Bitter Melon: Benefits and Nutrition

Medically reviewed by Allison Herries, RDN

Bitter melon is a climbing vine that has edible green fruit.

The bitter melon plant comes from the gourd family called Cucurbitaceae. Its scientific name is Momordica charantia (M. charantia).

This plant grows in India and other parts of Asia—with a traditional use for diabetes (high blood sugar).

Bitter melon contains several substances like phytosterols and terpenoids. These substances may be responsible for bitter melon's medicinal effects.

This article discusses what you should know about bitter melon—its health claims, side effects, and interactions.

Supplement Facts

• Active Ingredient(s): Phytosterols, terpenoids, fatty acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, protein, and saponins

• Alternate Names(s): Bitter melon, bitter gourd, balsam-pear, Momordica charantia, M. charantia, bitter cucumber, bitter apple

• Legal Status: Vegetable and dietary supplement

• Suggested Dose: May vary based on dosage form and medical condition

• Safety Considerations: Possible side effects, interactions, and special considerations for children, pregnancy, and breastfeeding

Research on Bitter Melon

Explainer

Supplement use should be individualized and vetted by a healthcare professional, such as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), pharmacist, or healthcare provider. No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.

While more, extensive research is necessary regarding effectiveness, people generally use bitter melon to treat various health conditions.

Research is most robust for the following:

• Diabetes (high blood sugar)

• High blood pressure
  

Diabetes

According to a 2012 systematic review (a methodical review of a collection of studies), there were no differences in blood sugar control between bitter melon and placebo (a substance with no medicine in it).

Moreover, bitter melon didn't have significant changes on blood sugar control when compared to metformin.

In a 2014 systematic review and meta-analysis (a methodical review and analysis of a collection of studies), bitter melon supplements did not lower fasting (before-meal) blood glucose or A1c (a test that measures average blood sugar levels within the past three months) when compared to no treatment.

In a small clinical trial of people with prediabetes, however, results suggested that bitter melon blood sugar lowering effects when compared to placebo.

So, presently, there isn't enough evidence to support bitter melon use for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. And further standardized and high-quality studies are warranted.

High Blood Pressure

Based on the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis, bitter melon didn't significantly lower blood pressure.

Due to these results, future rigorous research with higher-quality and larger studies is still necessary to better understand bitter melon's effects.

Nutrition

Bitter melon is a nutritious vegetable. The following table displays nutrients based in grams (g), milligrams (mg), micrograms (mcg), and micrograms of retinol activity equivalents (mcg RAE) in 100 g  of bitter melon, which is just over 1 cup.

How to Use Bitter Melon

Explainer

Always speak with a healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure that the supplement and dosage are appropriate for your individual needs.

While there are some studies on bitter melon in humans, more research with high-quality clinical trials is still necessary.

Essential differences in bitter melon strengths and dosage forms among clinical trials exist. No official guidelines have been concluded on the appropriate dosage to use bitter melon for any condition.

The specific dose may vary based on the dosage form and medical condition. If you use bitter melon, follow a healthcare provider's recommendations or product label instructions.

How to Incorporate Bitter Melon Into Your Diet

There are several ways to include bitter melon into your diet. For example, you can chop the bitter melon and eat it raw. Before doing so, you can salt the bitter melon and squeeze the juice out to lessen the plant's bitterness.

You may also thinly coat raw or fried bitter melon with lime juice.

What's more, bitter melon tends to go well with coconut milk or beef and black-bean sauce. Aside from curry, you may also find bitter melon as an ingredient in spicy pickle with asafoetida and mango. Asafoetida is a fetid gum derived from the dried latex from Ferula species.

What Are the Side Effects of Bitter Melon?

Bitter melon, as with many many medications and natural products, may have side effects.

Common Side Effects

Common side effects of bitter melon may include the following:

• Cough

• Dizziness

• Excessive tiredness

• Indigestion

• Itchiness

• Weight changes
  

Severe Side Effects

Possible serious side effects may include the following:

• Severe allergic reaction: A severe allergic reaction is a profound side effect possible with any medication or natural product. If you're having a severe allergic reaction, your symptoms may include breathing difficulties, itchiness, and rash.

• Abnormal heart rhythm: There are reports of abnormal heart rhythm with bitter melon.

• Low blood pressure: Bitter melon lowers blood pressure. But if your blood pressure is excessively low, symptoms may include dizziness and fainting spells.

• Low blood sugar: There are reports of seizures and coma from dangerously low blood sugar levels in children that occurred after drinking tea from the leaves and vines of the bitter melon on an empty stomach. Other symptoms of low blood sugar may also include sweating, tremors, and headaches.

• Miscarriage: In nonhuman studies, a risk of miscarriage (loss of a fetus before 20 weeks' gestation) occurred in subjects given bitter melon. In other animal studies, bitter melon resulted in uterine bleeding in pregnant subjects. However, whether there would be a similar effect in humans is unknown. Use caution with bitter melon during pregnancy. Before using it, contact a healthcare provider to discuss the benefits and risks.

If you're having a severe allergic reaction or if any of your symptoms feel life-threatening, call 911 and get medical help right away.

Precautions

A healthcare provider may advise against bitter melon if any of the following applies to you:

• Severe allergic reaction: Avoid bitter melon if you have a known allergy to it or its components (ingredients or parts). If you need clarification on whether it's safe, ask a registered dietitian, pharmacist, or healthcare provider for more information.
  

