8 benefits of berberine

In this article:

• 8 berberine health benefits
• Berberine side effects
• Does berberine interfere with medications?
• The bottom line

In this article

• 8 berberine health benefits
• Berberine side effects
• Does berberine interfere with medications?
• The bottom line

Berberine is an alkaloid, a yellow compound extracted from several different plants—such as the barberry plant (Berberis vulgaris L.), tree turmeric, goldenseal, and Oregon grape. It’s also found in over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplements. Historically, berberine has been used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat wounds, infections, and other health conditions. Today, berberine is mainly known for its beneficial effects on diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), weight loss, and heart health.

8 berberine health benefits

Berberine supplements have gotten a lot of attention in recent years, with some going as far as to call it nature’s Ozempic. While more research is needed on the health effects of berberine, here’s what we currently know.

1. Improves blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes affects more than 10% of the world’s population. It is caused by the body’s inability to properly regulate insulin production, which leads to a spike in blood glucose. It’s not curable, but it’s manageable with lifestyle changes and medications, such as insulin injections. While berberine doesn’t treat Type 2 diabetes, it can help improve blood sugar levels in those with the condition, notes Christopher McGowan, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist specializing in obesity medicine.

“Multiple studies have demonstrated that berberine may help to improve fasting blood glucose and diabetes,” Dr. McGowan says. In a systematic review in Frontiers in Pharmacology, researchers found that berberine effectively lowers blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. So, how does it work? “Proposed mechanisms of action include reduced glucose production and enhanced insulin sensitivity,” explains Dr. McGowan.

2. Improves insulin resistance in women with PCOS

Elevated blood sugar levels are commonly associated with diabetes, but insulin resistance also occurs in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is an endocrine disorder caused by hormonal imbalances, which results in symptoms like irregular periods, excess body and facial hair, ovarian cysts, and weight gain. It can also cause infertility.

Women who have PCOS with insulin resistance could be at greater risk for becoming prediabetic or developing Type 2 diabetes because it increases blood glucose. There’s no cure for PCOS, but medications like metformin can help lower blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity. This supplement may also help. Here’s how: “Berberine improves how the body processes glucose, so it can also improve insulin resistance in women with PCOS,” explains Ami Patel, Pharm.D., a clinical pharmacist in Raleigh, North Carolina.

3. Lowers cholesterol

There are cardiovascular benefits of berberine supplements, Dr. McGowan says. Specifically, they can lower cholesterol levels. Though statins are usually prescribed for those with high cholesterol levels, research is underway to determine if there are other options. Berberine may be a supplement that could help.

Berberine has been shown to produce modest reductions in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. It can also reduce total cholesterol, Dr. McGowan points out, noting that any improvement is usually minor.

4. Reduces risk of heart disease

High cholesterol is one of the risk factors for heart disease, so lowering total cholesterol could improve cardiovascular outcomes. “When total cholesterol and triglycerides are high, it contributes to poor cardiovascular health and can even increase the risk for heart attack,” Dr. Patel explains. “Berberine reduces cholesterol and regulates blood lipids, thereby reducing the risk for cardiovascular diseases.”

There’s research to back this up. Randomized control trials have compared the effectiveness of berberine vs statins for improving biomarkers that assess the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Researchers found that when combined with statins, berberine helped to significantly reduce total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and other biomarkers. It even yielded a significant improvement in other biomarkers for heart health when taken without statins.

5. Promotes weight loss

Insulin resistance can lead to weight gain, which could explain why endocrine disorders like diabetes and PCOS are associated with obesity. Given berberine’s effect on insulin sensitivity, many have wondered whether berberine works for weight loss. The answer is complicated, Dr. McGowan says. “The existing studies on berberine as a weight management treatment show that the average weight loss was only a few pounds,” he explains. “While it can result in some weight loss, it’s not significant and isn’t on par weight loss medications, such as semaglutide.”

The body of research on berberine’s anti-obesity effects is small but promising. When taken as a treatment for obesity, berberine supplementation moderately decreases body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference. Researchers have also suggested that berberine can reduce obesity by suppressing appetite, but this has only been shown in animal studies.

6. Regulates gut microbiota

Berberine could have potential benefits for the gut microbiome, suggests Jennie Stanford, MD, a board-certified physician who specializes in obesity medicine. It’s been shown to reduce the harmful bacteria in the gut while increasing good bacteria, which researchers propose could translate to beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome and other metabolic disorders. A systematic review explored the ways that berberine regulates the gut microbiota, which could have positive effects on diabetes, blood glucose, cholesterol, and other conditions.

7. Improves sleep

Sleep is a crucial yet often overlooked part of overall health and wellness. Dietary supplements like magnesium and melatonin could help promote proper rest, but researchers have also thrown berberine in the ring for its potential benefits relating to sleep.

“Berberine helps improve sleep,” Dr. Stanford says. “Berberine may help modulate circadian rhythms, assisting in sleep pattern realignment so that it more closely reflects the natural sleep cycle.”

There is evidence to support this, but clinical trials with human patients are ultimately needed. In animal studies, berberine has been shown to alleviate insomnia. It significantly improved the sleep quality in insomniac rats as well as their memory and body weight.

8. Supports liver health

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can’t be cured or reversed, and there aren’t any drugs approved to treat it. However, it can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and improving hypertension (aka high blood pressure).

A meta-analysis of trials found that berberine can improve liver enzymes, lipids, and insulin sensitivity in people with NAFLD. It may not treat the disease, but researchers concluded that berberine can be used as an adjunct therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Berberine side effects

Because berberine is a dietary supplement, there have been concerns about its safety and potential side effects. Supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration the same way prescription medications are, so it’s important to consult a healthcare professional before adding berberine supplements to your routine.

While berberine has been around for centuries, there aren’t any long-term studies on its use, Dr. McGowan says. However, he says there have been reports of digestive side effects like constipation, diarrhea, and gas. More research is needed to fully understand all of the risks of berberine.

Women should also avoid taking berberine while pregnant or breastfeeding. It could cross the placenta and affect the fetus or transfer to infants through breast milk.

Does berberine interfere with medications?

Berberine can interfere with many medications, so it’s best to discuss a list of your medications and supplements with a healthcare provider.

According to the National Library of Medicine, berberine can interact with the following medications:

• Neoral (cyclosporine)
• Robitussin DM (dextromethorphan)
• Cozaar (losartan)
• Metformin
• Versed (midazolam)
• Nembutal (pentobarbital)
• Prograf (tacrolimus)

Berberine can also interact with drugs for high blood pressure, blood clotting, and diabetes, as well as sedatives and drugs that are processed by the liver. It can also interact with herbs and other supplements, such as probiotics and CBD.

The bottom line

Berberine supplements can have a variety of health benefits, such as improving insulin sensitivity, blood sugar, cholesterol, and body weight. People with Type 2 diabetes and women with PCOS could benefit most from taking berberine, Dr. Patel says, but it should be used under the supervision of a healthcare provider because of its side effects and drug interactions. More studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of berberine.