BioPerine® (Piper nigrum)
BioPerine® is a patented black pepper extract standardised for piperine, the naturally occurring compound responsible for much of black pepper’s pungency and biological activity. It is primarily used in supplement formulations to improve the bioavailability and absorption of other nutrients taken alongside it.
This makes BioPerine® especially useful in formulas containing ingredients that are otherwise poorly absorbed.
Supporting Nutrient Absorption
Piperine can influence digestive and metabolic processes that affect how certain compounds are absorbed and broken down.
By temporarily increasing the availability of some nutrients in the digestive tract, BioPerine® can help the body make more efficient use of ingredients consumed with it.
One of the best-known examples is curcumin, which has naturally low bioavailability. Combining curcumin with piperine can substantially increase the amount available for absorption.
More Than an Absorption Enhancer
Black pepper also contains naturally occurring antioxidant and plant compounds, while piperine itself has been studied for its effects on inflammatory and metabolic pathways.
Its main role within nutritional supplements, however, remains as a bioavailability enhancer, helping complementary ingredients reach useful levels more efficiently.
This allows relatively small amounts of BioPerine® to play an important supporting role within multi-ingredient formulas.
BioPerine® in Supplement Formulas
BioPerine® is commonly paired with ingredients such as:
- Curcumin and turmeric extracts
- Vitamins and minerals
- Herbal extracts
- Antioxidants
- Joint and recovery nutrients
Because piperine can also influence how some medications are absorbed or metabolised, people taking prescription medicines should check with a healthcare professional before using concentrated piperine supplements.
BioPerine® for Pets
Piperine may also be included in professionally formulated supplements for animals to help improve the availability of complementary nutrients.
Because animals metabolise plant compounds differently from humans, BioPerine® should only be used at appropriate species-specific amounts within a balanced pet formulation rather than added separately to an animal’s diet.
BioPerine® in O2B Products
At O2B Healthy, BioPerine® is included in O2B MitoCell+, where it complements nutrients such as nicotinamide riboside, NAC, quercetin and resveratrol. It is also used in O2B K9+ Calm and O2B Feline+ Calm, alongside L-theanine, L-tryptophan and calming herbs. Across these formulas, BioPerine® acts primarily as a bioavailability enhancer, helping support the absorption and utilisation of complementary nutritional and botanical ingredients.