← All supplements
Limited evidenceHeart & metabolic

Nobiletin

A polymethoxyflavone from citrus peel with striking metabolic and circadian effects in mice. The human trials that exist tested memory and nocturia, not metabolism.

Where to buy

View on iHerb

Ships to 180+ countries · welcome discount for new customers

Referral link — this site may earn a commission on purchases.

What the science says

  • Metabolic and lipid effects Limited evidence

    The claims that nobiletin corrects dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and circadian metabolic disruption come from mouse and cell studies. No randomised trial has measured lipids, glucose or body composition with nobiletin in humans.

  • Memory in older adults Limited evidence

    A multicentre randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 108 elderly Japanese adults found a nobiletin-rich Citrus depressa peel supplement improved Wechsler Memory Scale scores over 16 weeks. The test product also contained Kaempferia parviflora and Peucedanum japonicum, so the result cannot be assigned to nobiletin.

  • Nocturia Limited evidence

    A small randomised, placebo-controlled crossover study reported that a nobiletin and tangeretin mixture reduced night-time urination. It is a single small trial in a narrow population.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseJapanese trials used citrus peel extracts standardised to roughly 50–100 mg of nobiletin per day. Isolated nobiletin supplements have no established dose.
SafetyNo serious adverse effects were reported in the small trials, but the human safety database is very small and there is no long-term data. Like other citrus flavonoids it may affect drug-metabolising enzymes, so caution is warranted with prescription medication. Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding for lack of data.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter.
With food?With a meal containing some fat, because nobiletin is poorly water-soluble.
Worth knowingThe trials used whole citrus peel extracts standardised for nobiletin, not the isolated compound sold as a purified powder.

Frequently asked questions

Does nobiletin help with metabolism or weight?

Nobiletin's metabolic and circadian effects have been shown only in mice and cells; no randomised trial has measured lipids, glucose or body composition with nobiletin in humans. The evidence for nobiletin and metabolism is limited.

Does nobiletin improve memory?

A placebo-controlled trial in 108 elderly Japanese adults found a nobiletin-rich citrus peel supplement improved memory scores over 16 weeks, but the product also contained two other herbs. The evidence that nobiletin itself improves memory is limited.

Does nobiletin help nighttime urination?

A single small placebo-controlled crossover study reported that a nobiletin and tangeretin mixture reduced night-time urination. With one trial in a narrow population, the evidence for nobiletin and nocturia is limited.

How much nobiletin should I take?

Japanese trials used citrus peel extracts standardised to roughly 50–100 mg of nobiletin per day; isolated nobiletin has no established dose. Take nobiletin with a meal containing some fat, and be cautious if you take prescription medication, as citrus flavonoids may affect drug metabolism.

Scientific references

Related in Heart & metabolic