Berberine has been extensively studied, and research suggests that it exerts effects through multiple mechanisms in the body. These effects include helping with insulin resistance, lowering blood sugar, lowering total cholesterol, and assisting with weight loss in obese individuals. In this article we are going to cover some of the ways berberine supplements can help you with your overall health and the potential benefits they offer.
Berberine is a natural compound in several plants, including-
- Barberry
- Goldenseal
- Oregon Grape
- Tree turmeric
- Chinese Goldthread
It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese, East Asian, and Ayurvedic medicine for various health benefits. In recent years, Berberine has gained popularity as a dietary supplement due to its potential therapeutic effects. Berberine is considered an alkaloid, meaning it has medicinal use when ingested.
How Berberine affects Blood Sugar Levels:
Berberine positively impacts blood sugar levels, helping individuals with metabolic syndromes such as obesity. It activates an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which regulates glucose metabolism. Glucose metabolism is responsible for the production of ATP, which is how your body receives its energy. Glucose is what the body synthesizes the carbohydrates that you consume down, so when you eat bread or sugary foods, your body will derive glucose from that.
By activating AMPK, Berberine helps increase insulin sensitivity, enhance glucose uptake by cells, and reducing glucose production in the liver. This essentially means that the amount of carbohydrates that enter within the body are more effectively used and sugars are not as prominent within the system. This can particularly benefit individuals with type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance.
Berberine has also been found to lower hemoglobin A1C in a study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, which can be helpful in people with type 2 diabetes. A1C is a measurement of how much glucose is attached to the hemoglobin within your blood, this is a good indicator of whether someone is pre-diabetic or already is diabetic. Especially if you are pre-diabetic, Berberine can be a way to lower the amount of glucose within the bloodstream. And if you are already struggling with metabolic illnesses, berberine may give you an extra boost on top of other medications.
How Berberine Affects Cholesterol:
Berberine has been shown to impact lipid (fat) metabolism positively. It helps lower total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Berberine combined with cholesterol-lowering medications can amplify these effects. Berberine is particularly effective in achieving this. This process is caused by inhibiting an enzyme called PCSK9, which is involved in cholesterol regulation, and by activating AMPK, which promotes fat burning and inhibits fat synthesis.
Over 100 million people within the United States struggle with high cholesterol so using this natural supplement can help these individuals.
Berberine may aid in weight loss and the management of obesity:
This supplement can help reduce appetite and food intake by affecting specific brain receptors regulating appetite. Additionally, Berberine activates brown adipose tissue (BAT), which is responsible for burning calories to generate heat. By activating BAT, Berberine can enhance calorie expenditure and potentially contribute to weight loss. This is significant because very few medications are capable of activating this brown adipose (fatty) tissue that is safe for human consumption.
Although it is important to note that there have yet to be long and extensive clinical trials to test whether or not Berberine has weight loss properties, it has shown much promise. But, berberine does work at the molecular level as a regulator of Biogenesis, note before that we listed the AMPK, this is that regulator that uptakes the amount of glucose going into the body and increases the sensitivity for insulin, both of these properties would then in-turn help lose weight.
Berberine exhibits antimicrobial properties:
Berberine can help promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria. It has been found to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and H. pylori, while promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria, like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is essential for digestive health and immune function.
Taking various medications can impact the gut biome significantly, so by promoting bacteria that helps breakdown polysaccharides more efficiently, not only are you promoting good gut health but also limiting the amount of carbohydrates that are entering the body through the gut. Berberine has also been found to help Colitis because of the gram-negative intestinal bacteria.
Berberine has anti-inflammatory properties:
Berberine has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with various health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Berberine may help alleviate inflammation and its related complications by inhibiting pro-inflammatory molecules and signaling pathways.
In a study done with arthritic rats, Berberine had reduced the inflammation within the joints by activating an AMPK/NF-кB pathway. This discovery could help individuals with arthritis, chronic joint pain, and other inflammatory diseases.
Side effects and other considerations to note before taking Berberine:
Although Berberine is good for eliminating harmful bacteria and promoting good bacteria within the gut biome. Most of the side effects affect the digestive system. Cleveland Clinic states that most of the side effects include-
- Abdominal Pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
Like most supplements, Berberine is unregulated by the government, so before you decide to purchase a bottle of capsules, do some research to ensure that you are receiving a quality product and not any products with added fillers, which are used to boost profits.
It is important to note that Berberine may negatively interact with certain medications. Some medications that could have altered effects with Berberine are certain anti-diabetic drugs, blood thinners, and medications that affect liver metabolism. It is always best to consult your physician to determine whether or not you should take extra supplements.
If you are pregnant it would be best not to take Berberine.
Berberine Exhibits Anti-Cancer Properties:
On top of aiding individuals struggling with metabolic illnesses and high cholesterol, Berberine has shown promise as a cancer preventive drug. In a review covered by Cancer Management and Research, Berberine has been shown to have multiple properties that could prevent cancers. Berberine helps regulate the cell cycle and inhibits cell proliferation in multiple cancers. Changes to the cell cycle is what causes cancers to form, so by regulating these cycles, taking berberine can decrease your likelihood of getting these cancers and aid in treating them.
Berberine also regulates autophagy. Autophagy is cell death and Berberine has been found to maintain homeostasis of cells through this process and eliminates cancerous cells
How Much Berberine Should I Take Daily?
The typical dosage of Berberine is about 1500 mg per day. This total is split into three doses each 500 mg before each meal. This is to maximize the absorption of the glucose within the cells and to reduce the glucose produced in the body, essentially lowering the amount of carbs being taken into the system while you are eating.
This is split before every meal because if you were to take the entire dose at once at the beginning of the day, the window where these properties are enacted will be lost. It would be like taking pre-workout at the beginning of the day and then going to the gym that night. Sure your cells will be able to take up the glucose that is already in the system but by the time you have your last meal of the day you will be taking more of the carbohydrates in than if you spread them throughout the day. A good time frame would be about 20 - 40 minutes before eating to maximize the benefits. Be careful if you are taking doses higher than 1000 mg per day, exceeding three months of consistent use can have an affect on the body as well.
To Wrap this up:
Berberine is a natural supplement that can be used in a multitude of ways combined with specific blood sugar and cholesterol regulating medications to amplify effects of those medications. Because Berberine works at the molecular level, sugars within your body are used more, reducing the overall carbohydrates within the system. Berberine has the capabilities to aid your gut biome and if taken before each meal, can help you process the glucose in it faster.
It's important that while berberine supplements offer potential health benefits, they should be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Berberine can interact with certain medications, so it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen. But if you do decide to begin taking Berberine keep in mind the side effects as well.
