You may already be taking a multivitamin and know how important having enough of certain vitamins and minerals (you know, like vitamin D, iron, and zinc) is for your health. But once in a while you may come across one that you’re hazy about, like a buzzy supplement that's been all over social media recently: berberine. If you're a little clueless when it comes to berberine benefits (or what it even is), you are not alone.
Basically, berberine is a botanical compound (meaning it comes from a plant) that targets a protein involved in insulin resistance and the making of blood sugar. “Berberine is an alkaloid extracted from a specific group of plants,” explains Scott Keatley, RD, the co-founder of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy. “This yellow substance is used by the plant to protect against predators and regulate growth.” Some well-known alkaloids are morphine, quinine, and nicotine, he adds.
Berberine may be able to help with high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and obesity, with a heavy emphasis on using the supplement to fight cardiovascular issues associated with those conditions, according to research. Berberine has “also been shown to moderately support weight-loss efforts,” notes Sonya Angelone, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It’s even been used to dye fabrics too, thanks to its yellow color.
More From Women's Health
But given that this is a supplement and supplements are largely an unregulated industry in the U.S., is berberine something you should try? Read on to see what nutrition experts have to say about this trendy supp.
Meet the experts: Scott Keatley is a nutritionist and the co-founder of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy. Sonya Angelone is a registered dietitian and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Deborah Cohen is an associate professor in the department of clinical and preventive nutrition sciences at Rutgers University.
What are the benefits of berberine?
There are actually a lot, but some are better proven than others.
It can help lower your blood sugar.
Berberine is linked to lowering blood sugar and there’s some research to suggest this actually works—in a few different ways. Berberine may decrease insulin resistance, help you body break down sugars inside your cells, slow the breakdown of carbs in your gut, and even increase the number of good bacteria in your gut.
An older study of 116 people with diabetes found that those who took one gram of berberine a day lowered their fasting blood sugar (i.e., their blood sugar after they fasted for a period of time) by 20 percent. It also helped lower their A1C, a common way blood sugar levels are tracked over time, by 12 percent, the researchers found. And berberine is an effective treatment for diabetes, potentially even as good as popular drugs like metformin, a meta-analysis of 14 studies found. (An important caveat though: Most of the studies included were small, so it’s tough to draw strong conclusions from the findings.)
Overall, though, berberine “could benefit those with type 2 diabetes by lowering blood glucose and A1C levels,” says Deborah Cohen, RDN, an associate professor in the department of clinical and preventive nutrition sciences at Rutgers University. It’s also “relatively low cost and does not show serious adverse effects,” she adds. But if you have type 2 diabetes, don't stop taking your meds—always talk to your doctor first.
It may help with weight loss.
While some people have been using berberine as a weight-loss supplement, the data to support this is limited.
One study of people with obesity had participants take 500 milligrams of berberine three times a day. The participants lost, on average, about five pounds and 3.6 percent of their body fat. Another small study tracked people with metabolic syndrome for three months as they took 300 milligrams of berberine three times a day. The study participants went from being classified as obese to overweight and lost belly fat in the process.
But again, both studies were small, so it’s difficult to say whether the benefit would be the same in a larger group of people.
It can lower cholesterol.
Berberine may lower cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme called PCSK9, which lets more LDL cholesterol (a.k.a., the "bad" kind) be removed from your blood, research has shown.
One meta-analysis of 11 studies found that berberine can decrease total cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol, and raise HDL cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol.
“Berberine appears to be an effective [fat]-lowering agent in those with high blood cholesterol levels,” Cohen says, noting that the supplement seems to be a “safe alternative” to statins, which are usually prescribed for high cholesterol.
It may help with PCOS.
There’s a lot of interest around berberine and PCOS because it may help with symptoms and complications of the condition. Berberine “showed greater differences in clinical, hormonal, and [fat in blood] parameters” compared to metformin and myoinositol, a growth-promoting factor, one randomized study of women with PCOS found. As a result, berberine may have be able to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in those with PCOS.
However, research has not found that berberine alone can help improve fertility in women with PCOS.
Who should not take berberine?
In general, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting any new kind of supplement, says Keri Gans, RD, the author of The Small Change Diet, “especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have high blood pressure or diabetes.”
You also want to check to see if berberine may interact with any medications you’re taking, Cohen says. “Anyone taking cyclosporine should not take berberine, as berberine can increase its effects and the side effects of this medication,” she says. “In addition, individuals who have hypoglycemia should avoid berberine.”
Berberine can also cause diarrhea, constipation, and gas, so it may not be a good fit for someone with IBS, Cohen adds.
What foods are high in berberine?
You’re not going to get a dose of berberine by, say, biting into an apple, but it's available in some plants. “Berberine can be found naturally in the stem, bark, and roots of certain herbs like goldenseal Oregon grape and tree turmeric,” Angelone says.
Just keep this in mind, per Keatley: “The Mexican prickly poppy is one of the most available sources of berberine in the U.S., but these plants have poisoned and killed livestock when they have consumed too much.”
If you’re interested in giving berberine a shot, check in with your doctor first. “It is important for those considering a berberine supplement to inform their primary care provider and not to stop any prescribed medication unless directed,” Cohen says.
After getting the okay, Gans recommends looking for a supplement that has third-party certification. That, she says, “helps to ensure that is on the ingredient list is actually in the bottle.”
