Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Cholesterol Pro Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by NOW

Tablet Or Pill Category: Botanical With Nutrients
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Cholesterol Pro is a dietary supplement by NOW with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for high cholesterol, heart and metabolic health, anxiety and stress (aromatherapy).Based on those ingredients, 410 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bergamonte Citrus Bergamot Polyphenolic extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Cholesterol Pro by NOW

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Cholesterol Pro contains two active ingredients. Bergamonte Citrus Bergamot Polyphenolic extract is a plant compound from citrus bergamot, and CardioAid Plant Sterols are naturally derived sterols.

The tablet also contains several inactive ingredients — cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, calcium carbonate, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, silica, and a vegetarian coating — that serve as fillers and binders to hold the tablet together.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: support healthy cholesterol levels.
  • We looked for evidence on: Hyperlipidemia, Metabolic syndrome, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Obesity, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular health.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Bergamot is rated "Possibly Effective" for Hyperlipidemia (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Bergamot is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), Obesity, Metabolic syndrome.

Bergamot extract is rated possibly effective for high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia). The evidence for its use in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and autism spectrum disorder is insufficient to rate.

We hold no effectiveness data on CardioAid Plant Sterols in our records.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Bergamot

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Bergamot extract taken by mouth appears generally well tolerated short-term, though one person in clinical trials reported heartburn. The main safety concern is that the essential oil can be toxic if swallowed, and topical exposure can cause sun-related skin reactions — blisters, redness, skin lesions, and darkened spots, especially in fair-skinned people.

Bergamot is rated possibly unsafe in pregnancy and lactation due to insufficient safety information, so the data advises against it during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Bergamot

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Bergamot.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 410 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking this product, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take any photosensitizing drugs (medications that make your skin more sun-sensitive) or diabetes medications. Bergamot may increase the risk of sun reactions with the first group and low blood sugar with the second.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

If you have high cholesterol and want to try a plant-based approach, bergamot extract has some evidence behind it. But if you take diabetes medications or drugs that increase sun sensitivity, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting this product.

Check your exact medications with our search tool first — this product interacts with a wide range of drugs.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jan 25, 2017.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Cholesterol Pro, straight from the product label.

Brand NOW
Barcode (UPC) 733739035097
Net contents 60 Tablet(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 25, 2017
DSLD ID 69913
Product type Botanical With Nutrients
Supplement form Tablet Or Pill
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Cholesterol Pro by NOW, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
2 Tablet(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Tablet(s)
Servings per container
30
UPC/BARCODE
733739035097
IngredientAmount% DV
Bergamonte Citrus Bergamot Polyphenolic extract500 mg--
CardioAid Plant Sterols800 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, Croscarmellose Sodium, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Vegetarian Coating

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
FDA Statement of Identity

A Dietary Supplement

Formulation

Vegetarian/Vegan

Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients.

General Statements

Botanicals/Herbs Family owned since 1968.

Natural color variation may occur in this product.

Cardiovascular Health* Supports Healthy Cholesterol Levels already within the normal range*

Formula

Contains soy.

Cholesterol Pro is a combination of two unique ingredients that have clinically demonstrated their ability to help support serum lipid levels already within the healthy range.* Bergamonte is a standardized polyphenolic extract that can help to support cardiovascular health, as well as proper blood sugar management.* CardioAid, a plant sterol combination, has also demonstrated its use for the support of healthy cholesterol levels already within the normal range.*

With Bergamonte

Precautions

Contains soy.

Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.

Caution: For adults only.

Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking statins or other medication, or have a medical condition.

Keep out of reach of children.

Do Not Eat Freshness Packet. Keep in Bottle.

Brand IP Statement(s)

Bergamonte is a trademark of HP Ingredients. CardioAid is a registered trademark of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company.

Seals/Symbols

GMP Quality Assured

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Usage: Take 2 tablets twice daily with food for 30 days. Thereafter, as a maintenance dose, take 2 tablets daily with food.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

General

CODE 3509 V4

See for yourself

Cholesterol Pro by NOW label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Cholesterol Pro by NOW

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Tablet(s) Dosage formTablet Or Pill Servings per container30 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

500 mg per serving Form: Bruteridine, Flavanones, Melitidine

Bergamot is a Mediterranean citrus fruit, and its standardized extract is most often used to support cholesterol and heart health, with some early but...

Bergamonte Citrus Bergamot Polyphenolic extract monograph & interactions

CardioAid Plant Sterols

800 mg per serving Form: Beta-Sitosterol, Campesterol, Stigmasterol

Other (inactive) ingredients: Cellulose, Croscarmellose Sodium, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Stearate, Stearic Acid, Silica, Vegetarian Coating. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Cholesterol Pro by NOW Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Cholesterol Pro?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
410Drugs
410 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Cholesterol Pro with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Bergamonte Citrus Bergamot Polyphenolic extract2 drug types · 410 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking bergamot with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research suggests that bergamot juice has hypoglycemic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Photosensitizing Drugs

Theoretically, topical bergamot essential oil might increase the risk of side effects when used along with photosensitizing drugs.
Bergamot contains bergapten, which has photosensitizing effects.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Cholesterol Pro, from the product label.

