recently reported that BBR improves lipid metabolic disorder in tunicamycin-induced liver injury. (Yang et al., 2021). BBR could also significantly reduce hepatic lipid accumulation by modulating fatty acid synthesis and metabolism to prevent the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis.
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.
Berberine is generally safe and well-tolerated and does not cause severe kidney or liver injuries when taken for at least three months. However, some patients may experience nausea and vomiting, which can be corrected when you stop taking the supplement.
Typical side effects for a healthy individual with no medical conditions may include diarrhea, constipation, gas and upset stomach. 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.
BBR ameliorates NAFLD by affecting numerous abnormalities. It inhibits lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis, improves insulin resistance and lipid profile, and modulates gut microbiota. The exact mechanism underlying these effects is not yet entirely explained.
Once berberine is absorbed into your bloodstream, one of its main actions is to activate an enzyme inside cells called AMP-activated protein kinase. This is a powerful enzyme with a number of important functions in your body. These include: Stimulating oxidation (breakdown) of fatty acids inside the liver.
Pregnancy: It's likely unsafe to take berberine by mouth if you are pregnant. Berberine can cross the placenta and might cause harm to the fetus. Kernicterus, a type of brain damage, has developed in newborn infants exposed to berberine. Breast-feeding: It's likely unsafe to take berberine if you are breast-feeding.
It is unclear if berberine has any long-term health effects, and it has been safely used for up to six months at doses of between 0.4 to 1.5 gram (g) dose per day in adults (but speak with your doctor for a suggested dose and duration).
Berberine reduced the risk of death from heart disease without apparent side effects. Berberine has also been shown to lower glucose levels in people with diabetes. Studies show that it helps your body respond better to insulin and prevents your liver from creating more glucose.
Berberine ameliorates chronic kidney disease through inhibiting the production of gut-derived uremic toxins in the gut microbiota - ScienceDirect.
Results: Administration of BBR significantly inhibited histological damage to the pancreas and lung and decreased serum level of amylase and lipase, myeloperoxidase activity, cytokine production, and the mortality rate.
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.
The recommended dosage of berberine is 500 mg three times a day. It should be taken half an hour before meals.
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.
Friedman experiences that berberine is quite well tolerated and probably better than metformin and works equally well if not better to lower the hemoglobin A1c in patients with prediabetes or early diabetes and also has the bonus of lowering cholesterol and has some anti-inflammatory and immune supporting properties.
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.
It may interact with other medications.
If you take prescription medication, speak to your healthcare provider before taking berberine. Be especially cautious if you take drugs that interact with the liver. Berberine can make some medicines less effective.
While there is limited scientific research specifically focused on the timeline for berberine's effectiveness in weight loss, some studies have indicated that it may produce noticeable results within a few weeks to a few months.
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.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered a critical hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Berberine (BBR) exerts anti-hyperglycemic and anti-dyslipidemic effects and can also ameliorate NAFLD. Thus, BBR might exert its therapeutic effect on NAFLD by improving glucolipid metabolism.
All of these benefits make berberine a highly-effective supplement to slow aging and boost longevity. The beneficial effects of berberine in diabetes and obesity treatment are in part expressed through stimulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway.
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. Research has shown that combining berberine with cinnamon may increase its bioavailability.
Additionally, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits save from common diabetic complications such as kidney diseases or liver diseases. Together milk thistle and berberine may save a person from diabetes by breaking this sugar buildup in his bloodline. It can be used to fuel the body cells.
Recent studying found that berberine could inhibit both the proliferation and apoptosis of VSMCs induced by mechanical stretch stress simultaneously, which suggests that berberine might be an excellent drug to treat atherosclerosis.