Clinical Studies Support Heartburn Relief with D-Limonene
In the first phase of a two-part trial, fully 89% of the participants reported resolution of their heartburn symptoms just two weeks after beginning with d-limonene natural heartburn supplements. The 19 study participants initially rated their heartburn severity at 8 on a scale of 1 (least severe) to 10 (most severe). Their heartburn frequency was rated at 8.3, with 10 representing significant daily heartburn. After consuming 1000 mg of d-limonene in a single gelcap either daily or every other day, 86% of the daily group reported that the severity of their heartburn had dropped to 1 or 2 on the severity index, while 92% of those who took the supplement every other day had the same result.5
In the controlled, double-blind second phase of the study, 22 participants were randomized to take either 1000 mg of d-limonene or a placebo. At day 14, an impressive 83% of those taking the orange peel extract (d-limonene) reported heartburn severity no higher than 2 on the 1-10 scale, compared to just 30% of those taking placebo. At the end of 20 days, 75% of those taking d-limonene reported relief from heartburn symptoms, compared to only 20% of the participants taking placebo. No one in the study reported any adverse side effects. Those who experienced relief with d-limonene continued to be free of heartburn two weeks after they stopped supplementation, and some experienced heartburn relief lasting up to six months after supplementation.5
“The plethora of literature cited over the past 26 years [shows] that purified d-limonene definitely is a beneficial extract . . . and has many medicinal benefits,” noted Roger C. Willette, MD, the study’s lead author. “The six-month follow-up clearly indicated its potential for a long-lasting effect, since 10 of the 20 respondents to the follow-up survey remained free of gastric distress.” 5