Skip to content
Fullscript leaf logo Sign in
Fullscript logo
Fullscript leaf logo
  • Our platform
    • Practitioner software
    • Pricing
    • Integrations
    • Patients on Fullscript
    • Book a demo
  • Learn
    • Spotlight
    • Protocols
    • Wellness blog
    • Practice resources
    • Webinars
    • Ingredient library
    • Practicing virtually
  • Support
    • Practitioner support
    • Patient help
    • Contact us
    • Or chat with us
Sign in Create account
Supplement Ingredients
—

The Many Health Benefits of Berberine

August 10, 2022
Fact checked
Written by Karolyn Gazella
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Peter Woznik, ND, MSc
  1. Wellness blog
  2. The Many Health Benefits of Berberine

Berberine provides a range of health benefits and may positively influence insulin resistance, obesity, and symptoms associated with metabolic syndrome such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. (7)(9)(10)(11)(19) Berberine also demonstrates antifungal activity and may influence certain hormones. (4)(13)(17) It truly is a remarkable herbal medicine.  

What is berberine?

Berberine is a natural compound found in several plants, including goldenseal, Oregon grape, tree turmeric, and barberry. It has been a staple of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and grows in moderate and semi-tropical regions of Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and South America. (14)

berberine
Berberine, a staple of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, may activate AMPK, an enzyme that helps regulate certain biological activities.

What does berberine do?

In the human body, berberine’s key mechanism of action is the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). (15) This is an important enzyme, sometimes referred to as “the metabolic master switch” because it helps regulate certain biological activities including lipid, glucose, and energy metabolism. Because berberine is an aldose reductase inhibitor, berberine may also have a positive effect on blood sugar control and diabetes. Aldose is an enzyme that has been shown to negatively affect blood sugar issues in individuals with diabetes. (8)

What is berberine good for?

The list of berberine benefits is long and diverse. Berberine has been the focus of numerous studies and in some cases, it was compared to or used in conjunction with pharmaceuticals. 

1. Blood sugar

One of the most well-known conditions associated with elevated blood sugar levels is diabetes. Research has demonstrated that berberine may lower fasting blood sugar and the blood sugar marker hemoglobin A1C. (20) According to a 2012 meta-analysis of 14 different studies featuring more than 1,000 people, berberine was able to help with glycemic control as much as the standard diabetes medications metformin, glipizide, and rosiglitazone. Furthermore, it had an additional improvement on cholesterols. And when berberine was examined in co-interventions alongside these medications, an additive effect was noted. Finally, unlike these medications, berberine was noted to have no serious adverse effects reported. (5)

2. Blood pressure

There is some research demonstrating that berberine may lower blood pressure via vasodilation and relaxing smooth muscle cells within blood vessel walls. Berberine may work similar to calcium channel blocker medications by reducing vascular hardening and in the arteries and high blood pressure. (1)

berberine practitioner taking a patients blood pressure
Like calcium channel blockers, berberine may lower blood pressure.

3. Cholesterol

High cholesterol is considered an independent risk factor for heart disease. Berberine may help lower cholesterol by clearing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the liver as it upregulates LDL-receptor expression. (16) A 2013 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials demonstrated that berberine was safe and effective at lowering LDL, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL). (6)

4. Candida

Berberine may have antifungal properties, specifically against the yeast Candida. A 2016 in vitro study demonstrated that berberine was effective at killing fluconazole-resistant strains of candida. (3) Research shows that berberine kills yeast by attacking the cell membrane. (21)

5. PCOS

When cysts develop on the ovaries, a hormonal condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can develop. This condition is characterized by a hormone imbalance that may cause women to skip menstrual periods and have difficulty getting pregnant. Women and individuals with ovaries who have this condition can often have glycemic control issues. A 2015 study involving Chinese women with PCOS demonstrated that berberine alone was effective at improving the menstrual pattern and ovulation rate of the women, perhaps partially by improving insulin resistance. (12)

6. SIBO

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is becoming more common in clinical practice and in some cases, oral antibiotics are used to treat this condition. According to a 2014 study featuring 104 patients diagnosed with SIBO, berberine was just as effective as the antibiotic Rifaximin at providing a negative SIBO test result using the lactulose breath testing diagnosis tool. (2)

