When to take Piperine | PlanYourVitamins.com

What is piperine good for?

Short answer: Piperine has potential benefits for absorption, inflammation and brain health.

Piperine is the primary compound of black pepper, and is responsible for its pungency and distinct flavor. In recent years, piperine is being looked into for its many health benefits, as well as its ability to drastically enhance the absorption of several specific compounds when they are taken in conjunction with piperine.

Black pepper is a staple seasoning found in practically every culture and cuisine across the globe, however its piperine content is only approximately 5-10%, and even then it is used relatively sparingly during the cooking and seasoning process, so in order to take full advantage of piperine, it must be extracted and taken in concentrated form as a supplement.

One popular patented formulation of piperine extract is Bioperine, which is composed of over 95% piperine in a highly bioavailable form, and is often the formulation of choice for many supplement manufacturers.

Piperine for increased absorption

Perhaps piperine's main call to fame is its ability to drastically increase the human body's ability to absorb curcumin.

Curcumin, when taken on its own, is notoriously difficult for our body to absorb properly, but some studies show that curcumin absorption is increased by a mind-blowing 2,000% when taken together with piperine.

Other compounds and nutrients that are also documented to have an increased absorption when in the presence of piperine include beta-carotene, resveratrol, selenium and taurine.

Piperine for inflammation

Research shows that piperine exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties, including the ability to block several markers of inflammation that affect the brain and spinal cord.

Several animal and in vitro studies also revealed that piperine helps protect skin cells against inflammation when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, and could even reduce inflammation that is associated with arthritis.

Piperine for brain health

Piperine's ability to combat inflammation also translates into preserving brain health, as many neurological and cognitive conditions are caused by inflammation in the brain.

One such example is an animal study that demonstrated how piperine reduced inflammation in the brain cells of rats with Parkinson's disease, and another study found similiar results in mice with Alzheimer's disease.

Furthermore, piperine has been found to protect the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, which is extremely promising for research into treatments for multiple sclerosis.

When should I take piperine?

Short answer: Piperine is best taken on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours since the last meal and at least 30 minutes before the next meal.

Piperine is generally best absorbed on an empty stomach, at least two hours since the last meal and at least 30 minutes before the next meal, however if you are taking piperine for it's synergistic effects with other nutrients, such as curcumin or resveratrol, then you can simply take them together.

What does piperine combine well with?

Short answer: Piperine has been shown to work well together with beta-carotene, curcumin, quercetin, resveratrol, selenium and taurine.

Piperine with curcumin, quercetin or resveratrol, for increased absorption

Piperine is known to significantly increase absorption for a variety of compounds, and as a result is often paired with these compounds in their supplemental formulations to maximize bioavailability, often in the form of Bioperine, which is a patented formulation of piperine.

For example, curcumin's absorption has been shown to increase by around 2,000% when in the presence of piperine, and the absorption of resveratrol is increased by over 1,500%.

Piperine with selenium or beta-carotene, for increased absorption

Piperine's absorption-increasing effects have also been observed with other nutrients and compounds, including selenium and beta-carotene.

With taurine, for cardiovascular health

Research shows that when piperine is combined with taurine, there is a significant decrease in plaque formation and inflammation in blood vessels, resulting in a slowing down of the progression and development of atherosclerosis, a major driver of heart disease.

This same combination was also found to improve cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and levels of gut microbiota.

What are natural sources of piperine?

If you are interested in achieving your daily piperine intake through your diet, rich sources of piperine include:

Black pepper
Long pepper

It's important to note, however, that black pepper's natural piperine content is not much higher than 10%, and black pepper is only added in minimal amounts to our food. Piperine supplementation is the only real way to achieve a significant intake of piperine.

Piperine data sources & further reading

Last updated by Asklepios on 30th January, 2025