Can berberine help diabetics?

Can berberine help diabetics?

Berberine is a natural alkaloid. It is found in a variety of traditional medicinal herbs such as turmeric, goldenseal, goldthread and barberry.

It comes from India and China, where it was first used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medical treatments.

An alkaloid is a class of organic compounds of plant origin. The berber alkaloid contains mainly nitrogen atoms. These have pronounced physiological effects on humans, particularly with regard to metabolic and cardiovascular health.

Two herbs, Coptidis Rhizoma and Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex, in which berberine is the main active ingredient, have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years to treat diabetes, bacterial gastroenteritis, diarrhea and other digestive diseases.

Many claims have been made about berberine's effectiveness as a cure for a variety of diseases. But how many of these are evidence-based and how many are wishful thinking?

There is good evidence that berberine has antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties and may lower blood sugar and blood pressure.

Other claims are less well supported by evidence...claims that it inhibits the growth of cancer, is beneficial in treating osteoporosis, relieves digestive problems, burns and bacterial infections, etc.

Further research is urgently needed.

Proven health benefits of berberine

Berberine offers health benefits for various conditions that are supported by good clinical research. The first will be of interest to individuals with diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Berberine helps diabetics

A study published in August 1981 in the U.S. National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health found that berberine helps lower blood sugar levels.

Another study published in February 2019 from the same source found that berberine has positive effects on glucose-lipid metabolism, inflammatory factors and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome.

The clincher was another study published in May 2008 by the journal Metabolism that compared taking berberine to taking metformin for three months. The researchers found that berberine was as effective as metformin in controlling blood sugar and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetics.

Another study published in March 2012 in the journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine showed that berberine may improve insulin sensitivity by inhibiting fat storage in patients with metabolic syndrome. This implies that berberine may potentially help prevent kidney damage.

Effects of berberine on cholesterol and blood pressure

There is good evidence that berberine can help reduce high LDL, total cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

The same study mentioned above on berberine and glucose control, published in the journal Metabolism in May 2008, found that berberine reduced serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in type 2 diabetics.

Another study that combined administration of red yeast rice (known to lower cholesterol) with berberine, published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine in 2015, found that berberine provides a broader range of cholesterol protection with a reduced risk of serious side effects compared to statin (the prescription drug usually used for cholesterol control is used).

An animal study published in August 2015 in the Journal of Translational Medicine titled Effect of berberine on promoting cholesterol excretion in hyperlipidemic hamsters induced by high-fat diet found that berberine can reduce abnormally high concentrations of fats and lipids in the blood by increasing the excretion of cholesterol from the liver and inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the blood Colon.

Studies have also shown that berberine can improve blood pressure and blood flow in people with metabolic syndrome when taken with a healthy diet high in antioxidants or supplements such as folic acid, coenzyme Q10 and astaxanthin.

Berberine supports heart health

Berberine has a positive effect on heart health. This is likely due to its ability to keep blood sugar levels and obesity under control, thereby reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.

It also protects against atherosclerosis because it stimulates the release of nitric oxide, a signaling molecule that relaxes arteries, lowers blood pressure and increases blood flow.

A study published in the World Journal of Cardiology in April 2010 reported that people who took berberine had better heart function and exercise better than people given a placebo.

Berberine helps you lose weight

Berberine may have a moderate effect on weight loss.

AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) is an enzyme in human cells that plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism. Therefore, it is often referred to as the “metabolic master switch.”

Berberine is one of the few compounds that can activate AMPK. Activation promotes fat burning in the mitochondria... This is why several studies have shown that berberine can prevent the accumulation of fat and protect against metabolic syndrome.

In one such study, published in Phytomedicine in July 2012, obese adults received 500 mg of berberine orally three times daily for 12 weeks. This study showed that berberine is a potent lipid-lowering compound and has a moderate effect on weight loss.

Berberine can help manage SIBO

People who suffer from SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) have excess bacteria in the small intestine. The disease is usually treated with oral antibiotics, but not always successfully.

A study published in May 2014 in Global Advances in Health and Medicine found that herbal treatment with berberine works as well as antibiotics and is equally safe in treating SIBO.

Possible benefits of berberine

The potential benefits of berberine refer to benefits for which there is some clinical evidence, but which is either not strong enough or otherwise insufficient to demonstrate a specific benefit.

Here are some of these benefits:

Cognitive decline... Human studies suggest that berberine has potential therapeutic value against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as neurodegenerative diseases due to trauma. Animal studies suggest it may also help fight depression.

Anti-cancer effects... Berberine may help induce apoptosis, the programmed death of cancer cells. Research at China Medical University has shown that berberine can induce apoptosis in human tongue cancer cells. Research continues on how berberine hydrochloride may regulate the metabolism of cancer cells and inhibit their growth and proliferation.

Protecting the liver... Early research suggests that berberine supports the liver by lowering blood sugar, insulin resistance and triglycerides, which are markers of liver damage in people with diabetes and viruses such as hepatitis. It also provides support for people with fatty liver disease. Research is ongoing.

Lung Health... Research suggests that berberine's anti-inflammatory effects promote lung function. In one experiment, mice were given berberine and then exposed to enough cigarette smoke to cause acute lung injury. It was found that the mice given the alkaloid had less inflammation and less lung injury than mice exposed to the same amount of smoke but not given berberine.

How to use berberine

You should be able to find berberine supplement in the form of berberine HCL at your local health food store. If not, you can order it online.

A natural health practitioner can help you determine the dose that is best for you. However, the usual dosage is 1,500 milligrams per day in three equal doses of 500 mg each.

Dividing the daily dose into three parts is necessary to keep the level of berberine in your blood stable, as this alkaloid has a short half-life. Another reason for splitting the daily dose is that a large single dose can upset your stomach with cramps and diarrhea.

Take the supplement with your meal or shortly after to take advantage of berberine's ability to reduce the increase in blood sugar and lipid levels that occur immediately after a meal.

Note... When purchasing berberine HCL, be careful not to confuse it with berberol (a brand name for another product) or berberrubine (a metabolite or substance formed in or necessary for your metabolism).

Side effects and risks of taking berberine

Berberine has an excellent safety record. The side effects are minor and are related to digestion...stomach pain, cramps, bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

However, diabetics and hypertensives need to be careful when controlling their condition with medications such as metformin or statins... as berberine can naturally lower blood sugar and blood pressure and you may suffer from hypos.

If you are thinking of taking the berberine supplement long-term, i.e. longer than three months, you should consult your doctor.

Breastfeeding and pregnant women should also seek advice from their primary care physician before taking a berberine supplement.