Berberine has become a very popular herbal supplement over the last year, but what is berberine and what are its benefits? Berberine is a compound that is found in several plant species, including Oregon grape, Barberry, and Tree Turmeric.¹ It has been used in Chinese medicine for its health benefits for the whole body especially sugar control which has been substantiated by modern research. So let’s take a close look at Berberine’s benefits:

Blood sugar control

The latest clinical research shows that Berberine plays an important role in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, especially in individuals with hard to control blood sugar levels.²  It appears to do this by three mechanisms. 

Berberine helps sugars to reach the cells by improving insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when your cells cannot take up sugar from your blood and the body must produce copious amounts of insulin each time which can result in weight gain. 

Berberine may also support the processes involved in sugar breakdown and it appears to also reduce the production of sugar by the liver which is the body’s main carbohydrate storage centre. 

Through these mechanisms, scientists have found significant improvement in a blood sugar marker called HbA1c when patients took a Berberine supplement. The researchers found that Berberine lowered HbA1c to roughly the same extent as other blood-sugar lowering therapies.³ 

Weight management

Berberine benefits weight loss through a variety of mechanisms. As mentioned above, Berberine contains compounds that help to lower blood sugar levels. If sugar is not burned for energy, then the body produces more insulin to burn the sugars, but insulin is the fat depositing hormone of the body resulting in weight gain. By helping to lower blood sugar levels, and so maintaining healthy insulin levels, Berberine’s weight loss ability appears to be logical and may help to prevent weight gain and as well as offer weight loss support.

Reproductive health

Some women suffer from irregular periods, difficulty conceiving, facial hair growth, and difficulty in maintaining healthy weight due to the hormonal imbalances in the body. These women often suffer from insulin resistance. ⁴ Taking a Berberine supplement has been shown to reduce insulin resistance.⁵ Berberine’s benefits in weight management alongside these specific hormonal concerns may be of value in reproductive health. 

Lowering cholesterol

Berberine plays an important natural remedy for supporting healthy cholesterol levels. One study found that it works In a similar way to certain cholesterol management pharmaceuticals and has a positive effect on total cholesterol, “bad” cholesterol (LDL), and “good” cholesterol (HDL).⁶ Another study found that berberine reduced levels of a protein, ApoB, which is an important predictor of cardiovascular health⁷.

Gut health

Berberine’s benefits for gut health stem from the fact that it displays powerful antimicrobial properties, which is why it is often recommended for use in the treatment of SIBO where there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.

Berberine dosage

There is no established dosage of berberine; however the recommended dose of berberine HCl tends to be 500 mg before a meal. It is not uncommon for studies to be using between 1000mg and 1500mg a day of Berberine HCl. Berberine HCl is the orally bioavailable hydrochloride form of Berberine isolated from Barberry. 

Side effects of Berberine

Berberine is generally regarded as safe and is without side effects. Those with a sensitive digestive system may experience mild nausea, gas, and abdominal pain. 

Is Berberine bad for the heart, kidneys or liver:

Taking Berberine supplementation regularly appears to lower cholesterol and is considered to be a heart protective herb. 

Research suggests that Berberine may be beneficial for kidney health, including those with kidney disease. It appears to combat inflammation and harmful molecules in the gut which pass through the kidneys. 

Berberine improves lipids and fat metabolism in the liver. The liver helps to process fats and can get burdened with fat accumulation. Several studies indicate that Berberine can reduce serum levels of liver enzymes, which are known to cause damage to the liver. 

Which Berberine HCl supplement should you choose?

I tend to recommend Berberine HCl by Hadley Wood Healthcare. This Himalayan Berberine HCl is sustainably sourced from wildcrafted root of the Berberis aristate shrub. The roots are sustainably sourced from different parts of the mountain to ensure that no area is over harvested. Since the plant is exposed to natural stressors, its nutrients and active ingredients are of better quality. These Berberine capsules are suitable for vegans and the Berberine extract has a purity more than 97%. 

 

References

1. Locke AB. Chapter 22 - Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Integrative Medicine (Fourth Edition). 2018;4:211-217.doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-35868-2.00022-0.
2. Chang W, Chen L, Hatch GM. Berberine as a therapy for type 2 diabetes and its complications: From mechanism of action to clinical studies. Biochem Cell Biol. 2015;93(5):479-486. doi:10.1139/bcb-2014-0107
3. Lan J, Zhao Y, Dong F, et al. Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension. J Eth- nopharmacol. 2015;161:69-81. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.09.049
4. Kim J, Mersereau JE, Khankari N, et al. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), relat- ed symptoms/sequelae, and breast cancer risk in a population-based case-control study. Cancer Causes Control. 2016;27(3):403-414. doi:10.1007/s10552-016-0716-7
5. Xie L, Zhang D, Ma H, et al. The Effect of Berberine on Reproduction and Metabolism in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:7918631. Published 2019 Dec 13. doi:10.1155/2019/7918631
6. Dong H, Zhao Y, Zhao L, Lu F. The effects of berberine on blood lipids: a systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Planta Med. 2013;79(6):437-446. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1328321
7. Shidfar F, Ebrahimi SS, Hosseini S, Heydari I, Shidfar S, Hajhassani G. The Effects of Berberis vulgaris Fruit Extract on Serum Lipoproteins, apoB, apoA-I, Homocysteine, Glycemic Control and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Type 2 Diabetic Patients. Iran J Pharm Res. 2012;11(2):643-652.

 

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