{"id":15213,"date":"2019-11-09T14:47:56","date_gmt":"2019-11-09T22:47:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=15213"},"modified":"2021-09-20T09:17:08","modified_gmt":"2021-09-20T16:17:08","slug":"berberine-19-health-benefits-of-berberine-with-references","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/berberine-19-health-benefits-of-berberine-with-references\/","title":{"rendered":"17 Potential Benefits of Berberine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Berberine is an active compound in a variety of plants that are used in traditional medicine. People claim it’s beneficial for diabetes, high cholesterol, and parasite infections. Check out this post to learn which of its purported benefits are supported by science.<\/p>\n

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What is Berberine?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Where Does it Come From and How is it Used?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Berberine is a compound found in several different plants, including Barberry (Berberis vulgaris<\/i>), Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium<\/i>), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis<\/i>), and Chinese goldthread (Coptis chinensis<\/i>). It has a 3000-year history of use in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Berberine has been studied for heart failure, diarrhea, infections, and other health conditions. But according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), very little berberine is absorbed when people take goldenseal orally (by mouth). Therefore, study results on berberine may not apply to goldenseal [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Berberine itself has many purported beneficial effects. It is often used for diabetes or cholesterol issues, and some evidence supports these uses. However, few quality, large-scale studies of berberine have been carried out so far.<\/p>\n

Berberine is a compound found in many plants–such as goldenseal–that people in China and India use in folk medicine.<\/div><\/div>\n

Alleged Health Benefits of Berberine<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Remember to speak with a doctor before taking berberine supplements. Berberine should never be used as a replacement for approved medical therapies.<\/em><\/p>\n

Possibly Effective:<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

1) Canker Sores<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

A topical application of Berberine gelatin (5 mg\/g) reduced pain and ulcer size in 84 people with canker sores[R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

2) Diabetes<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

According to one meta-analysis, berberine may be beneficial in people with type 2 diabetes. However, the authors emphasized that the evidence is weak overall since the included trials were few, had low methodological quality, small sample size, and unidentified risks of bias [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

In one study, berberine (0.5 g, 3x\/day for 3 months) performed similarly to metformin<\/a> (a diabetes medication). It reduced hemoglobin<\/a> A1c (HbA1c<\/a>) levels, fasting blood glucose<\/a>, blood glucose following a meal, and triglycerides<\/a> levels in 36 patients with type 2 diabetes [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

In the other half of the study, 48 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with berberine had similar results and also reduced plasma insulin<\/a>. Total cholesterol and LDL<\/a> decreased as well [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

In another study, 1 g\/day berberine reduced fasting and post-meal blood glucose and HbA1c, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL levels (116 patients with type 2 diabetes) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

In rat studies, berberine increased insulin expression, beta cell regeneration (the cells that make insulin), antioxidant activity, and decreased lipid peroxidation [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Based on the exisiting clinical evidence, berberine may help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes when used as an add-on to conventional therapy.<\/div><\/div>\n

Proposed Mechanisms<\/h4>\n

Scientists have raised numerous hypotheses about the ways in which berberine may help with diabetes on a cellular level, including all the following:<\/p>\n