• Pregnancy: A risk of miscarriage after using bitter melon was recorded in nonhuman studies. However, whether there would be a similar effect in humans is unknown. Use caution with bitter melon during pregnancy. Before using bitter melon, contact a healthcare provider to discuss the benefits and risks.

• Breastfeeding: More studies are needed on bitter melon to determine safety. There are reports of seizures and coma from low blood sugar in children after using bitter melon. For this reason, consider avoiding bitter melon while breastfeeding your children to minimize exposure. Discuss with a healthcare provider.

• Adults over 65: While some older adults participated in safety studies on bitter melon-related studies, further extensive clinical trials are still necessary. Moreover, some older adults may have a higher likelihood of medication side effects. For this reason, people in this population should use caution with bitter melon.

• Children: There are reports of seizures and coma from low blood sugar in children after using bitter melon. Some bitter melon substances may have estrogen-like activity and effects on sperm production. Healthcare providers may recommend avoiding using bitter melon in children for these reasons. Talk with a healthcare provider if you're considering bitter melon for your child.

• Abnormal heart rhythm: There are reports of abnormal heart rhythm with bitter melon. If you already have an abnormal heart rhythm, healthcare providers may want to closely monitor you and make any necessary medication adjustments.

• Diabetes: Bitter melon may lower your blood sugar. For this reason, a healthcare provider may want to closely monitor you and make any necessary adjustments to your diabetes medications, especially if you take insulin.

• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency: People with G6PD deficiency lack G6PD protein. This is a medical condition that runs through families. And in people with G6PD, certain substances—like bitter melon seeds—may trigger a premature breakdown of red blood cells.

• High blood pressure: Bitter melon lowers blood pressure. Therefore, a healthcare provider may want to closely monitor you and make any necessary adjustments to your blood pressure medications.
  

What Happens If I Take Too Much Bitter Melon?

Available toxicity studies in humans didn't record any severe side effects with bitter melon use.

But there are reports of the following:

• Abnormal heart rhythm

• Coma and seizures from low blood sugar

More information about the toxicity, safety, and overdose of bitter melon in humans is still warranted.

If you suspect you're experiencing life-threatening side effects, seek immediate medical attention.

Interactions

Bitter melon might interact with the following medications:

• Diabetes medications: Bitter melon might lower your blood sugar. This might have additive effects on your diabetes medications, such as insulin. If your blood sugar is too low, your symptoms may include tremors and sweating.

• Blood pressure medications: Bitter melon lowers blood pressure. This may have additive effects with your blood pressure medications, such as Zestril (lisinopril). If your blood pressure is too low, you might experience symptoms of dizziness and fainting spells.

• Heart rhythm medications: There are reports of abnormal heart rhythm with bitter melon. This might work against your heart rhythm medications, such as the verapamil calcium channel blocker (CCB).
  

It is essential to carefully read a supplement's ingredients list and nutrition facts panel to know which ingredients and how much of each ingredient is included. Please review the supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications.

Similar Supplements

Bitter melon has potential uses in diabetes and high blood pressure.

Other similar supplements may include:

• Chromium: Chromium may improve blood sugar control in some people with diabetes. But there is conflicting evidence on this.

• Garlic: Garlic may lower your blood pressure, but more rigorous research with higher-quality and larger studies is needed.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may lower blood pressure, but the evidence is conflicting.
  

Sources of Bitter Melon & What to Look For

There are a few different sources of bitter melon.

Food Sources of Bitter Melon

Bitter melon is naturally available as a vegetable, and you may eat it raw.

Bitter melon also tends to go well with coconut milk or beef and black-bean sauce. Aside from curry, you may also find bitter melon as an ingredient in spicy pickle with asafoetida and mango.

Bitter Melon Supplements

Bitter melon supplements are commonly available as capsules.

Other dosage forms of bitter melon may also include the following:

• Food bars

• Liquid

• Lozenges

• Powder

• Tablets

• Tea bags

But some of these products might combine bitter melon with other ingredients. You may also see vegetarian and vegan options.

Your specific product will depend on your preference and health goals. Each product may work a bit differently, depending on the form.

So, following a healthcare provider's recommendations or label directions is essential.

Explainer

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. When choosing a supplement, look for third-party tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.

Summary

Bitter melon is a climbing vine with edible green fruit.

It has a few potential uses, including high blood pressure and sugar. Further extensive research is necessary.

Before using bitter melon, involve a registered dietitian, pharmacist, or healthcare provider to help you safely achieve your health goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bitter melon?

Bitter melon is a climbing vine that has edible green fruit.

What is bitter melon good for?

Bitter melon is a good source of numerous nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

There are also studies on bitter melon for a few potential uses, such as high blood sugar.

How to cook bitter melon?

You can cook bitter melon by frying it before thinly coating it with lime juice. You may also include bitter melon in your curry dishes. But you don't have to cook it if you don't want to.

You may eat the bitter melon raw after chopping it up. You may also pre-salt and squeeze the juice out to lessen bitter melon's bitterness.

What is the most common dosage form of bitter melon supplements?

Bitter melon supplements are available in a few different dosage forms—with capsules potentially being the most common.

How do I take bitter melon safely?

To safely take natural products—like bitter melon—inform healthcare providers and pharmacists about other medications you take. This includes over-the-counter (OTC), herbal, natural medicines, and supplements.

They can help prevent possible interactions and side effects. They can also ensure you’re giving bitter melon a fair trial at appropriate doses.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.