Hordenine
Hordenine is a barley-derived alkaloid sold in pre-workout and 'fat burner' formulas. There are no controlled human trials of any benefit — all the claims rest on in vitro and animal data. WADA-banned for in-competition use in athletes.
Quick decision guide
May help most
There's no condition with quality human evidence. The pre-workout 'focus and energy' use is mechanistic only.
Common dosing range
Pre-workout products contain 25–75 mg per serving; no studied human dose for any outcome.
When to expect effects
Stimulant effects (if real) would be acute; no clinical endpoint has been measured in humans.
Watch out for
WADA-banned in athletes. Cardiovascular and CNS stimulant risks are theoretical but not zero, especially combined with other stimulants like caffeine, synephrine, or yohimbine.
Evidence snapshot
What is it
Is it worth it for you?
Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.
Worth considering if…
Probably skip if…
Evidence at a glance
| Goal | Effect | Best fit | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Fat loss / lipolysis Mixed Evidence | No measured human fat-loss or body-composition effect | None on current evidence | Not established |
Energy and focus (pre-workout) Mixed Evidence | Unmeasured in humans; mechanistic plausibility only | None on current evidence | If real, minutes (oral stimulant) |
Exercise performance Mixed Evidence | Not measured | None on current evidence | Not established |
Fat loss / lipolysis
- Effect
- No measured human fat-loss or body-composition effect
- Best fit
- None on current evidence
- Time
- Not established
Energy and focus (pre-workout)
- Effect
- Unmeasured in humans; mechanistic plausibility only
- Best fit
- None on current evidence
- Time
- If real, minutes (oral stimulant)
Exercise performance
- Effect
- Not measured
- Best fit
- None on current evidence
- Time
- Not established
Evidence for 3 uses
AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.
Fat loss / lipolysis
Mechanism onlyThe 'fat burner' claim rests on a single line of evidence: hordenine triggers beta-1 adrenergic-mediated lipolysis in isolated bovine adipocytes. No human study has measured fat oxidation, body composition, or weight change with hordenine supplementation. Extrapolating cattle fat-cell data to human fat loss is not a rigorous evidence base.
Bottom line: The lipolysis story is from cattle adipocytes. There's no human evidence for fat loss.
Energy and focus (pre-workout)
Mechanism onlyHordenine has mild MAO-B inhibitory and noradrenaline-releasing activity in vitro, which is the basis for the 'clean energy' marketing. Subjective stimulant effects in users are likely real at high enough doses but haven't been quantified in any controlled human trial. Pre-workout formulas typically combine hordenine with caffeine and other stimulants, making it impossible to attribute any felt effect to hordenine specifically.
Bottom line: Mechanism exists; clinical effect in humans is undocumented.
Exercise performance
Mechanism onlyNo randomized controlled trial has measured strength, endurance, time-trial performance, or any other exercise outcome with hordenine. Marketing relies on combining hordenine with caffeine in studied formulas and crediting the combination's effects to the hordenine.
Bottom line: Use caffeine or creatine — both have far more evidence and aren't anti-doping risks.
How it works
How to take it
What to track
Bottom line: If you're going to take it, keep doses low (25–50 mg), don't stack with multiple other stimulants, avoid late-day dosing, and recognize that the effect you feel is mostly the caffeine in the same formula.
2 commercial forms
Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.
Hordenine HCl (synthetic)
Standard supplement formThe form used in pre-workout and fat-burner formulas. Standardized purity. Same molecule as the natural alkaloid.
Oral bioavailability not well characterized in humans.
Barley sprout extract
Natural-source formWhole-plant extract standardized to hordenine content. Often combined with other barley-derived compounds. Pharmacokinetics not characterized.
Variable hordenine content; check standardization on label.
Safety
Know the common side effects, key cautions, and who should avoid it.
Common side effects
Serious risks
Cardiovascular: stimulant-related arrhythmia, hypertension, palpitations — particularly when stacked with caffeine, synephrine, yohimbine, or in users with underlying heart conditions. Human data are anecdotal.
Serotonergic / monoaminergic interaction: hordenine has MAO-inhibitory activity in vitro. Combination with MAOIs, SSRIs/SNRIs, or tyramine-rich foods/drinks could theoretically provoke hypertensive crisis or serotonin syndrome. No documented human case but the mechanism is plausible.
Anti-doping: detectable in urine by standard methods used in equestrian and human sport. Even at supplement doses it can produce a positive test in regulated athletes.
Who should avoid it
- Competitive athletes subject to WADA, USADA, NCAA, FEI, or any anti-doping testing.
- Anyone on MAOIs, SSRIs, SNRIs, or other serotonergic medications.
- People with hypertension, arrhythmia, anxiety disorders, or known cardiovascular disease.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — no safety data; stimulants generally avoided.
- Children and adolescents — no safety data; stimulants inappropriate in this population without medical indication.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding. No human safety data, and stimulants in general are not recommended without a specific medical indication during pregnancy.
Bottom line: The most concrete risk for many users isn't acute toxicity — it's a failed drug test. For everyone else, the stimulant + monoaminergic profile is theoretical but not zero, and the absence of human safety studies means caution is warranted.
Interactions
Hordenine inhibits MAO-B and releases noradrenaline in vitro. Combining with prescription MAOIs could theoretically cause hypertensive crisis. Avoid.
Hordenine is detectable in urine; positive tests have been reported in regulated athletes. Skip entirely if you compete.
Theoretical serotonin-syndrome risk via combined monoaminergic activity. No reported case, but mechanism warrants avoidance.
Additive cardiovascular and CNS stimulation. Risk of palpitations, hypertension, anxiety; commonly stacked in pre-workout formulas without safety data.
If MAO inhibition were clinically meaningful at supplement doses (unproven), tyramine pressor response could amplify. Risk likely small at typical doses.
Food sources
| Food | Amount | %DV |
|---|---|---|
| Sprouted barley (Hordeum vulgare) | Highest natural source; trace–low mg amounts | — |
| Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) peel | Trace levels alongside synephrine | — |
| Some cacti (e.g., Trichocereus, Acacia spp.) | Variable, not a food source | — |
Sprouted barley (Hordeum vulgare)
- Amount
- Highest natural source; trace–low mg amounts
- %DV
- —
Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) peel
- Amount
- Trace levels alongside synephrine
- %DV
- —
Some cacti (e.g., Trichocereus, Acacia spp.)
- Amount
- Variable, not a food source
- %DV
- —
Choosing a product
What to look for on the label — and what to be skeptical of.
Look for…
Be skeptical of…
Frequently asked questions
Does hordenine actually work?⌄
Human evidence is essentially absent. Most marketing claims rely on mechanistic theory and animal studies, not clinical results.
Is hordenine banned in sports?⌄
Yes, by several anti-doping authorities. Athletes subject to drug testing should avoid it.
Can I combine hordenine with caffeine?⌄
Many pre-workouts do this, but combining stimulants increases cardiovascular and side-effect risk. Use caution and avoid stacking multiple stimulants.
Is hordenine safe?⌄
Long-term human safety data are lacking. Theoretical concerns about heart rate, blood pressure, and drug interactions are real, especially in people with cardiovascular issues.
Why is hordenine in pre-workouts?⌄
It is included for its purported energy and focus effects, but the rationale is largely theoretical and standalone human evidence is weak.
References by claim
Track Hordenine with Pilora
Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.
Coming to App StoreDisclaimer: 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.