Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu

The Basics

What is Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu?

Has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for indigestion, nausea, and constipation. Various bitter orange products are promoted for heartburn, nasal congestion, weight loss, appetite stimulation or suppression, and athletic performance.

Brand names for Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu

N/A

How Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu is classified

Complementary Therapies, Food, Phytotherapy, Plants, Medicinal

Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu During Pregnancy

Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu while pregnant

N/A

Taking Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu?

Bitter orange (Citrus aurantiu) fruit contains several adrenergic agonists, primarily p-synephrine, but also octopamine and tyramine, as well as numerous flavonoids. Bitter orange has no specific lactation-related uses, but high dosages are often used in weight-loss agents. No data exist on the excretion of any components of bitter orange into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of bitter orange in nursing mothers or infants. Bitter orange is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a food and flavoring by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. High dosages of bitter orange are often combined with caffeine and other stimulants in weight loss products, and the combinations may cause cardiac stimulation. Because of the lack of information on high dosages used in supplements and because animal data indicate that the adrenergic agents in bitter orange might decrease milk production, it should probably be avoided by nursing mothers, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Bitter orange (Citrus aurantiu) fruit contains several adrenergic agonists, primarily p-synephrine, but also octopamine and tyramine, as well as numerous flavonoids. Bitter orange has no specific lactation-related uses, but high dosages are often used in weight-loss agents. No data exist on the excretion of any components of bitter orange into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of bitter orange in nursing mothers or infants. Bitter orange is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a food and flavoring by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. High dosages of bitter orange are often combined with caffeine and other stimulants in weight loss products, and the combinations may cause cardiac stimulation. Because of the lack of information on high dosages used in supplements and because animal data indicate that the adrenergic agents in bitter orange might decrease milk production, it should probably be avoided by nursing mothers, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Possible effects of Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu on milk supply

Relevant published information in humans was not found as of the revision date. However, animal data indicate that octopamine[1] decreases prolactin and might decrease milk production. Pseudoephedrine, a pharmacologically similar vasoconstrictor, decreases milk production in nursing mothers after oral use.[2]

Possible alternatives to Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantiu