Berberine is hot right now and trending on social media platforms with the hashtag #berberinesupplements bringing up over 20 million views on TikTok. Influencers are touting it as the next miracle weight loss pill, even so far as calling it “nature’s Ozempic”. I have to admit…I was fairly unfamiliar with berberine supplements. And as a dietitian who works at GNC, I had to know the truth. So, I scoured the research to see if the TikTok videos are right, or if it’s just another viral sensation without any scientific backing.
What You Need To Know
- Berberine is an alkaloid found in several different types of plants. Berberine supplements are being touted as the newest miracle for weight loss and blood sugar control.
- In clinical studies, berberine appears to have a positive effect on managing blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
- There is mixed evidence in the scientific literature for berberine and weight loss.
- The research suggests berberine may have a positive effect on blood lipids, such as cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
What Is Berberine?
Berberine belongs to a class of compounds called alkaloids. Berberine can be found in several different plants, such as goldenseal, barberry root, and Mahonia. It is an ingredient that is bitter-tasting and yellow in color and can come from the roots, stems, and rhizomes of plants. It was originally discovered in the early 20th century by Japanese and German scholars. It was extracted from the Coptis Root and Phellodendron, both found in traditional Chinese medicine [1,2].
Today, berberine can be found in dietary supplements such as tablets and capsules. These products make many different claims on their labels, including benefits for blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, blood lipids, and weight management. Is there scientific evidence to back these up? Let’s dig into the research.
Does Berberine Help With Blood Sugar?
Does berberine help with blood sugar? It might…but there’s more to the story.
In a meta-analysis, 27 clinical studies were evaluated to see if there was an effect of berberine supplementation on blood sugar and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. The dose of berberine ranged from 0.6g to 2.7g per day for a duration of 56 to 112 days. It’s important to note that some of these studies required subjects to take berberine while also making healthy lifestyle changes. Regarding blood sugar outcomes, researchers concluded that the results of five studies showed berberine (when combined with lifestyle interventions) reduced fasting and postprandial blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C, compared to lifestyle intervention alone or a placebo [1]. These results were also confirmed in a more recent review of the literature. In a 2022 meta-analysis, several scientific studies were analyzed to determine if berberine influenced blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes. The results showed that berberine significantly lowered fasting blood glucose and A1C compared to a placebo or other medication [3].
- The bottom line: Berberine appears to be beneficial for lowering blood sugar in people with underlying diseases such as diabetes.
Berberine for Weight Loss?
If berberine does in fact help manage blood sugar levels, then it would make sense that it could also help manage your weight. But what does the science say?
When it comes to studies in humans, a 2020 meta-analysis reviewed ten clinical studies to see if there was an effect of berberine supplementation on weight loss, waist circumference, and BMI. The results showed that berberine had no significant effects on body weight but had a slight effect on reducing BMI and waist circumference. In a sub-group analysis, there was a greater effect on waist circumference in female subjects and at a dosage over 1g per day. The subjects in these studies all had at least one pre-existing condition (such as type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome), and the sample sizes in some studies were small [4].
Conversely, a different meta-analysis did find a moderate effect of berberine supplementation on body weight in people with an underlying disease (such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, etc). Results showed a modest effect on weight loss of about 4.5 lbs over about 3 months at doses ranging from 300mg to 1500mg per day. There was also a significant improvement in waist circumference and BMI, but not in liver enzyme levels. [5]
- The bottom line: Given the mixed results, I would say the jury is still out on this one.
Berberine for Heart Health?
In a 2023 analysis, researchers evaluated 18 clinical studies to evaluate the effects of berberine on blood lipids, such as cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The studies were primarily conducted in Asia with treatment durations ranging from 4-24 weeks. The dosing of berberine ranged from 900-1500mg, usually taken as 500mg 2-3 times per day. The results found berberine had a positive effect on blood lipids, with average reductions in total and LDL cholesterol by 18 mg/dL, triglycerides by 30 mg/dL, and increases in HDL by 2 mg/dL [6].
