The majority of studies consistently suggested that berberine had a beneficial effect on LDL cholesterol (reducing it by 20-50 mg/dL) and triglycerides (reducing them by 25-55 mg/dL). Berberine alone and in combination with other supplements provided an average LDL percent reduction of 20–30%.
Taking berberine supplements regularly appears to lower total cholesterol, “bad” cholesterol, and triglycerides in people with high cholesterol. It works differently from today's standard cholesterol medications, so it may help treat people who are resistant to other cholesterol-lowering drugs.
This suggests that berberine has powerful effects even when taken alone. Based on these two studies, intake of berberine for at least 12 weeks or three months is necessary to see positive results in weight, triglycerides, cholesterol, and BMI of individuals.
In a meta-analysis of six trials, 229 patients with high cholesterol who took between 900-1,500 mg of berberine supplements per day saw improved LDL cholesterol levels with reductions of 20-50 mg/dL (about 25% reduction from baseline).
The mechanism for berberine extract is very unclear. For decades it has been a well-researched herbal treatment for intestinal infections, like Giardia, but it came with the warning to avoid long-term use due to the potential undesirable and antimicrobial effect in the gut.
and Warnings. When taken by mouth: Berberine is possibly safe for most adults. It's been used safely in doses up to 1.5 grams daily for 6 months. Common side effects include diarrhea, constipation, gas, and upset stomach.
In some people, supplementation with berberine has been reported to cause gastrointestinal side effects, including diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and stomach pain. Due to its ability to reduce blood sugar, berberine may increase the risk for hypoglycemia in high doses.
Studies have shown that taking berberine for 12 months or longer is safe and well tolerated. Similarly, metformin is safe and well-tolerated with long-term use.
The majority of studies reported here demonstrated the ability of berberine to suppress monocyte mobility, modulate macrophage phenotype change, and suppress macrophage-derived foam cell formation (Table 2). The study results indicate the therapeutic potential of berberine to counter atherosclerotic plaque formation.
The mechanism of action of berberine is different from that of statins because it does not involve the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase. Indeed, berberine is able to upregulate the expression of the receptor for LDLs independently of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs).
Continual use of berberine can impact cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the liver which may affect drug-to-drug interactions.
Berberine has a high risk of interfering with drugs, and some of these reactions may be severe. When high doses are used, gastrointestinal upset may occur, and because of its ability to lower blood sugar, it can increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
And for how long is it safe to be on this supplement? “There is not yet enough evidence to suggest that taking berberine daily long term is safe,” says Davis. MedlinePlus, for example, states that it's been safely used when taken for up to six months (in doses up to 1.5 g daily).
Despite wide scale use as an herbal supplement, berberine has not been linked to published instances of clinically apparent liver injury.
Research has suggested that berberine can help treat diabetes, obesity, and inflammation, among other conditions. However, side effects can include upset stomach and nausea. Berberine has been a part of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.
Standard doses of berberine are generally well tolerated and eventual adverse events are rare and mild. On the contrary, high doses have been associated with arterial hypotension, dyspnea, flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal discomfort, constipation, and cardiac damage.
Berberine can cross the placenta and may cause harm to the fetus. Kernicterus, a type of brain damage, has developed in newborn infants exposed to it. It's unsafe to take berberine if you are breastfeeding, as it can be transferred to the infant through breast milk.
This study showed that berberine, a natural drug with low oral availability, significantly ameliorated chronic kidney disease by altering the composition of the gut microbiota and inhibiting the production of gut-derived uremic toxins, including p-cresol.
Berberine slows signs of aging in heart cells, including decreasing cellular senescence – a critical state where cells can no longer divide and multiply (proliferate). Many beneficial effects of berberine require klotho, an anti-aging protein associated with extending lifespan and mitigating age-related diseases.
Berberine might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Taking berberine along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, cilostazol (Pletal), clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), and others.
The majority of studies consistently suggested that berberine had a beneficial effect on LDL cholesterol (reducing it by 20-50 mg/dL) and triglycerides (reducing them by 25-55 mg/dL). Berberine alone and in combination with other supplements provided an average LDL percent reduction of 20–30%.
Overall, these data indicate that BBR inhibits pancreatic cancer cell viability through a mechanism that likely involves mitochondrial damage leading to decreased citrate metabolism and disruption of fatty acid biosynthesis, which has an important role in the proliferation and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells.