
2000 mg
12 - weeks
dry extract
Acute effects of a beverage containing bitter melon extract (CARELA) on postprandial glycemia among prediabetic adults
Effect of Momordica charantia Administration on Anthropometric Measures and Metabolic Profile in Patients with Obesity: A Pilot Clinical Trial
Athletic Performance ✪✪✪✪✪
Studies on bitter melon extract in athletes, specifically tennis players, have shown notable benefits for fitness and stress management. In addition to improving balance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory capacity, the extract helps reduce stress hormone levels such as ACTH, which plays a key role in the body's stress response. This research suggests bitter melon could help athletes improve their performance and better resist fatigue, particularly during intensive training in hot conditions. 100 ml of bitter melon extract, six times a day for four weeks, were consumed.
Posologie
Oral: fruit
600 mL
liquid extract
Possible adaptogenic effects of Momordica charantia on high-intensity training-induced alteration in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
Properties
Hypoglycemic
Bitter melon has been the subject of more than 140 studies exploring its antidiabetic potential, particularly due to its hypoglycemic activity in animal and human models. All parts of the plant have shown efficacy, with well-established hypoglycemic activity that could stimulate insulin secretion, improve peripheral glucose uptake, and enhance insulin sensitivity. Mechanisms such as pancreatic beta-cell protection and influence on various enzymes and biochemical processes related to glucose metabolism have been identified.
Usages associés
Hypolipidemic
Studies on normal and diabetic animals have shown that bitter melon fruit extract, its flavonoids, or a methanolic fraction of the plant possess hypolipidemic activity. These studies typically report a decrease in triglyceride levels and LDL (bad cholesterol) and an increase in HDL (good cholesterol).
Hepatoprotective
Bitter melon may offer liver protection due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In animal studies, an improvement in liver enzymes has been observed following damage induced by carbon tetrachloride or ammonium chloride, as well as an increase in antioxidant levels. Furthermore, bitter melon may downregulate factors contributing to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In vitro studies suggest that karaviloside III and other compounds in bitter melon inhibit hepatic fibrosis development and have activity against liver cancer cell lines.
Metabolic
In diet-induced obese animals, bitter melon can reduce body weight by increasing fatty acid oxidation. Polysaccharides from fermented bitter melon juice reduce body weight in rats fed a high-fat diet, which is associated with a reduction in adipose tissue fat cell size. Additionally, bitter melon enhances the activity of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I enzyme, transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria, and stimulates the expression of lipid oxidation regulators, suggesting an effect on energy expenditure.
Usages associés
Safety dosage
Adult: 500 mg - 2000 mg (dry extract)
Bitter melon has been used in doses of 0.5 to 2 g per day for periods up to 16 weeks. Juice: 50 to 600 ml per day.
Interactions
Médicaments
Antidiabetics: weak interaction
Bitter melon can lower blood glucose levels and could enhance the effect of antidiabetic medications, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia in some patients. It is important to closely monitor blood glucose levels.
Precautions
Nursing women: avoid
Insufficient data.
Contraindications
Pregnant women: prohibited
Oral use of bitter melon is potentially dangerous during pregnancy. Animal research has revealed that some proteins extracted from raw fruit possess abortive properties.
