BioPerine is the registered trademark for a patented dietary supplement produced and distributed by the Sabinsa Corporation. Specifically, it is a standardized extract that contains a minimum of 95 percent piperine, a plant alkaloid that gives certain foods a spicy, pungent flavor. The piperine content in BioPerine is largely obtained from the berries of Piper nigrum, likely more familiar to you as common black pepper. BioPerine is also used as an additive in the food industry.
Description
BioPerine is marketed as a bioavability enhancer, meaning that it improves the absorption of nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract. As such, the patent on this product includes the claim that enhanced nutrient absorption may stimulate thermogenesis to help your body burn more fat, leading to more lean muscle mass, according to the Free Patents Online website. In fact, according to the manufacturer, BioPerine enhances the absorption of CoQ10 (a compound with antioxidant and other properties) by 31.8 percent, selenium by 42.6 percent, vitamin C by 52.3 percent and beta carotene by 61.2 percent. According to researchers at St. John's Medical College in India, piperine increases the biovavailability of curcumin by as much as 2,000 percent. Curcumin, the primary active chemical in the Indian spice turmeric, is associated with several health benefits, but is poorly absorbed when eaten.
Primary Source
One of the patents held by Sabinsa states that Piper nigrum is the preferred source of piperine. This species includes the black, green, white and red varieties of peppercorns. In fact, although you may see these varieties labeled as "gourmet pepper" in stores, the only difference between these peppercorns is the stage of maturity at which they are harvested.
Additional Sources
Another plant that bears fruit that contains piperine is Piper longum, commonly referred to as Indian or Javanese long pepper. At times, Sabinsa may use this plant as a secondary source to produce BioPerine. Another species that contains piperine is Piper guineense, also known as West African pepper and Ashanti pepper. This species, however, does not appear to be used in the manufacture of BioPerine.
Use in Foods
According to a 2010 Sabinsa press release, BioPerine was awarded GRAS status, which means "Generally Recognized As Safe." As such, the company asserts that many manufacturers include this dietary supplement in a variety of food products. In addition to culinary seasoning blends, BioPerine may be found in candy and gum, non-alcoholic drinks, dairy products, cereals, granulated sugar, baked goods and a variety of processed foods.
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