What berberine can — and can’t — do for your health
A growing body of research over the last 20 years — some in petri dishes, some in mice, and a few small, but encouraging, trials in humans — suggests that berberine can potentially help lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar. Researchers have examined whether the compound can be particularly helpful for patients with diabetes, particularly when used alongside other treatments.
Berberine also has antimicrobial properties, meaning it may help clear out detrimental bacteria in the gut and help improve the overall composition of your microbiome, said Dr. Yufang Lin, an integrative medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. Those antimicrobial perks may play a role in how berberine could alleviate gastrointestinal complaints.
But when it comes to weight loss, the studies involving berberine have been patchy and preliminary.
There have been very few trials assessing weight loss in humans, said D. Craig Hopp, a deputy division director at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, and none have been robust. “There’s a whiff of plausibility there,” he said, adding that animal models that have indicated the supplement could lead to weight loss — but there’s a big gap between evidence and marketing, he said.
“It’s an interesting thought, but I don’t think clinically, it’s been panning out,” added Dr. Lin.
The risks of taking berberine
Most people taking berberine will tolerate it well, Dr. Ring said, but it does come with some documented side effects. People ingesting the supplement, even at standard doses, may feel nauseated and vomit; their blood pressure may rise and their hands and feet might tingle, said Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who studies supplements. Berberine also could contribute to uterine contractions in people who are pregnant, Dr. Lin said.
But while the supplement itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, Dr. Cohen said, he worries more about the possibility that supplement manufacturers could add another ingredient, like a stimulant— and that additive could cause harm.
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