Eriocitrin / Eriomin® (Lemon Flavonoid)

Citrus limon
Evidence Level
Moderate
2 Clinical Trials
4 Documented Benefits
3/5 Evidence Score

Eriocitrin is the primary flavanone glycoside found in lemon (Citrus limon) peel and juice, accounting for much of lemon's health-promoting polyphenol activity. Eriomin® (Ingredients by Nature) is a standardized lemon flavonoid complex with human RCT evidence focused on blood sugar regulation and metabolic health — specifically postprandial glucose, insulin, and related metabolic markers. Uric-acid and cardiovascular effects remain mechanistic and are not established in these trials. Unlike hesperidin (found in oranges), eriocitrin has a distinct metabolic profile with particular strength for blood sugar and inflammatory markers.

Studied Dose 200–400 mg/day Eriomin® standardized extract; blood sugar: 200 mg/day; uric acid: 200–400 mg/day; effects observed within 4–8 weeks
Active Compound Eriocitrin (eriodictyol-7-O-rutinoside) and hesperidin — Eriomin® by Ingredients by Nature (standardized Citrus limon flavonoid extract, ≥35% eriocitrin)

Benefits

Postprandial blood sugar and insulin reduction

A human RCT of Eriomin® (200 mg/day) demonstrated significant reductions in postprandial blood glucose and insulin response after 12 weeks — with improvements in both fasting glucose and the 2-hour glucose excursion during oral glucose tolerance testing. Proposed mechanisms include alpha-glucosidase inhibition and improved insulin sensitivity. Note: the branded human trials to date come from a single research group and are manufacturer-affiliated, so independent replication remains limited.

Uric acid reduction

Eriocitrin significantly reduces serum uric acid levels through xanthine oxidase inhibition (the enzyme that produces uric acid) in laboratory and mechanistic studies. This uric-acid effect is mechanistic and has not been a primary endpoint of the branded human RCTs cited on this page, which measured glucose and metabolic markers rather than uric acid. Eriocitrin is not a substitute for prescription urate-lowering therapy and is not intended to treat or prevent gout.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity

Eriocitrin and its metabolite eriodictyol are potent free radical scavengers with ORAC values among the highest of citrus flavonoids. Clinical studies show reductions in CRP and inflammatory markers in the branded human trials; effects on oxidized LDL are mechanistic/preclinical rather than a demonstrated outcome.

Cardiovascular protection

In mechanistic and preclinical studies, eriocitrin and related citrus flavonoids may influence endothelial function, nitric oxide signaling, and platelet activity. These cardiovascular effects are mechanistic and were not measured in the branded Eriomin® human trials cited here, so any cardiovascular benefit in people remains unproven — best framed as general antioxidant and vascular support rather than a demonstrated outcome.

Mechanism of action

1

Alpha-glucosidase and xanthine oxidase dual inhibition

Eriocitrin inhibits intestinal alpha-glucosidase (slowing carbohydrate digestion and glucose absorption) and xanthine oxidase (the enzyme producing uric acid from purines). This dual enzyme inhibition explains why eriocitrin simultaneously reduces postprandial blood glucose and serum uric acid — two key metabolic syndrome markers — through direct enzyme interaction.

2

PPAR-α activation and lipid metabolism

Eriodictyol (the aglycone of eriocitrin) activates PPAR-α transcription factor, stimulating fatty acid oxidation, reducing triglyceride synthesis, and improving overall lipid metabolism. This PPAR-α agonism contributes to the lipid-lowering and insulin-sensitizing effects of eriocitrin supplementation.

3

NF-κB inhibition and oxidative stress reduction

Eriocitrin inhibits NF-κB activation and reduces downstream inflammatory cytokine production. The antioxidant mechanism involves both direct free radical scavenging and Nrf2 pathway activation, providing complementary anti-inflammatory and antioxidant protection in metabolic tissues.

Clinical trials

1
Eriomin® for Pre-Diabetic Glycemic Control — RCT
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Eriomin® (200 mg/day, lemon-derived eriocitrin extract) vs placebo in 103 pre-diabetic adults for 12 weeks. Outcomes: fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, lipid profile, inflammatory markers. (Ribeiro et al. 2019, Phytother Res — the branded pivotal prediabetes RCT)

103 pre-diabetic adults. 12-week intervention.

Eriomin® significantly reduced fasting blood glucose, postprandial glucose AUC, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and inflammatory markers vs placebo. Modest but clinically meaningful effect sizes. Note: published trial — adds peer-reviewed support to manufacturer claims.

2
Eriocitrin and Xanthine Oxidase — Mechanistic (no verified human RCT)

The uric-acid / xanthine-oxidase effect derives from mechanistic and preclinical work; a verified human uric-acid RCT specific to eriocitrin (or Eriomin®) is lacking. The previously listed attribution (Hiramitsu 2014) is an eriocitrin fatty-liver study, and the previously linked PMID was a different bergamot/cardoon NAFLD paper.

Adults with mildly elevated uric acid.

Eriocitrin reduced serum uric acid and inhibited xanthine oxidase activity in this study. Human uric-acid RCT evidence specific to the branded Eriomin® ingredient is limited and this citation should be verified. Reductions were modest compared to allopurinol or febuxostat (pharmaceutical xanthine oxidase inhibitors) — eriocitrin should be considered adjunctive, not a substitute for medication in clinical hyperuricemia/gout.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Very well tolerated; citrus-derived with long food safety history
Rare citrus allergy — avoid if known citrus hypersensitivity
No significant adverse effects in clinical studies at 200–400 mg/day

Important Drug interactions

Allopurinol (gout medication) — eriocitrin may inhibit xanthine oxidase in mechanistic studies, but a clinically meaningful additive uric-acid effect in people is not established; if on urate-lowering therapy, monitor with your clinician
Antidiabetic medications — additive glucose-lowering; monitor blood sugar
CYP3A4 substrates — citrus flavonoids may mildly inhibit CYP3A4; use caution with statins, calcium channel blockers at high doses
Anticoagulants — mild antiplatelet activity; monitor with warfarin

Frequently asked questions about Eriocitrin / Eriomin® (Lemon Flavonoid)

What is Eriocitrin / Eriomin?

Eriocitrin is the primary flavanone glycoside found in lemon (Citrus limon) peel and juice, accounting for much of lemon's health-promoting polyphenol activity. Eriomin® (Ingredients by Nature) is a standardized lemon flavonoid complex with human RCT evidence focused on blood sugar regulation and metabolic health — spe…

What is Eriocitrin / Eriomin used for?

Eriocitrin / Eriomin is researched primarily for Metabolic Health and Antioxidant. A human RCT of Eriomin® (200 mg/day) demonstrated significant reductions in postprandial blood glucose and insulin response after 12 weeks — with improvements in both fasting glucose and the 2-hour glucose excursion during oral glucose tole…

What is the recommended dosage of Eriocitrin / Eriomin?

The clinically studied dose is 200–400 mg/day Eriomin® standardized extract; blood sugar: 200 mg/day; uric acid: 200–400 mg/day; effects observed within 4–8 weeks Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Eriocitrin / Eriomin safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Eriocitrin / Eriomin is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Very well tolerated; citrus-derived with long food safety history Rare citrus allergy — avoid if known citrus hypersensitivity It may also interact with some medications. Eriocitrin / Eriomin is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Eriocitrin / Eriomin interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Allopurinol (gout medication) — eriocitrin may inhibit xanthine oxidase in mechanistic studies, but a clinically meaningful additive uric-acid effect in people is not established; if on urate-lowering therapy, monitor with your clinician Antidiabetic medications — additive glucos… If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Eriocitrin / Eriomin?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Eriocitrin / Eriomin as Moderate (3 out of 5). It is backed by 2 clinical trials and 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Ribeiro CB, Ramos FM, Manthey JA, Cesar TB Effectiveness of Eriomin® in managing hyperglycemia and reversal of prediabetes condition: A double-blind, randomized, controlled study. Phytother Res. 2019;33(7):1921-1933. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6386.PubMedUsed to support: Pivotal Eriomin® RCT: 200 mg/day for 90 days significantly reduced fasting glucose, HbA1c, and reversed prediabetes in a significant proportion of participants vs. placebo; directly supports postprandial blood sugar and antioxidant/anti-inflammatory claims.
  2. Cesar TB, Ramos FMM, Ribeiro CB Nutraceutical Eriocitrin (Eriomin®) Reduces Hyperglycemia by Increasing Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 and Downregulates Systemic Inflammation: A Crossover-Randomized Clinical Trial. J Med Food. 2022;25(11):1050-1058. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2021.0181.PubMedUsed to support: Eriomin® crossover RCT showing the branded extract raised GLP-1 levels and reduced postprandial glucose and inflammatory cytokines vs. placebo; supports blood sugar/insulin reduction and anti-inflammatory claims with mechanistic insight.
  3. Ramos FMM, Ribeiro CB, Cesar TB, Milenkovic D, Cabral L, Noronha MF, Sivieri K Lemon flavonoids nutraceutical (Eriomin®) attenuates prediabetes intestinal dysbiosis: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Food Sci Nutr. 2023;11(11):7283-7295. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3654.PubMedUsed to support: Eriomin® RCT demonstrating that the lemon flavonoid complex improved gut microbiota composition and reduced intestinal dysbiosis in prediabetes, providing additional mechanistic support for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulation claims.