The effects of berberine are not immediately felt if you take it for only a few days. Instead, taking it for more extended periods is necessary to see its effects. Some studies suggest that berberine's effects can be seen when taking supplements for at least three months.
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. When applied to the skin: Berberine is possibly safe for most adults when used short-term.
Berberine, or berberine hydrochloride, is a compound in several plants. There are many possible health benefits associated with berberine. Research has suggested that berberine can help treat diabetes, obesity, and inflammation, among other conditions. However, side effects can include upset stomach and nausea.
Currently, two studies have shown that intake of berberine alone in those who are clinically obese can result in significant weight loss. Intake of berberine should be done for at least three months to see visible results.
Berberine can result in some modest weight-loss. A 2020 meta-analysis found that when people took about 500 mg of berberine daily, they lost just about four pounds on average, even when sticking with the regimen for months.
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. However, caution should still be taken when interpreting findings as both studies [5,6] only recruited a very small sample size.
The recommended dosage of berberine is 500 mg three times a day. It should be taken half an hour before meals. It does not cause severe side effects, so taking it on an empty stomach should be ok. But be careful, as it can cause some stomach problems.
Findings revealed that treatment of 300 mg of Berberine three times a day for 12 weeks resulted in a significant reduction of 5.2 cm in waist circumference. Berberine has the potential to reduce belly fat after 12 weeks of treatment. Significantly, all participants did not change their lifestyle during the study.
One past study showed that when people with obesity were given 500 milligrams (mg) of berberine three times a day for 12 weeks, they lost a “mild” amount of weight (5 pounds). What's the best way to take berberine? The best way to take berberine is in supplement form, typically capsules that can be swallowed.
How long should I take berberine? Continual use of berberine can impact cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the liver which may affect drug-to-drug interactions. Therefore, it's recommended to use it in a pulsed 8-week cycle with two to four weeks off, then starting again if symptoms have not resolved.
Taking berberine along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. Berberine might increase the amount of metformin in the body. This may increase its effects and side effects. This interaction seems to occur when berberine is taken around 2 hours before metformin.
To keep blood levels stable and benefit from berberine, spread the daily dosage (up to 1.5 grams or 1,500 milligrams daily) throughout the day. Dr. Bradley recommends taking it three times a day before meals.
Berberine might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking berberine along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness.
The most effective form of berberine is berberine hydrochloride, which is the most common form of berberine found in supplements. It has been shown to have the highest bioavailability and absorption rate, making it more effective than other forms of berberine.
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.
The standard dose of berberine is 900-2,000mg a day, divided into three to four doses. Berberine should be taken with a meal, or shortly after, to take advantage of the blood glucose and lipid spike associated with eating. Too much berberine at once can result in stomach upset, cramping, and diarrhea.
This is because berberine inhibits the mitochondria's production of energy and may lead to cells needing more energy than they have on hand.
Emerging research suggests that berberine is beneficial for balancing hormones, especially when it comes to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Berberine provides numerous benefits for women living with PCOS, including improved fertility, weight loss, and reduced inflammation.
Users say berberine, which is found in a number of plants, including barberry plants, helps curb appetite and improve blood sugar levels, resulting in weight loss.
Berberine is one of the most potent insulin sensitizers in the world. That means it can make you more insulin sensitive, and it does this by tricking your muscles into thinking they're low on energy.
Berberine has great potential in treatment of insomnia and might have better clinical significance.
Depending on how healthy a patient's liver is, berberine's beneficial effects can persist for as long as 20 hours, meaning that a once-per-day dosing schedule is sufficient for most patients. When taken once per day, berberine is safe to take for at least 12 months.
Berberine has been reported as a critical factor in promoting adaptive thermogenesis through activating BAT activity. Animal experiments showed that berberine (5 mg/kg body weight) administration increased whole-body energy expenditure by 20% without changes in physical activity.
Sodium caprate was able to promote the absorption of berberine significantly at various intestinal segments (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01; Fig. 2). The absorption of berberine increased approximately about 1.5–5.2-fold, when berberine was co-incubated with sodium caprate for 90 min at concentrations of 0.2% (w/v).