Berberine: Good for Your Heart, Obesity and More

Published by Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO

Berberine Barberry Plant

Commonly known as a natural compound that may help treat diabetes, (see Foodtrients® article“Does Berberine Fight Diabetes” ) that’s not all berberine is known for. A bitter alkaloid compound found in several plants including barberry, goldenseal, and Oregon grape, it can also be important for enhancing the immune system during cold and flu season. Berberine also contains anti-bacterial properties and is often prescribed as a treatment for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It has a long history of medicinal use in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine.

Medicidally, berberine is used for:

Heart failure
High cholesterol levels
High blood pressure
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Diarrhea
Hepatitis
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Menopausal symptoms
Obesity
Metabolic syndrome and treating high blood sugar
Osteoporosis

Berberine Oregon Grapes

Berberine has tested safe at relatively high levels of two grams for up to eight weeks in human studies though a common dose is 200mg four times daily. It will generally be prescribed to treat a specific condition and isn’t a compound you would take long-term, daily, like some other supplements. Side-effects could include gastrointestinal discomfort like gas and constipation, or lowered blood pressure or blood sugar. It is not safe during pregnancy as it has the potential to cause uterine contractions.

As explored previously by Foodtrients®, berberine has been shown to be effective at lowering blood sugar in people with diabetes. This is likely also why it is effective for those with metabolic syndrome and PCOS and also supports lowering high cholesterol and even may help treat obesity. Because of its powerful antibacterial properties, it has been shown to effectively treat diarrhea and intestinal parasites. Aside from acting against bacteria, fungus, and viruses, berberine also works system-wide as an anti-inflammatory, calming irritation in the body. At the same time, it stokes the immune system, warding off pathogens and illness.

Berberine Goldenseal

Excitingly, there are studies about berberine’s anticancer effects. Lab research has shown that berberine reduces the proliferation of leukemia, myeloma, oral, esophageal, prostate, gastric and cervical cancers. It also has shown promise for stopping the spread of cancer in the body. More research is needed in this area but there may be some uses in this area in the future.

Berberine acts in some ways like a medication and may be prescribed by naturopathic doctors. For this reason, it does have some moderate and major interactions with medications that should be discussed with your physician before starting berberine. It interacts with both blood pressure and blood sugar medications as it also lowers these levels in the body and could cause a compounded effect. Because of its interaction in the liver, use caution with P450 medications including cyclosporine. Use caution as well with other supplements including those that thin the blood, lower blood pressure or blood sugar, or those that have sedative properties. Because it is an antibacterial, it may interact negatively with probiotics in food or supplement form, reducing their effectiveness.

ResourcesHave you ever tried berberine for medicinal use? Let us know about your experience in the comments!

Natural Medicines Database. Berberine. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=1126. Accessed 11/29/18. Updated 8/15/2018.

The Berberine Herb Works in Many Ways. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10767672. Altern Med Rev. 2000 Apr;5(2):175-7.

Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO

Ginger Hultin MS RDN CSO is a Seattle-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and long time contributor to nutrition content on Foodtrients®. She is the owner of the concierge, virtual nutrition practice Ginger Hultin Nutrition where she helps clients with complex health conditions through an integrative approach. She specializes in anti-inflammatory diets for integrative oncology nutrition, people with gastrointestinal disease, and autoimmune issues. Her 10-year partnership with Foodtrients® has focused on evidence-based anti-aging nutrition, healthy recipes, and "top foods" lists in many categories from blood sugar control to healing your gut. Ginger serves as adjunct clinical faculty at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle. She is the director of communications at the Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a past Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and past-chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group. She has authored two nutrition books: Anti-Inflammatory Diet Meal Prep and the How to Eat to Beat Disease Cookbook. Ginger is a graduate of the University of Washington and Bastyr University and is currently pursuing her doctorate of clinical nutrition at the University of North Florida.