Enocitrin

PhytochemicalFlavonoid glycoside

What is it

Enocitrin (eriocitrin, eriodictyol-7-rutinoside) is a citrus flavanone particularly abundant in lemon. It is the lemon counterpart to hesperidin and is studied for antioxidant and lipid effects.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Antioxidant / lipid markers

Limited Evidence

Small RCTs of lemon polyphenol extract show modest improvements in oxidative stress and lipid profiles.

How it works

Eriocitrin is hydrolyzed by gut microbiota to eriodictyol, which has antioxidant activity and modulates lipid metabolism in animal models. Limited human RCTs (most using lemon polyphenol extract) suggest modest effects on oxidative stress and post-meal lipid handling. As with other citrus flavanones, bioavailability is variable.

Dosage

Not commonly dosed alone. Lemon polyphenol extracts used in trials provide 100-500 mg/day, with eriocitrin at 30-150 mg.

When and how to take it

Take with meals.

1 commercial form

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Lemon polyphenol extract

Most common research source.

Standardized to eriocitrin and other lemon flavonoids.

Safety

Well tolerated in short-term studies.

Who should be cautious

Pregnancy data limited; pure-extract use should be supervised.

Interactions

No significant interactions reported at typical doses.

Food sources

Food	Amount	%DV
Lemon juice (1 oz)	small amount of eriocitrin	—
Whole lemon	moderate amount, mostly in peel and pith	—

Lemon juice (1 oz)

Amount: small amount of eriocitrin
%DV: —

Whole lemon

Amount: moderate amount, mostly in peel and pith
%DV: —

Frequently asked questions

Is enocitrin the same as hesperidin?⌄

Both are citrus flavanones, but they have different aglycones (eriodictyol vs. hesperetin) and slightly different effects.

Should I take it as a supplement?⌄

Eating whole lemons or citrus is a simpler way to get it. Extracts may help oxidative stress markers.

References

Enocitrin on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Enocitrin (PubMed search) — PubMed link

Track Enocitrin with Pilora

Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.