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.
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. Pregnancy: It's likely unsafe to take berberine by mouth if you are pregnant.
How long will berberine take effect? 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.
Berberine can cause digestive side effects, such as: upset stomach. constipation. nausea.
How long does it take for berberine to lower A1c? Most studies have looked at berberine activity over 90 days. So, we can assume that the effects of berberine take around 3 months to be evident. However, some people taking berberine report a reduction in blood sugar levels within the first month of taking berberine.
Based on the findings of these two studies, a dose of 300-500 mg three times per day or 1200-1500 mg/day taken for at least three months can significantly reduce weight. However, there are still limited studies examining the prolonged health benefits of berberine in reducing weight.
Taking berberine along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely. Berberine might slow blood clotting. Taking berberine along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and 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.
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.
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 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.
Berberine has great potential in treatment of insomnia and might have better clinical significance.
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.
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 can induce cell death of harmful intestinal bacteria and increase the number and species of beneficial bacteria (Habtemariam, 2020).
THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE & EFFECTIVE FORM OF BERBERINE: SoActive Berberine is a Berberine phytosome that has been clinically shown to be optimally absorbed and utilized within the body.
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.
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.
Taken together, the results suggested that berberine inhibits melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity by downregulating the expression of MITF and tyrosinase. Thus, these findings may contribute to the potential application of berberine in the prevention and treatment of skin pigmentation disorders.
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.
64, 65 A growing number of studies have demonstrated that berberine can affect mood by regulating plasma corticosterone levels. Palmatine, a quaternary protoberberine alkaloid, produced antidepressant‐like activity by decreasing plasma corticosterone levels.
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.
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.