While berberine is not a magic weight-loss pill, it may help people with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 lose weight. Two studies have shown that taking a berberine supplement over the course of three months results in significant weight loss.
Based on the findings of these two studies, a dose of 300-500 mg three times per day or 1200-1500 mg/day taken for at least three months can significantly reduce weight. However, there are still limited studies examining the prolonged health benefits of berberine in reducing weight.
While there is limited scientific research specifically focused on the timeline for berberine's effectiveness in weight loss, some studies have indicated that it may produce noticeable results within a few weeks to a few months.
and Warnings. When taken by mouth: Berberine is possibly safe for most adults. It's been used safely in doses up to 1.5 grams daily for 6 months. Common side effects include diarrhea, constipation, gas, and upset stomach.
Taking berberine supplements regularly appears to lower total cholesterol, “bad” cholesterol, and triglycerides in people with high cholesterol. It works differently from today's standard cholesterol medications, so it may help treat people who are resistant to other cholesterol-lowering drugs.
They add that many studies suggest taking 900–1,500 mg per day, but most people take 500 mg three times per day. However, the AANP urges people to speak with a doctor before taking berberine to check that it is safe to use and how much they can take.
The mechanism for berberine extract is very unclear. For decades it has been a well-researched herbal treatment for intestinal infections, like Giardia, but it came with the warning to avoid long-term use due to the potential undesirable and antimicrobial effect in the gut.
“Berberine may interact with other medications and is not safe to take with blood sugar and blood lipid medications, as well as liver, blood clotting, and blood pressure medications,” said Retelny.
Most studies have looked at berberine activity over 90 days. So, we can assume that the effects of berberine take around 3 months to be evident. However, some people taking berberine report a reduction in blood sugar levels within the first month of taking berberine. In contrast, metformin works much faster.
Bodybuilding. The benefits of this in-demand plant-based ingredient offer results-driven rewards when it comes to exercise and performance. By altering the way the body metabolises fat, it's been shown that Berberine also improves the uptake of glucose into cells which means a boost to energy production.
The sub-acute concentrations of berberine lead to altered liver function, gastric troubles, hepato and hematotoxicity, hemorrhagic inflammatory consequences, damage to immune cells and induced apoptosis.
Despite wide scale use as an herbal supplement, berberine has not been linked to published instances of clinically apparent liver injury.
Berberine has great potential in treatment of insomnia and might have better clinical significance.
All of this means that berberine is widely available in Australia and consumers can just buy it straight off the shelf.
Berberine may be recommended for at least three months to improve overall health. However, your doctor may recommend taking the supplement for more extended periods. You must always report any side effects or adverse events to ensure safety.
Berberine might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Taking berberine along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, cilostazol (Pletal), clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), and others.
Continual use of berberine can impact cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the liver which may affect drug-to-drug interactions.
Emerging research suggests that berberine is beneficial for balancing hormones, especially when it comes to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Berberine provides numerous benefits for women living with PCOS, including improved fertility, weight loss, and reduced inflammation.
Berberine has also been found to specifically have an anti-aging effect on skin. First, berberine prevented TPA-induced ERK activation and AP-1 DNA binding activity, which can prevent skin inflammation and degradation of extracellular matrix proteins [41].
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 49 studies, published in Frontiers in Nutrition in 2022, provides some clues. It found that "although (berberine) may affect weight, it does not have a statistically significant and considerable effect" on body mass index, resulting in about a quarter point reduction in BMI.
Taken together, the results suggested that berberine inhibits melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity by downregulating the expression of MITF and tyrosinase. Thus, these findings may contribute to the potential application of berberine in the prevention and treatment of skin pigmentation disorders.