Berberine, or berberine hydrochloride, is a compound found in many plants. It can help treat conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. However, side effects may include stomach upset and nausea.
Berberine has been part of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It acts in the body in different ways and is capable of causing changes within the cells of the body.
Research on berberine suggests it may treat a variety of metabolic diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. It may also improve gut health.
Although berberine appears to be safe and has few side effects, you should consult your doctor before taking it.
Berberine may be an effective antibacterial agent. A 2022 study found that berberine helps inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.
Another study found that berberine can damage the DNA and proteins of some bacteria.
Research shows that berberine has anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it may help treat diabetes and other diseases associated with inflammation.
Research suggests that berberine may be beneficial in treating diabetes. Research has shown that it can have a positive impact on:
The same analysis found that the combination of berberine and a blood sugar-lowering drug was more effective than either drug alone.
According to a 2014 study, berberine shows promise as a potential treatment for diabetes, especially for people who cannot take existing antidiabetic drugs because of heart disease, liver failure, or kidney problems.
Another review of the literature found that berberine combined with lifestyle changes reduced blood sugar levels more than lifestyle changes alone.
Berberine appears to activate AMP-activated protein kinase, which helps regulate the body’s use of blood sugar. Researchers believe this activation could help treat diabetes and related health problems such as obesity and high cholesterol.
Another 2020 meta-analysis showed improvements in body weight and metabolic parameters without significant increases in liver enzyme activity.
However, scientists need to conduct larger, double-blind studies to fully determine the safety and effectiveness of berberine.
Talk to your doctor before taking berberine for diabetes. It may not be suitable for everyone and may interact with other medications.
High levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) triglycerides can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Some evidence suggests that berberine may help lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. According to one review, animal and human studies show that berberine lowers cholesterol.
This can help lower LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, and increase HDL, the “good” cholesterol.
A review of the literature found that berberine combined with lifestyle changes is more effective in treating high cholesterol than lifestyle changes alone.
Researchers believe berberine may act similarly to cholesterol-lowering drugs without causing the same side effects.
A review of the literature found that berberine was more effective in combination with blood pressure-lowering drugs than on its own.
Additionally, results from rat studies suggest that berberine may delay the onset of high blood pressure and help reduce its severity when high blood pressure does occur.
One review reported significant weight loss in people taking 750 milligrams (mg) of barberry twice daily for 3 months. Barberry is a plant containing a lot of berberine.
Additionally, a double-blind study found that people with metabolic syndrome who took 200 mg of barberry three times a day had a lower body mass index.
A team conducting another study noted that berberine may activate brown adipose tissue. This tissue helps the body convert food into body heat, and increased activation may help treat obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Some studies suggest that berberine works similarly to the drug metformin, which doctors often prescribe to treat type 2 diabetes. In fact, berberine may have the ability to alter gut bacteria, which could help treat obesity and diabetes.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs when women have high levels of certain male hormones. The syndrome is a hormonal and metabolic imbalance that can lead to infertility and other health problems.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with many problems that berberine can help solve. For example, people with PCOS may also have:
Doctors sometimes prescribe metformin, a diabetes medicine, to treat PCOS. Since berberine has similar effects to metformin, it may also be a good treatment option for PCOS.
A systematic review found berberine to be promising in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance. However, the authors note that confirmation of these effects requires further research.
Berberine may cause changes in cellular molecules, which may have another potential benefit: fighting cancer.
Another study suggests that berberine helps treat cancer by inhibiting its progression and typical life cycle. It may also play a role in killing cancer cells.
Based on these data, the authors state that berberine is a “highly effective, safe, and affordable” anticancer drug.
However, it is important to remember that researchers only studied the effects of berberine on cancer cells in the laboratory and not in humans.
According to some studies published in 2020, if berberine may help treat cancer, inflammation, diabetes and other diseases, it may be due to its beneficial effects on the gut microbiome. Scientists have found a link between the gut microbiome (the colonies of bacteria in the intestines) and these conditions.
Berberine has antibacterial properties and removes harmful bacteria from the intestines, thereby promoting the growth of healthy bacteria.
While studies in humans and rodents suggest this may be true, scientists caution that more research is needed to confirm how berberine affects people and whether it is safe to use.
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) states that berberine supplements are available in supplement or capsule form.
They add that many studies recommend taking 900-1500 mg per day, but most people take 500 mg three times a day. However, the AANP urges people to consult a doctor before taking berberine to check whether it is safe to use and at what dose it can be taken.
If a doctor agrees that berberine is safe to use, people should also check the product label for third-party certification, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) or NSF International, says AANP.
The authors of a 2018 study found that the content of different berberine capsules varied widely, which could lead to confusion about safety and dosage. They did not find that higher costs necessarily reflected higher product quality.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements. There is no guarantee that supplements are safe or effective, and it is not always possible to verify the quality of the product.
Scientists say berberine and metformin share many characteristics and both may be useful in treating type 2 diabetes.
However, if a doctor prescribes metformin for a person, they should not consider berberine as an alternative without first discussing it with their doctor.
Doctors will prescribe the correct dose of metformin for a person based on clinical studies. It is impossible to know how well the supplements match this amount.
Berberine may interact with metformin and affect your blood sugar, making it difficult to control. In one study, taking berberine and metformin together reduced the effects of metformin by 25%.
Berberine may someday be a suitable alternative to metformin for blood sugar control, but more research is needed.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that goldenrod, which contains berberine, is unlikely to cause serious side effects in the short term if adults take it orally. However, there is not enough information to show that it is safe for long-term use.
In animal studies, scientists noted the following effects depending on the type of animal, amount and duration of administration:
It is important to talk to your doctor before taking berberine or other supplements as they may not be safe and may not be suitable for everyone. Anyone who has an allergic reaction to any herbal product should stop using it immediately.