The alkaloid berberine occurs naturally. Tree turmeric, goldenseal, goldthread, and barberry are just a few of the many traditional medicinal herbs that contain it.
Originating in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine practices in India and China.
Alkaloids are a group of plant-based organic chemicals. The nitrogen atoms make up the bulk of the berberine alkaloid. These significantly influence human physiology, primarily metabolic and cardiovascular functioning.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the active component berberine has been used for hundreds of years to treat diabetes, bacterial gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and other digestive problems using the herbs Coptidis rhizoma and Phellodendri Chinensis cortex.
Berberine has been touted as a miracle cure for anything from insomnia to cancer. But how many are supported by data as opposed to wishful thinking?
It has been shown that berberine can reduce blood glucose levels and blood pressure in addition to having antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities.
In contrast, there is weaker evidence for its purported ability to treat cancer, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal distress, burns, bacterial infections, etc.
More study is desperately needed.
Berberine’s Proven Medical Uses
The benefits of berberine for various medical issues are supported by solid clinical evidence. Diabetics and those with metabolic syndrome may be particularly interested in the first few.
Helpful for diabetes, berberine
Berberine’s ability to reduce blood sugar levels was first documented in an August 1981 study published in the US National Library of Medicine’s National Institutes of Health.
Berberine improves glucose-lipid metabolism, inflammatory markers, and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome, according to a 2019 study from the same source.
The clincher was a study comparing berberine and metformin over three months, which appeared in the journal Metabolism in May 2008. Researchers discovered that berberine was equally effective as metformin at regulating blood glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes.
Berberine has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity by preventing fat storage in patients with metabolic syndrome, according to a study published in March 2012 in the journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This suggests that berberine may help protect the kidneys from injury.
Berberine’s Impact on blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Berberine is effective at reducing elevated LDL, total, and blood pressure.
Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were shown to be decreased in the same study on berberine and glucose regulation that was published in the journal Metabolism in May 2008.
Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine published a study in 2015 that compared berberine to statin (the prescription drug typically used to control cholesterol) and found that berberine provides a broader range of cholesterol protection with a reduced risk of severe side effects.
Journal of Translational Medicine published an animal study in August 2015 titled “Effect of Berberine on Promoting the Excretion of Cholesterol in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic hamsters,” which found that berberine could lower abnormally high concentrations of fats and lipids in blood by increasing cholesterol excretion from the liver and decreasing cholesterol absorption in the intestines.
When combined with a nutritious diet high in antioxidants or supplements like folic acid, coenzyme Q10, and astaxanthin, berberine has been shown to enhance blood pressure and circulation in persons with metabolic syndrome.
Heart health is improved by berberine.
Berberine improves cardiovascular function. This is likely because of its beneficial effects on blood glucose and weight, reducing cardiovascular disease likelihood.
It prevents atherosclerosis by reducing blood pressure and increasing blood flow thanks to the increased production of nitric oxide, a signaling molecule that causes arterial relaxation.
People who took berberine had improved cardiac function and exercise tolerance compared to those who took a placebo, according to research published in the World Journal of Cardiology in April 2010.
The weight loss aid Berberine
Berberine’s effect on weight loss is generally considered to be modest.
Human cells include an enzyme called AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) that functions critically in controlling metabolism. The term “metabolic master switch” has come to describe its function.
One of the few substances capable of activating AMPK is berberine. Several studies have shown that berberine can reduce fat formation and protect against metabolic syndrome by activating mitochondria and increasing fat metabolism.
One such trial involved giving 500 milligrams of berberine orally three times daily to obese persons for 12 weeks; the results were published in Phytomedicine in July 2012. According to this research, berberine has a moderate effect on weight loss and is an effective lipid-lowering substance.
Berberine aids in the control of SIBO.
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) occurs when abnormally large numbers of bacteria are in the small intestine. Oral antibiotics are commonly used to treat the illness. However, they are not always practical.
Using a herbal remedy that included berberine was just as effective as antibiotics in treating SIBO, according to research published in May 2014 in Global Advances in Health and Medicine.
Berberine may have useful effects.
For this article, “potential benefits of berberine” will refer to those for which there is some clinical data but which is not conclusive or conclusive only in conjunction with other evidence.
Some of these advantages are as follows.
Cognitive impairment… clinical studies indicate that berberine may be therapeutically helpful in treating neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and neurodegeneration caused by trauma. Studies in animals have shown that it may be effective in treating depression as well.
Berberine has anti-cancer properties; it has been suggested that it can promote apoptosis (the planned death of cancer cells). According to research conducted at China Medical University, Berberine has been shown to cause programmed cell death (apoptosis) in human tongue cancer cells. Studies on the effects of berberine hydrochloride on cancer cell metabolism, growth, and proliferation are underway.
By lowering blood sugar, insulin resistance, and triglycerides—all indications of liver damage in persons with diabetes and infections like hepatitis—early research suggests that berberine nourishes and protects the liver. Fatty liver sufferers can also benefit from this treatment. The investigation continues.
The anti-inflammatory properties of berberine have been shown to improve lung health in studies. In one study, mice were administered berberine before being exposed to levels of cigarette smoke known to cause acute lung injury; these animals fared better than controls in terms of inflammation and lung injury.
Berberine: A User’s Guide
If your local health food store doesn’t carry berberine HCL as a dietary supplement, you can buy it online.
The best dose for you can be determined in consultation with a natural health care professional. However, the standard amount is 1,500 milligrams daily, split into three 500-milligram halves.
Due to the short half-life of berberine, it is recommended that the recommended daily dosage be split into three equal parts and taken at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day. Dividing the daily dose is recommended because taking it all at once can cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea.
To take advantage of berberine’s potential to blunt the surge in blood glucose and fat levels right after a meal, take the supplement at the same time as your meal or shortly after.
Berberol is a brand name for a different product, and berberrubine is a metabolite or substance created in or essential for your metabolism, so take care not to get the two mixed up while purchasing berberine HCL.
Possible Berberine Adverse Effects and Warnings
The history of safety for Berberine is stellar. The minor side effects include stomach discomfort, cramps, flatulence, constipation, and diarrhea.
Berberine can naturally reduce blood glucose and blood pressure; however, those taking medications like metformin or statins to control their diabetes or hypertension should exercise caution since they may increase the risk of hypos.
It would be best to talk to your doctor before using the berberine supplement for over three months.
Nursing or expecting women should also consult their primary care physician before using a berberine supplement.
Kennedy, Paul D., has type 2 diabetes. About eight years ago, he stopped using drugs to control his blood glucose levels after using his international consultant and researcher expertise to develop a solution to beat his diabetes with nutrition alone. Visit beating-diabetes.com or email Paul at [email protected] to learn more. Beating Diabetes, his book is available on Amazon as both a Kindle e-book and a printed book. You can also purchase a hard copy from the Create Space online bookstore.
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