Berberine is a bioactive compound found in several plant species, including goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), barberry (Berberis vulgaris), Chinese goldthread (Coptis chinensis), and Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium). It has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Particularly in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, where it has been used for its potential health benefits. In simpler terms, Berberine is derived from the bark of specific plants. In this post we will be looking into the latest scientific research. Exploring the benefits of Berberine, how it affects blood glucose levels, weight loss, longevity, cardiovascular health and thyroid disease.  

Insulin Resistance

Improving resistance to insulin is a good thing, you don’t want to be resistant to insulin. When you eat, especially carbohydrates, insulin is produced by the pancreas. One of this hormones primary roles is to regulate the amount of sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream and facilitate the uptake of glucose by the cells for energy usage or energy storage.

1. So when you eat, blood sugar levels will rise. In response to this rise the pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream.
2. Insulin then acts like a key and unlocks the doors of cells, allowing glucose to enter.
3. If you have a high insulin resistance the cells do not respond as effectively to the insulins signals. Meaning that even though insulin is released, the cells do not open up to allow glucose in as efficiently.
4. As a result glucose remains in the bloodstream at higher levels than normal.
5. The pancreas then creates more insulin to tackle this problem

Problems of Being Insulin Resistant

Insulin resistance is therefore considered a bad thing. Insulin resistance can have significant adverse effects on health, including [1];

1. Increased risk of type 2 Diabetes.
2. Weight gain and obesity. It can be more difficult to maintain a healthy weight or lose excess weight.
3. Cardiovascular Disease. A risk of heart disease and stroke. Insulin resistance can lead to high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries.
4. Fatty liver disease. As the name suggests too much extra fat in the liver.
5. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Causes irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne and infertility.

Berberine and Insulin resistance

So it should be of no surprise that insulin resistance has been shown to predict the development of age related diseases (heart disease, stroke, cancer and type 2 diabetes)[2]. Thankfully the benefits of Berberine on insulin have been studied many times. Insulin resistance is the main reason I began researching Berberine. Studies show that Berberine can reduce blood glucose levels and improve insulin resistance [3].

In fact Berberine is so successful at controlling blood glucose that a study compared it to the OG diabetes drug (metformin). The study concluded that the effects of Berberine were identical to metformin, but Berberine had fewer side effects [4]. So even if you do not have diabetes improving blood glucose levels has benefits of preventing diseases, managing a healthy weight, reducing stress and inflation.

Benefits of Berberine and Weight loss

The benefits of Berberine have gained attention on social media for its potential weight loss features, but does it live up to the hype? Well a review study examined this, selecting only studies using adult human subjects.  The study suggests that supplementation of Berberine significantly decreased weight and significantly decreased BMI. However before you get too excited, this is not a magic solution for achieving 6% body fat. These results were only significant in overweight people [5]. Therefore Berberine can be a tool to lose weight and might be beneficial for maintaining a healthy weight. But it’s certainly not a tool to get ripped.

Benefits of Berberine and Longevity

A recent study conducted on mice showed promising examples of the longevity benefits of Berberine. I know mice are not humans, but they provide a good model for understanding potential human results, as it would take 100 years to observe these effects in humans compared to only a few months in mice. Anyway the study showed that supplementing Berberine improved cell growth and extended lifespan by up to 80%, improved health span, fur density and behavioral activity [6].

A recent review study [7] involving humans, has shown that Berberine can lower cholesterol, reduce blood glucose, improve blood pressure, combat Alzheimer disease, reduce oxidative stress, activates AMPK which is essentially your energy sensor of the cell and has anti-inflammatory activity.

The study discusses how mTOR, a protein that signals cell growth, protein synthesis and the metabolism of tumor cells is one of the leading forces of ageing. Recent studies have shown that mTOR inhibitors increased life span and improved health. This study concluded that Berberine has been shown to suppress mTOR signaling, therefore improving health and increasing lifespan. So Berberine can reduce the risk of disease, allowing you to live healthier and longer. But, it may reduce your ability to build muscle due to the protein synthesis of mTOR.

NAD⁺ is found in every cell and is essential for creating cellular energy, as the cell ages NAD⁺ declines. Lower NAD⁺ in cells is a feature of aged organisms and supplementation with NAD⁺ precursors has been shown to reverse the effects of aging. Berberine has been shown to restore NAD⁺ levels in cells.

Berberine has been shown to decrease the level of DNA damage and protect against oxidative damage. The antioxidant activity of Berberine has been demonstrated in aging cells

The study concluded that Berberine can protect against age related diseases, extend life span, overall health and attenuate cellular senescence. It has evidenced anti-aging properties in changes in associated markers of oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammatory [7].

Thyroid

As always I have an interest in Graves disease, as it is something I have been dealing with. Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. A recent study combined the use of Berberine with a typical Graves disease drug, Methimazole. The study concluded that while Methimazole alone improved one of the thyroid hormones, Triiodothyronine (FT3), the use of Berberine and Methimazole was found to restore FT3 and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).  The study suggests that Berberine could enhance the effectiveness of Graves disease treatment. More studies are required and it would be interesting to see how Berberine effects Graves disease alone [8]. For more recommended thyroid supplements, check this post out.

Benefits of Berberine and Cardiac Health

Berberine may serve as a treatment and prevention tool for cardiovascular diseases. A review article looked at research on cardiovascular diseases such as arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy and heart failure. This study concluded that Berberine has protective mechanisms against cardiovascular diseases. One reason for this is its ability to protect the vascular endothelium, which is the inner cellular lining of arteries, veins, and capillaries. Berberine also reduces the area of the myocardial infarction (heart attack) and improves overall heart function. Not only does Berberine provide a treatment for cardiovascular diseases and improve long-term cardiac prognosis but also provides a tool to improve cardiovascular health and prevent disease [9].

Conclusion

There are many benefits of Berberine, one of the key areas where Berberine shines is in its ability to combat insulin resistance, a condition that can have serious implications for our health. By improving insulin sensitivity and helping regulate blood sugar levels, Berberine offers hope in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, weight gain, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome.

Berberine’s role in weight management is also noteworthy, especially for those struggling with excess weight. While it may not be a magical solution for extreme body transformations, it has demonstrated significant weight loss benefits, particularly in overweight individuals.

Furthermore, studies conducted on both mice and humans have shown intriguing links between Berberine and longevity. It appears to improve cellular health, reduce oxidative stress, and even suppress mTOR signaling, potentially extending both healthspan and lifespan.

Berberine’s effects extend to various aspects of well-being, from cholesterol reduction to combating Alzheimer’s disease, reducing oxidative stress, and enhancing cellular energy production through NAD+ restoration. Its antioxidant properties and ability to protect against DNA damage make it a promising anti-aging agent.

In the context of thyroid health, Berberine’s potential to enhance the effectiveness of Graves disease treatment is a subject of interest and ongoing research.

Lastly, Berberine emerges as a valuable tool in cardiac health. Its protective mechanisms against cardiovascular diseases, including arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure, offer both treatment and prevention options for those seeking to maintain a healthy heart.

In conclusion, the benefits of Berberine are wide-ranging, making it a fascinating and promising natural compound worth exploring further. While more research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms and potential applications, the existing evidence suggests that Berberine has the potential to significantly impact our overall well-being and longevity.