- The bottom line: The evidence is pointing toward a positive effect of berberine on blood lipid levels in diseased populations, primarily in Asia.
How Does It Work?
According to a 2012 review on the mechanisms of berberine in diabetes, researchers speculate a few different mechanisms for how berberine exhibits its effects on metabolism and thermogenesis. The first is the activation of AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase)…also known as the body’s master regulator of metabolism. The authors state AMPK acts “as a fuel gauge by monitoring cellular energy levels…Activation of AMPK is well known to increase insulin sensitivity and regulate mitochondrial function”. [7]. For comparison, this is one of the ways that Metformin, a common diabetes pharmaceutical drug, is speculated to work [8]. AMPK is activated during times of low energy or fuel intake (like during exercise), which helps break down glucose (known as glycolysis) and helps cells in the uptake of glucose. Researchers also speculate berberine may downregulate genes that turn on adipogenesis (or the generation of fat cells) and decrease alpha-glucosidase activity, which decreases intestinal absorption of glucose [7].
Conclusion
In summary, berberine is an alkaloid found in several different types of plants. Berberine is typically dosed in clinical studies at 500mg, two to three times per day. There is some evidence to suggest that berberine may have a beneficial effect on blood sugar and blood lipid levels in people with metabolic issues and diabetes and also when combined with lifestyle changes. In terms of the TikTok trend of berberine for weight loss, the science is mixed in this area.
If you are trying to lose weight, there are many lifestyle changes and supplements that are tried and true. Check out our weight management articles for tips and more information.
This article is not intended as a recommendation for products. Consult with your healthcare professional before beginning any supplement regimen.
References
- Lan J, Zhao Y, Dong F, Yan Z, Zheng W, Fan J, Sun G. Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Feb 23;161:69-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.09.049. Epub 2014 Dec 10. PMID: 25498346.
- Berberine Monograph. Natural Medicines Database. Accessed June 10, 2023. Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Xie W, Su F, Wang G, Peng Z, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Xu N, Hou K, Hu Z, Chen Y, Chen R. Glucose-lowering effect of berberine on type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Nov 16;13:1015045. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1015045. PMID: 36467075; PMCID: PMC9709280. Glucose-lowering effect of berberine on type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Xiong P, Niu L, Talaei S, Kord-Varkaneh H, Clark CCT, Găman MA, Rahmani J, Dorosti M, Mousavi SM, Zarezadeh M, Taghizade-Bilondi H, Zhang J. The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity indices: A dose- response meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020 May;39:101113. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101113. Epub 2020 Feb 1. PMID: 32379652. The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity indices: A dose- response meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Asbaghi O, Ghanbari N, Shekari M, Reiner Ž, Amirani E, Hallajzadeh J, Mirsafaei L, Asemi Z. The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity parameters, inflammation and liver function enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020 Aug;38:43-49. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.04.010. Epub 2020 May 6. PMID: 32690176. The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity parameters, inflammation and liver function enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Blais JE, Huang X, Zhao JV. Overall and Sex-Specific Effect of Berberine for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials. Drugs. 2023 Apr;83(5):403-427. doi: 10.1007/s40265-023-01841-4. Epub 2023 Mar 21. PMID: 36941490. Overall and Sex-Specific Effect of Berberine for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Jun Yin, Jianping Ye, Weiping Jia. Effects and mechanisms of berberine in diabetes treatment. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. Volume 2, Issue 4. 2012. Pages 327-334. ISSN 2211-3835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2012.06.003. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383512000871
- Zhou G, Myers R, Li Y, Chen Y, Shen X, Fenyk-Melody J, Wu M, Ventre J, Doebber T, Fujii N, Musi N, Hirshman MF, Goodyear LJ, Moller DE. Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in mechanism of metformin action. J Clin Invest. 2001 Oct;108(8):1167-74. doi: 10.1172/JCI13505. PMID: 11602624; PMCID: PMC209533. Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in mechanism of metformin action – PubMed (nih.gov)