Berberine (BBR) is a plant alkaloid that possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects with low oral bioavailability.
Inflammation. Inflammation is a key factor in several health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. Some 2014 research suggests that berberine has anti-inflammatory properties, which means it could help treat diabetes and other inflammation-related health conditions.
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.
Reported data reveal that berberine can directly suppress functions and differentiation of pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 cells, and indirectly decrease Th cell-mediated inflammation through modulating or suppressing other cells assisting autoreactive inflammation, such as Tregs, DCs and macrophages.
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).
Berberine can interact with prescription medications and increase or decrease levels of these medicines in the blood due to its effects on specific enzymes in the blood. This is especially true of drugs like metformin metabolized by the liver. There may also be an increased risk of bleeding.
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.
Berberine is a bitter-tasting and yellow-colored chemical. It might help strengthen the heartbeat, which could benefit people with certain heart conditions. It might also kill bacteria, help regulate how the body uses sugar in the blood, and help reduce swelling.
The supplement should be taken with dinner or at bedtime. Your healthcare provider may increase your berberine dosage to 500 mg twice daily with meals. Sometimes, doctors advise taking berberine 500 mg three times a day. Absorption of berberine in the gastrointestinal tract can be enhanced by taking milk thistle.
It has been used throughout history in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal infections in humans, such as bacterial diarrhea, notably due to antibacterial properties. Berberine has been shown to promote epithelial barrier integrity and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (1, 2).
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.
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.
Despite wide scale use as an herbal supplement, berberine has not been linked to published instances of clinically apparent liver injury.
Berberine supplements may be helpful and safe for many people, but it can have occasional side effects. The potential side effects of berberine include: Digestive complications. One study done with berberine found that it can lead to digestion problems—such as constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence—in some people.
Bodybuilding. The benefits of this in-demand plant-based ingredient offer results-driven rewards when it comes to exercise and performance. By altering the way the body metabolises fat, it's been shown that Berberine also improves the uptake of glucose into cells which means a boost to energy production.
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.
These results suggest that berberine and diazepam can both play therapeutic roles by affecting the expression of insomnia-related genes.
But berberine improves how cells respond to insulin (insulin sensitivity), promoting better movement of glucose into cells (glucose uptake). It also impacts how glucose gets used. Once your cells have their glucose, you feel less hungry, so you eat less.
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.
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.
[12], berberine can promote the excretion of cholesterol from liver to bile and, as a result, blood lipid can be reduced.
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.
Berberine possesses anti-inflammatory activity and suppresses proinflammatory responses by inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and cellular reactive oxygen species production9.
5 Berberine Alleviates Liver Fibrosis by Modifying Lipid Metabolism. Pharmacological and clinical evidence has clearly demonstrated the efficacy of BBR in the treatment of metabolic diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hyperlipidaemia.