Medically CitedOverview
Considered by many to be ‘Nature’s Ozempic,’ berberine is a plant compound that could be a potent alternative to weight loss medication or restrictive dieting. In addition, some have called it a miracle extract for type 2 diabetes for its ability to support healthy blood sugar levels.
Rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial agents, this potent alkaloid offers multiple other health benefits, like preventing infections and decreasing the risk of heart disease. Should you supplement with berberine?
Berberine is available in capsule, tablet, or powder form and is a common ingredient in blood sugar and weight loss supplements. This article explores its properties, benefits, uses, and optimal dosage in detail.
What is Berberine?
Berberine is a natural alkaloid extracted from several plant species, including the barberry, Oregon grape, goldenseal, tree turmeric, and Chinese goldthread. Used widely in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic traditions for centuries to treat digestive conditions, infections, and diabetes, its potent bioactive properties have some support from current research.
Evidence shows that berberine helps improve insulin production and sensitivity to support balanced blood sugar levels. In addition, it helps promote weight loss by curbing cravings and stimulating the metabolism and may particularly reduce belly fat.
Nutritional expert and clinical associate professor Taylor Wallace, PhD, notes, “While larger clinical studies are needed to confirm the effects in relatively small trials, berberine does seem to show promise, especially in those who are obese and/or have type 2 diabetes.”
This powerful compound also supports gut, liver, and heart health and may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Read on to learn about its benefits to health and well-being in detail.
Health Benefits: What Does Berberine Do?
Is berberine nature’s answer to weight loss and metabolic support? Let’s explore some evidence for these and other berberine benefits.
Supports Health Blood Sugar Levels
Berberine has potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that help repair cellular damage in the body and lessen swelling to support metabolic health. It helps balance blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity, enhancing insulin production, and helping to prevent the liver from overproducing glucose.
A research review published in Evidence-Based and Complementary Medicine discusses the evidence supporting the anti-diabetes properties of berberine and its pharmacological mechanism.
Helps Promote Weight Loss
Does berberine help with weight loss? This potent alkaloid helps prevent insulin resistance, which can be a barrier to losing weight, and it may regulate lipid levels. It also supports a healthy metabolism, helping to put the body into the fat-burning state of thermogenesis, and it could increase levels of brown adipose tissue (BAT), which burns calories more rapidly to produce energy.
In addition, evidence indicates that berberine may block the production and speed of fat cell development in the body. A 4-week study published in Cell Death and Disease found that supplementation increased BAT mass and activity, lowered body weight, and improved insulin sensitivity in mice and human beings. For those looking to enhance weight loss or regulate blood sugar, it’s worth considering the Best Berberine Supplements for optimal results.
Supports Heart Health
This compound has positive benefits for heart health, as we explained in our review of Puritan’s Pride Berberine. Studies show that berberine helps inhibit the production of a key enzyme to lower bad LDL cholesterol, boost good HDL cholesterol, and lower triglycerides.
This alkaloid also helps support healthy blood pressure levels and may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. A review of the research published in Frontiers in Pharmacology concluded that berberine is a promising supplement in decreasing heart disease risk parameters.
Helps Strengthen the Immune System
Berberine is rich in antioxidants that destroy harmful free radicals in your system, lowering oxidative stress to promote body-wide healing and help strengthen the immune system.
It also has anti-inflammatory agents that lessen systemic swelling and potent anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties that kill damaging bacteria and microbes to decrease infection risk. A review published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine found support for the potential benefits of berberine in treating auto-immune conditions.
Supports Liver Health
The powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents in berberine help repair the cells in the liver and protect them from further damage. In addition, berberine helps balance lipid metabolism to lessen the accumulation of fat cells in the organ. According to the research, it may help in the treatment of conditions like liver fibrosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Translational Medicine found support for the efficacy of berberine in improving liver enzymes, insulin sensitivity, and lipid profile in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Helps Improve Digestion
Berberine’s anti-microbial properties help kill harmful microbes in the gut, exerting probiotic-like benefits that help boost levels of healthy bacteria and balance the gut microbiome. In addition, it helps strengthen the gut barrier to block harmful pathogens from entering your system.
It may also decrease gut inflammation, making it helpful in easing the symptoms of conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. A research review published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology discussed the impact of berberine on regulating the gut microbiota.
