Limited evidenceWeight management

Hordenine

A phenylethylamine alkaloid from barley sprouts, added to fat burners on the theory that it prolongs stimulant effects. There is no human trial of hordenine for weight, appetite or energy.

Evidence last reviewed: August 2026

What the science says

Human weight or appetite effects Limited evidence
No randomized trial in humans has tested hordenine for body weight, fat loss, appetite or energy expenditure. The marketing rationale is entirely mechanistic.
Adrenergic activity Limited evidence
Laboratory screening identified hordenine among food-derived compounds with beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist activity in cell systems. Cell-level activity does not establish an effect at the doses found in supplements.
Pharmacology in animals Limited evidence
The most detailed pharmacokinetic and behavioural work on hordenine was done in horses, where it produced cardiovascular and locomotor effects at injected doses. Oral bioavailability in humans is expected to be poor because monoamine oxidase degrades it in the gut.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo studied human dose. Supplement labels typically list 25–100 mg per serving, chosen without trial support.

SafetyHuman safety data are essentially absent. As a monoamine it may raise blood pressure and heart rate, and combining it with MAO inhibitors is potentially dangerous. It can trigger positive results in doping and workplace amine screens. Avoid with cardiovascular disease, in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and alongside antidepressants.

Scientific references

Identification of Functional Food Factors as β(2)-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists and Their Potential Roles in Skeletal Muscle
Chikazawa M, Sato R — J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 2018
Hordenine: pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and behavioural effects in the horse
Frank M, Weckman TJ, Wood T — Equine Vet J, 1990

Where to buy

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