What Is Berberine?
Berberine is a compound found in many plants, including European barberry, phellodendron, Oregon grape, goldenseal, and goldthread. These plants have historically served as treatments for a wide range of ailments, from infections to sores.
The earliest records of the medicinal use of berberine date back more than 3,000 years, when people in China and South Asia cultivated the barberry plant and its relatives. People used the plant's stems, leaves, and bark in various ways.
Evidence also shows the use of berberine-containing plants in South America, the Middle East, and Europe to treat different conditions. Today, researchers are investigating the compound as a treatment for diabetes, high cholesterol, and even polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Barberry is one of many plants that contain the compound berberine. People have been using it for thousands of years to treat various conditions.
Berberine Benefits
Berberine's possible health benefits stem from its effect on enzymes in the body. It binds to enzymes and parts of cells and changes how they work. It seems to affect several enzymes and even DNA and RNA.
Berberine is being studied to see if it may help with various conditions:
Berberine and gut health
Berberine has been shown to protect the gut barrier from inflammation. It also kills harmful gut bacteria and encourages the growth of healthy bacteria, which may help treat conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol.
Berberine and inflammation
Berberine lowers inflammation in many ways. For example, it reduces oxidative stress, lowers production of inflammatory proteins, and promotes immune regulation. Its anti-inflammatory activity may mean it can treat inflammatory conditions like arthritis.
Berberine brain benefits
Research shows that berberine might help prevent dementia by protecting against brain damage and improving mental skills. Early studies also suggest that it may one day be able to treat conditions like cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer’s disease.
Berberine for lowering cholesterol
Taking berberine supplements regularly appears to lower total cholesterol, “bad” cholesterol, and triglycerides in people with high cholesterol. It works differently from today’s standard cholesterol medications, so it may help treat people who are resistant to other cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Berberine and heart health
People with heart disease often have fatigue and irregular heartbeats. Studies show that taking a berberine supplement combined with standard heart disease treatments eases these symptoms, lowering the chance of death without apparent side effects.
Berberine for blood sugar control
Berberine may also lower glucose levels in people with diabetes. Studies show that it helps your body respond better to insulin and prevents your liver from creating more glucose. As a result, people with diabetes may find that berberine helps lower their blood sugar levels.
Berberine for lowering blood pressure
High blood pressure is linked to heart disease and strokes. Taking berberine may help lower your diastolic and systolic blood pressure (the bottom and top numbers of your blood pressure reading).
Berberine and PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, can cause problems such as high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and trouble losing weight. In some studies, berberine helped women with PCOS control their cholesterol, lower their waist-to-hip ratio, and increase their insulin response.
Berberine and Weight Loss
Some studies suggest that berberine can reduce body mass index (BMI) and help with weight loss. But many of these studies are of low quality and have a high risk of bias. This means that there is currently no medical agreement on how well berberine can help people lose weight and that new, high-quality research on the topic is needed.
Berberine vs. Ozempic
Although some call berberine “nature’s Ozempic,” the comparison may be exaggerated. The two also work in different ways. While Ozempic slows down digestion, berberine helps control how the body breaks down and uses energy.
Unlike Ozempic, berberine is a dietary supplement that has not gone through the FDA approval processes for weight loss. This means that there is less evidence that berberine can help people lose weight than there is for Ozempic.
Berberine vs. metformin
Doctors commonly prescribe metformin to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. As berberine can also reduce blood sugar levels, some ask if it can be used instead of metformin.
Compared to metformin, research is limited on how well berberine can lower blood sugar levels. The dietary supplement hasn’t been approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes, whereas metformin has.
We need more studies to understand the effects of berberine on lowering blood sugar levels. Early research suggests that metformin may help manage diabetes better than berberine. A study on mice found that while berberine was better at reducing high cholesterol and obesity, metformin was better at controlling blood sugar levels.
Berberine Side Effects
Berberine supplements may be helpful and safe for many people, but they can have occasional side effects. They include:
Digestive complications. One study done with berberine found that it can lead to digestion problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence, in some people. But these symptoms typically clear up within 4 weeks.
Low blood pressure. Berberine’s blood pressure-lowering effects are helpful if you have high blood pressure. But for some people, this effect could cause blood pressure to drop too low, which can be dangerous.
Can berberine damage the liver?
Studies suggest that berberine does not damage the liver. Some research suggests that berberine may enhance liver health, lower inflammation in the liver, and potentially treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
But other research shows that berberine hinders certain liver enzymes involved in metabolizing drugs. This could impact how the body breaks down drugs and make them less effective or cause negative side effects.
As with any health supplement, it’s best to consult your doctor before you start taking berberine.
Is berberine bad for your kidneys?
A recent study found that berberine could have a positive effect on people with kidney problems. It works by affecting the bacteria in your gut and stopping the production of harmful gut substances that can worsen kidney disease.
Good Sources of Berberine
Berberine-rich foods
You'll find berberine in high concentrations in plants, including:
- Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal)
- Coptis chinensis (coptis or goldenthread)
- Berberis aquifolium (Oregon grape)
- Berberis vulgaris (barberry)
- Berberis aristata (tree turmeric)
Berberine supplements
Berberine is available over the counter as a dietary supplement, either alone or combined with other herbs and nutritional substances.
Berberine dosage
The suggested dose of berberine is 250 milligrams or 500 milligrams two or three times a day. Talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement program to make sure it's suitable for your specific needs and health status.
Who Should Not Take Berberine?
Although berberine may help with some health issues, depending on your situation, it may cause negative side effects. It is always best to consult a doctor before starting to take berberine supplements, especially in the following cases:
Berberine and pregnancy
Research is limited on the effects of taking berberine while pregnant. Early evidence suggests that it may cause uterine contractions and miscarriage, and increase the risk of brain damage and other issues in offspring. While more research is needed, it’s likely unsafe to take berberine while you’re pregnant.
Berberine drug interactions
Berberine has many drug interactions, so it’s best to check with your doctor before using it. For example, as berberine may slow blood clotting, taking it alongside blood-clotting medications may increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Also, as berberine lowers blood sugar, taking berberine alongside antidiabetic drugs may cause blood sugar levels to drop too low.
Berberine before surgery
It’s generally recommended to stop taking herbal supplements like berberine 2 to 3 weeks before surgery to avoid negative reactions to anesthesia and side effects like excessive bleeding. Berberine’s effects on blood clotting and blood sugar levels in particular may impact the success of surgery and make recovery take longer.
Berberine Takeaways
Berberine, a compound found in various plants, such as European barberry and Oregon grape, has a long history of medicinal use dating back over 3,000 years. It has potential benefits in treating conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and PCOS, and in improving gut health. Although some studies suggest it may help people lose weight, we need higher-quality evidence for it to be compared to FDA-approved drugs like Ozempic.
Berberine may also have some negative effects. For example, it may cause digestive issues and low blood pressure in some people. It may also cause some drugs not to work as well due to its effects on the liver. More research is needed to understand berberine’s overall effects on health. As with all supplements, talk with your doctor before taking berberine.
Berberine FAQs
What does berberine do to your body?
Berberine has many effects on the body. These include lowering inflammation, regulating blood sugar, and reducing cholesterol.
Why don’t doctors recommend berberine?
Berberine has not been FDA-approved to treat any condition, so we still don’t know much about its safety and overall effects, compared to already approved drugs like Ozempic and metformin.
Is berberine as good as Ozempic?
Unlike Ozempic, berberine has not gone through the rigorous FDA approval process, so we need to learn more about how effective it is.
Is berberine safer than metformin?
Unlike metformin, berberine has not gone through the rigorous FDA approval process, meaning we need to know more about its safety.
Does berberine mess with hormones?
More research is needed to understand how berberine affects hormones. Some research suggests that it may improve the menstrual pattern and ovulation rate of some women with PCOS.