NOW

See all NOW products
Name
NOW Foods
Street Address
395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd.
City
Bloomingdale
State
IL
ZipCode
60108
Web Address
nowfoods.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Cholesterol Pro by NOW: Common Questions

Does Cholesterol Pro by NOW interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Cholesterol Pro has a known interaction with 410 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Cholesterol Pro contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Can I take Cholesterol Pro if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Bergamot, the main active ingredient, is rated possibly unsafe during pregnancy, and safety while breastfeeding is unknown. The data advises against it in both situations. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about alternatives that are safe for you.
What side effects might I notice?
Taken by mouth, bergamot extract is generally well tolerated short-term. One person reported heartburn in trials. If you apply bergamot topically (on skin), you may get redness, blisters, skin lesions, or darkened spots, especially if you're fair-skinned — it can make you more sensitive to sunburn.
Does this product actually help with cholesterol?
Bergamot extract is rated possibly effective for high cholesterol based on available evidence. That means there's some research support, but it's not yet definitive — it's worth discussing with your doctor as part of your cholesterol plan.
What is bergamot?
Bergamot is a citrus fruit. This product uses a polyphenolic extract from it, which contains beneficial plant compounds. Bergamot is different from bergamot essential oil — the oil can be toxic if swallowed, but the extract in this tablet is designed for oral use.
Can I take this with my diabetes medication?
Bergamot may lower blood sugar on its own, so combining it with diabetes drugs could raise the risk of low blood sugar. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding this product to your routine.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Cholesterol Pro is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Cholesterol Pro label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Cholesterol Pro's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 17 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Bergamot 17 references
  1. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  2. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
  3. Naganuma M, Hirose S, Nakayama Y, et al. A study of the phototoxicity of lemon oil. Arch Dermatol Res 1985;278:31-6. . PubMed
  4. Kaddu, S., Kerl, H., and Wolf, P. Accidental bullous phototoxic reactions to bergamot aromatherapy oil. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol. 2001;45(3):458-461. PubMed
  5. Finsterer, J. Earl Grey tea intoxication. Lancet 4-27-2002;359(9316):1484. PubMed
  6. Gruson, L. M. and Chang, M. W. Berloque dermatitis mimicking child abuse. Arch.Pediatr.Adolesc.Med. 2002;156(11):1091-1093. PubMed
  7. Weisenseel, P. and Woitalla, S. [Toxic mustard plaster dematitis and phototoxic dematitis after application of bergamot oil]. MMW.Fortschr.Med. 12-15-2005;147(51-52):53, 55.
  8. Placzek, M., Fromel, W., Eberlein, B., Gilbertz, K. P., and Przybilla, B. Evaluation of phototoxic properties of fragrances. Acta Derm.Venereol. 2007;87(4):312-316. PubMed
  9. Mollace, V., Sacco, I., Janda, E., Malara, C., Ventrice, D., Colica, C., Visalli, V., Muscoli, S., Ragusa, S., Muscoli, C., Rotiroti, D., and Romeo, F. Hypolipemic and hypoglycaemic activity of bergamot polyphenols: from animal models to human studies. F PubMed
  10. Morliere, P., Huppe, G., Averbeck, D., Young, A. R., Santus, R., and Dubertret, L. In vitro photostability and photosensitizing properties of bergamot oil. Effects of a cinnamate sunscreen. J.Photochem.Photobiol.B 1990;7(2-4):199-208. PubMed
  11. Young, A. R., Walker, S. L., Kinley, J. S., Plastow, S. R., Averbeck, D., Morliere, P., and Dubertret, L. Phototumorigenesis studies of 5-methoxypsoralen in bergamot oil: evaluation and modification of risk of human use in an albino mouse skin model. J.P PubMed
  12. Girard, J., Unkovic, J., Delahayes, J., and Lafille, C. [Phototoxicity of Bergamot oil. Comparison between humans and guinea pigs]. Dermatologica 1979;158(4):229-243.
  13. Zaynoun, S. T., Johnson, B. E., and Frain-Bell, W. A study of oil of bergamot and its importance as a phototoxic agent. II. Factors which affect the phototoxic reaction induced by bergamot oil and psoralen derivatives. Contact Dermatitis 1977;3(5):225-23 PubMed
  14. Zacher, K. D. and Ippen, H. [Contact dermatitis caused by bergamot oil]. Derm.Beruf.Umwelt. 1984;32(3):95-97.
  15. Yasui, Y. and Hirone, T. Action spectrum for bergamot-oil phototoxicity measured by sunburn cell counting. J.Dermatol. 1994;21(5):319-322. PubMed
  16. Zaynoun, S. T., Johnson, B. E., and Frain-Bell, W. A study of oil of bergamot and its importance as a phototoxic agent. I. Characterization and quantification of the photoactive component. Br.J.Dermatol. 1977;96(5):475-482. PubMed
  17. Bruno A, Pandolfo G, Crucitti M, Cedro C, Zoccali RA, Muscatello MRA. Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction Supplementation Improves Cognitive Functioning in Schizophrenia: Data From an 8-Week, Open-Label Pilot Study. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2017;37(4):468-71. PubMed

See these in context on the Bergamot monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring