What is Berberine?
Berberine is a chemical compound that naturally occurs in the bark, stem, and roots of a multitude of plants and herbs. Oregon grape, tree turmeric, barberry, goldenseal, and Chinese goldthread are some of the plants that contain high concentrations of berberine. The use of berberine dates back to the 17th century. Although doctors originally administered it for treating digestive issues and as an antiseptic, today people use it for an ever-increasing number of health conditions.
What conditions can it be used for?
Berberine has been found to have the ability to affect many different chemical pathways in our bodies. It is for this reason that it can be so useful for a multitude of common health conditions. Some of the conditions that berberine can affect are listed here, but as the research continues, this list will grow.
Type 2 Diabetes
Research has been ongoing since the 1980s. 1-1.5g berberine has shown to be equally as effective as metformin or rosiglitazone in the management of Type 2 diabetes.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
As a result of several randomized controlled trials (RCT), berberine improved glucose and lipid profiles, insulin resistance, and circulating androgen hormones. It was also shown that when taken prior to In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), women with PCOS had an increased rate of pregnancy.
Dyslipidemia
In both double-blind (DB) and RCT studies, the use of berberine not only reduced the total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and plasma triglycerides, it also was able to increase HDL-cholesterol (The good cholesterol).
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Many trials have shown that using berberine has improved lab values for: total glucose, HgA1c, insulin resistance, lipid profiles (as described in dyslipidemia above), and key inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Ongoing studies have also demonstrated that administering berberine can reduce one of the key liver enzymes (ALT) involved with NAFLD.
Is berberine safe?
Yes, Berberine is safe. To date, the research has shown that with higher doses of berberine, the main complaints were diarrhea, constipation, and flatulence. It was also demonstrated that there were no obvious drug interactions when berberine was combined with two common medications, simvastatin and fenofibrate, when tested at specific doses over a 7-day period. Of course, as studies continue, other side effects may be brought to light.
Where can I get it?
As with any nutritional supplement, it is important to have a good quality product. Total Health Systems supplies two full lines of the highest quality nutritional supplements on the market, Metagenics and Standard Process.
It is recommended that our current patients have a discussion with their Total Health Systems providers before adding berberine or any other nutritional supplement to their regimen. If you are not a current patient, call today for a free nutritional consultation with one of our chiropractors at any of the 6 metro Detroit Total Health Systems locations.
References
Metagenics Institute: https://www.metagenicsinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MET3008-Berberine-Science-Review.pdf