Recommended Dosage
Berberine is available over-the-counter in capsule, powder, or liquid form, and it is a typical ingredient included in supplements for weight loss, blood sugar balance, and other health benefits.
While there is no conclusively set recommended dosage, based on the research, 1,000–1,500 mg daily divided into two or three supplements is the standard. What is the best time to take berberine? You should time your supplement for about half an hour before each meal, and it’s safe to take it on an empty stomach.
It’s important to follow the directions on any capsules you buy carefully and consult with a healthcare practitioner as to medical suitability and dosing advice.
Berberine: Safety and Side Effects
This compound is well-tolerated for daily use by most individuals, but some users may experience berberine side effects like nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or an allergic reaction. If the symptoms persist, try cutting the dosage and speak with your physician.
Most experts suggest it is safe for use for up to 6 months, and possibly longer, but you should consult with a healthcare practitioner for extended use. Use of berberine over a long period may decrease your B12 levels, so your provider may suggest supplementing with this vital nutrient.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid berberine, as it could potentially cause harm to the fetus. In addition, there may be other health and medication contraindications. Individuals taking immunosuppressant medications, anti-clotting drugs, metformin, or undergoing chemotherapy in particular should avoid taking a berberine supplement.
If you have any health condition or take medication, see a healthcare practitioner for approval before taking berberine.
FAQs
Q: What does berberine do for your body?
A: Berberine is a natural plant compound that helps balance blood sugar levels, suppress appetite and cravings, promote weight loss, and support the health of the liver, gut, heart, and immune system.
Q: Who should avoid berberine?
A: Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid berberine, as it could cause harm to the developing fetus. In addition, those taking immunosuppressant medications, anti-clotting drugs, metformin, or undergoing chemotherapy should not take this compound. There may be other medication and health contraindications, so it’s best to check with a physician first.
Q: Does berberine reduce belly fat?
A: Berberine helps block the growth of fat cells, and some evidence indicates that it targets visceral abdominal fat in particular. This compound also supports a healthy metabolism, helping to speed up fat-burning all over the body.
Q: What is the richest source of berberine?
A: The European barberry plant, Berberis Vulgaris, is the richest source of the alkaloid berberine. Other plants that contain it in high amounts include the Oregon grape, goldenseal, tree turmeric, and Chinese goldthread.
Q: Is berberine good for diabetics?
A: Research supports the potential anti-diabetes benefits of this compound, as we said in our review of Klaire Labs Berberine. This includes its ability to help boost insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity, and balance blood sugar levels. Some experts believe it may be as effective as medication for some individuals.
Conclusion
Berberine is a powerful natural plant alkaloid known as ‘Nature’s Ozempic’ that has research backing its blood sugar-balancing and weight-loss benefits, and it offers other potential advantages like supporting heart, liver, immune system, and gut health.
Available widely online and in stores in capsule, powder, or liquid form, it is also included in natural supplements for weight loss or blood sugar balance. If you think you may benefit from the potent properties of this compound, consult with a healthcare practitioner to discuss supplementation.
Was this article helpful?
12 Sources
We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.
[2] Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Berberine in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3942282/
[3] Berberine Promotes the Recruitment and Activation of Brown Adipose Tissue in Mice and Humans: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41419-019-1706-y
[4] A New Therapeutic Candidate for Cardiovascular Diseases: Berberine: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.631100/full
[5] Anti?inflammatory and Immune?modulatory Impacts of Berberine on Activation of Autoreactive T Cells in Autoimmune Inflammation: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7754052/
[6] The Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Berberine in the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis And Systematic Review: https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-024-05011-2
[7] Effects of Berberine on the Gastrointestinal Microbiota: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7933196/
[8] Berberine and Its Study as an Antidiabetic Compound: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10376565/
[9] Berberine for Appetite Suppressant and Prevention of Obesity: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7752296/
[10] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340950457_The_Effect_of_Berberine_on_Weight_Loss_in_Order_to_Prevent_Obesity_A_Systematic_Review
[11] Structural Changes of Gut Microbiota during Berberine-Mediated Prevention of Obesity and Insulin Resistance in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0042529
[12] Berberine and Prediabetes: A Clinical Observational Study: https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=103237
This article changed my life!
This article was informative.
I have a medical question.
This article contains incorrect information.
This article doesn’t have the information I’m looking for.