7. Weight loss

Given berberine’s positive effect on metabolic syndrome, it’s not surprising that it may also support weight loss. A 2012 study that featured patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome showed that three months of treatment with berberine resulted in a decreased body mass index (BMI) and leptin levels (hormone that helps regulate satiety), demonstrating that it may improve insulin sensitivity and inhibit fat storage. (18)

The bottom line 

Given the many therapeutic applications of this substance, berberine intake may be appropriate for most individuals. Researchers continue to examine the potential benefits of berberine to human health. These benefits include having positive effects on conditions such as SIBO, PCOS, and diabetes, having antifungal properties, and positively affecting weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels. Negative side effects of berberine may include symptoms such as bloating or upset stomach. Speak with your healthcare practitioner first before taking a berberine supplement. 

Fullscript simplifies supplement dispensing

Create your dispensary today I'm a patient
References
  1. Bagade, A., Tumbigeremutt, V., & Pallavi, G. (2017). Cardiovascular effects of berberine: A review of the literature. Journal of Restorative Medicine, 6(1), 37–45.
  2. Chedid, V., Dhalla, S., Clarke, J. O., Roland, B. C., Dunbar, K. B., Koh, J., Justino, E., Rn, E. T., & Mullin, G. E. (2014). Herbal therapy is equivalent to rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 3(3), 16–24.
  3. da Silva, A. R., de Andrade Neto, J. B., da Silva, C. R., Campos, R. D. S., Costa Silva, R. A., Freitas, D. D., do Nascimento, F. B. S. A., de Andrade, L. N. D., Sampaio, L. S., Grangeiro, T. B., Magalhães, H. I. F., Cavalcanti, B. C., de Moraes, M. O., & Nobre Júnior, H. V. (2016b). Berberine antifungal activity in Fluconazole-Resistant pathogenic yeasts: Action mechanism evaluated by flow cytometry and biofilm growth inhibition in candida spp. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 60(6), 3551–3557.
  4. Dhamgaye, S., Devaux, F., Vandeputte, P., Khandelwal, N. K., Sanglard, D., Mukhopadhyay, G., & Prasad, R. (2014). Molecular mechanisms of action of herbal antifungal alkaloid berberine, in candida albicans. PLoS ONE, 9(8), e104554.
  5. Dong, H., Wang, N., Zhao, L., & Lu, F. (2012). Berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systemic review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 1–12.
  6. Dong, H., Zhao, Y., Zhao, L., & Lu, F. (2013). The effects of berberine on blood lipids: A systemic review and Meta-Analysis of randomized controlled trials. Planta Medica, 79(06), 437–446.
  7. Feng, X., Sureda, A., Jafari, S., Memariani, Z., Tewari, D., Annunziata, G., Barrea, L., Hassan, S. T., ŠMejkal, K., Malaník, M., Sychrová, A., Barreca, D., Ziberna, L., Mahomoodally, M. F., Zengin, G., Xu, S., Nabavi, S. M., & Shen, A. Z. (2019). Berberine in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases: From mechanisms to therapeutics. Theranostics, 9(7), 1923–1951.
  8. Gupta, S., Singh, N., & Jaggi, A. S. (2014). Alkaloids as aldose reductase inhibitors, with special reference to berberine. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 20(3), 195–205.
  9. Huang, P. L. (2009). A comprehensive definition for metabolic syndrome. Disease Models & Mechanisms, 2(5–6), 231–237.
  10. Ilyas, Z., Perna, S., Al-thawadi, S., Alalwan, T. A., Riva, A., Petrangolini, G., Gasparri, C., Infantino, V., Peroni, G., & Rondanelli, M. (2020). The effect of berberine on weight loss in order to prevent obesity: A systematic review. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 127, 110137.
  11. Lan, J., Zhao, Y., Dong, F., Yan, Z., Zheng, W., Fan, J., & Sun, G. (2015). Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 161, 69–81.
  12. Li, L., Li, C., Pan, P., Chen, X., Wu, X., Ng, E. H. Y., & Yang, D. (2015). A single arm pilot study of effects of berberine on the menstrual pattern, ovulation rate, hormonal and metabolic profiles in anovulatory chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. PLOS ONE, 10(12), e0144072.
  13. Mirzaee, F., Razmjouei, P., Shahrahmani, H., Vafisani, F., Najaf Najafi, M., & Ghazanfarpour, M. (2020). The effect and safety of berberine on polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 41(5), 684–689.
  14. Rahimi-Madiseh, M., Lorigoini, Z., Zamani-gharaghoshi, H., & Rafieian-kopaei, M. (2017). Berberis vulgaris: Specifications and traditional uses. IJBMS, 20(5), 569–587.
  15. Schor, J. (2012). Clinical applications for berberine. Natural Medicine Journal, 4(12).
  16. Wang, Y., & Zidichouski, J. A. (2018). Update on the benefits and mechanisms of action of the bioactive vegetal alkaloid berberine on lipid metabolism and homeostasis. Cholesterol, 2018, 1–17.
  17. Xie, L., Zhang, D., Ma, H., He, H., Xia, Q., Shen, W., Chang, H., Deng, Y., Wu, Q., Cong, J., Wang, C. C., & Wu, X. (2019). The effect of berberine on reproduction and metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis of randomized control trials. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019, 1–14.
  18. Yang, J., Yin, J., Gao, H., Xu, L., Wang, Y., Xu, L., & Li, M. (2012). Berberine improves insulin sensitivity by inhibiting fat store and adjusting adipokines profile in human preadipocytes and metabolic syndrome patients. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 1–9.
  19. Yin, J., Xing, H., & Ye, J. (2008). Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism, 57(5), 712–717.
  20. Zhang, Y., Li, X., Zou, D., Liu, W., Yang, J., Zhu, N., Huo, L., Wang, M., Hong, J., Wu, P., Ren, G., & Ning, G. (2008). Treatment of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia with the natural plant alkaloid berberine. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 93(7), 2559–2565.
  21. Zorić, N., Kosalec, I., Tomić, S., Bobnjarić, I., Jug, M., Vlainić, T., & Vlainić, J. (2017). Membrane of candida albicans as a target of berberine. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 17(1).
  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Disclaimer

The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Prev Next
Back to main wellness blog page

Get more resources for your practice

Protocols
Practice resources
Ingredient library
Webinars

Share

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Fullscript content philosophy

At Fullscript, we are committed to curating accurate, and reliable educational content for practitioners and patients alike. Our educational offerings cover a broad range of topics related to integrative medicine, such as supplement ingredients, diet, lifestyle, and health conditions.

Medically reviewed by expert practitioners and our internal Integrative Medical Advisory team, all Fullscript content adheres to the following guidelines:

  1. In order to provide unbiased and transparent education, information is based on a research review and obtained from trustworthy sources, such as peer-reviewed articles and government websites. All medical statements are linked to the original reference and all sources of information are disclosed within the article.
  2. Information about supplements is always based on ingredients. No specific products are mentioned or promoted within educational content.
  3. A strict policy against plagiarism is maintained; all our content is unique, curated by our team of writers and editors at Fullscript. Attribution to individual writers and editors is clearly stated in each article.
  4. Resources for patients are intended to be educational and do not replace the relationship between health practitioners and patients. In all content, we clearly recommend that readers refer back to their healthcare practitioners for all health-related questions.
  5. All content is updated on a regular basis to account for new research and industry trends, and the last update date is listed at the top of every article.
  6. Potential conflicts of interest are clearly disclosed.
Read more

The healthiest cookies you’ll choose today

Our website uses cookies to collect useful information that lets us and our partners support basic functionality, analyze visitor traffic, deliver a better user experience, and provide ads tailored to your interests. Agreeing to the use of cookies is your choice. Learn more

Fullscript logo

We're certified carbon-neutral. It's part of our commitment to helping people get better.

American flag - toggles to show american specific contentUnited States
Canadian flag - toggles to show canada specific contentCanada
Product
  • Practitioner software
  • Integrations
  • Pricing
  • Patients
  • Supplement quality
  • Treatment adherence
  • Catalog
  • Wholesale
Company
  • Spotlight
  • About Fullscript
  • Collective
  • Leadership
  • Culture guide
  • Careers
  • Engineering
  • News
Support
  • Practitioner support
  • Patient help
  • Testimonials
  • General FAQ
  • Patient shipping
  • Wholesale shipping

© Fullscript 2023. All rights reserved.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Customer Support Policy
  • Acceptable Use Policy
  • California Privacy Notice