From weight loss to blood sugar regulation and improved heart health, there are many potential Berberine benefits. Found in a variety of plants, this chemical has a long history in Traditional Chinese Medicine, but it’s also being applied in modern science to help people with a wide range of conditions.

What is Berberine?

Berberine (berberine hydrochloride) is a natural plant compound found in the roots and stems of several plants, including:

• Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
• Chinese goldthread (Coptis chinensis)
• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
• Oregon grape (erberis aquifolium)
• Tree turmeric: (Berberis aristata)
  

In scientific terms, berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid.  Isoquinolines are natural chemical products from plants that often have medicinal values for human beings. Traditional Chinese Medicine has used berberine for thousands of years, and today, it is still used by practitioners in the country to treat conditions like type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), and hypertension (high blood pressure) [1].

Modern research shows that berberine can effectively lower blood sugar levels for patients with type 2 diabetes. Some research suggests it may be as effective as certain diabetes medications when paired with appropriate lifestyle changes [2].

There are also studies to suggest berberine can improve heart health by reducing the risks of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and providing cardio-protective benefits [3]. A 2015 study noted that berberine has been used for over 2,500 years by Chinese medicinal practitioners, and recently, it has shown promise in protecting people from cardiac failure, hypertension, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and platelet aggregation.

Hyperlipidemia is the accumulation of lipids, like cholesterol and fats, in your blood. This condition can lead to hardening of your arteries (atherosclerosis ). Platelet aggregation is what causes blood to clot. Under normal conditions, this is a good thing, since blood clotting is what helps you avoid losing too much blood from an injury. But platelet aggregation without a wound can ultimately cause blood clots under the skin, which is a life-threatening condition.

So how does berberine manage to provide so many benefits? Surprisingly, it appears to work through relatively simple pathways.

How Berberine Works

One way that berberine works is by activating an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK plays a vital role in regulating your metabolism and energy levels, which is why it's sometimes called the cellular fuel gauge.

Berberine’s activation of AMPK connects it to lower blood sugar levels, since AMPK helps the body break down glucose and store excess fat. It may also affect which genes are turned on or off, ultimately reducing the risk of certain health conditions.

The effects of berberine on genetic expression are ongoing. Research shows it can suppress DNA transcription in living cells. Its effects on cholesterol synthesis could ultimately make it a protective supplement against heart disease. A March 2023 article published in the Asian-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology noted that berberine’s wide range of effects also have therapeutic benefits in patients with gastrointestinal cancers [5].

Blood Sugar Regulation

Because berberine affects how the body uses glucose, it can help lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that patients who took with oral hypoglycemic agents had fewer adverse effects than those who didn’t take it [6].

While berberine shouldn’t be taken as a substitute for prescribed diabetes medication, you may benefit from it if you have type 2 diabetes. Working with a doctor and implementing lifestyle changes could lower your dependence on prescription medication if you take berberine.

Remember, medical supervision is essential, and you should only explore berberine for diabetes as a treatment option under a doctor’s guidance.

Weight Loss

There is a growing body of research that explores berberine’s effects on weight loss, though none has definitively proven it to be effective. There is a need for further research to determine if berberine is a useful weight management supplement.

In theory, berberine may be able to help people lose weight by inhibiting fat cell growth on a molecular level. In a trial study, there were noticeable weight loss effects in patients who took 1 gram of berberine daily for eight weeks [7]. Furthermore, a 2023 literature review of 12 randomized controlled trials found patients who took berberine lost more weight and had lower BMIs [8].

Heart Health

In 2023, researchers performed a study to explore the overall and sex-specific effects of berberine on dyslipidemia, or too many lipids in the blood. The chemical compound was found to slightly reduce LDL cholesterol, aka the “bad” cholesterol that can block arteries and cause heart disease. It also lowered total cholesterol and triglycerides, while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good" cholesterol. Researchers also found that women may experience greater increases in HDL on berberine than men, but future research is needed to confirm this and its long-term effects [9].

Triglycerides are the most common form of fat found in the body, and they naturally circulate in your bloodstream. However, too many of them can be a risk factor for pancreatitis, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and metabolic syndrome [10].

Berberine may be an effective supplement to lower your high-risk LDL levels, but it isn’t a substitute for a comprehensive approach to heart health, which involves paying close attention to your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. While Berberine may improve heart health, you should still focus on important factors like eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking.

Other Health Benefits

Berberine has many other potential health benefits, and researchers are actively exploring its many potential applications in medicine. For example, berberine has been shown to have anti-cancer properties in test-tube and animal studies [11].

Berberine also has shown possible benefits in treating depression. A study on mice found that the compound could effectively resolve depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, additional research showed berberine had strong anti-inflammatory properties and could potentially reduce cell death in vivo and in vitro [12].

Additional research shows berberine may also benefit patients struggling with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its associated metabolic disorders. By improving lipid profiles, glucose levels, and lowering inflammation and oxidative stress, berberine is a multifaceted compound with enormous potential in treating NAFLD [13].

Dosage and Side Effects

Dosage amounts will vary from patient to patient, depending on the disease they have, why they’re taking berberine, desired outcomes, and even their weight and sex. Most studies recommend taking 1,000–1,500 mg daily, but you should speak with a doctor to find the right dosage for you [14].

Berberine may negatively interact with medications that lower your blood sugar and medications processed by the liver. To be 100% safe, you should get full approval from your prescribing doctor before taking berberine for any reason if you are on other medications or take other supplements.

Though it is generally regarded as safe, some people experience gastrointestinal upset with berberine. The most common side effects are nausea and diarrhea. If you have a sensitive stomach or a GI condition, make sure you talk with your doctor before taking berberine.

It is also unsafe to take berberine if you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, as it can cross through the placenta and harm a developing fetus. It can also be transferred to a baby through breast milk and cause kernicterus, a type of brain damage that occurs in newborns with severe jaundice.

Be sure to consult with a healthcare provider to find out if any herbal supplement is right for you.

Bottom Line

Berberine is a wildly diverse compound that highlights the amazing potential of plant-based medicine. Ancient Chinese practitioners have used it to treat type 2 diabetes for thousands of years, and modern research supports berberine’s potential benefits in preventing heart disease, lowering cholesterol levels, stabilizing blood sugar, and reducing inflammation.
That being said, you should always talk with a healthcare professional before trying berberine or any other supplement.

When it comes to purchasing berberine, you can find many supplements online. Look for providers that have a reputable background and are clear about where they source their supplements.

Sources

• Berberine | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Berberine: A Powerful Supplement with Many Benefits
• A New Therapeutic Candidate for Cardiovascular Diseases: Berberine
• Comprehensive Study in the Inhibitory Effect of Berberine on Gene Transcription, Including TATA Box - PMC
• The therapeutic effects of berberine for gastrointestinal cancers
• Glucose-lowering effect of berberine on type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
• Berberine and Weight Loss: What You Need To Know | NCCIH
• The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity parameters, inflammation and liver function enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
• Overall and Sex-Specific Effect of Berberine for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials.
• Triglycerides: Why do they matter? - Mayo Clinic.
• Berberine as a Potential Anticancer Agent: A Comprehensive Review
• Berberine exerts antidepressant effects in vivo and in vitro through the PI3K/AKT/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway - ScienceDirect.
• Berberine in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease—A Review - PMC.
• Berberine and Diabetes: Safety, Dosage, and Review

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