Benefits of Berberine

Every few months, a new “miracle” product promises to help us lose weight or manage blood sugar effortlessly. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, but real wellness doesn’t come from quick fixes. The body isn’t something to override; it’s something to support.

That’s what makes berberine different. Found in golden colored herbs, like Oregon grape and barberry, this compound has been used for centuries to promote balance and vitality. Modern research confirms what traditional herbalists have long known: berberine works with the body’s natural systems, not against them. From metabolism and blood sugar to gut and cellular health, berberine’s broad, well-studied actions show how powerful nature’s design can be.

What is Berberine?

Berberine may sound like a complicated compound, but it’s simply a plant-based alkaloid found in herbs like Oregon grape and barberry. It’s been trusted for centuries to support balance from the inside out. Today, modern research confirms its wisdom. By helping your body use energy more efficiently, berberine supports healthy blood sugar, cholesterol, and gut balance[1] naturally.

How Berberine Works in the Body

Berberine turns on an enzyme known as AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase). AMPK is like a light switch in the body that turns some processes on and others off.

AMPK activation[2]:

• Turns on a process that turns glucose into energy
• Increases the muscles and liver’s ability to take in glucose
• Decreases fat creation
• Turns off the translator needed for fat creation
• Blocks signaling for cell reproduction and pro-inflammatory cycles

Berberine affects our cellular energy-producing powerhouses, by blocking a shuttle known as Complex I. Complex I takes electrons to the gate-like system that pumps out energy[3].

Shutting down this shuttle[3]:

• Turns on the glucose to energy pathway
• Promotes glucose metabolism in the liver

Just as our bodies use many pathways to help us heal, berberine uses more than one pathway to support the body in the way it needs.

Keep in mind that some of the studies referenced in this blog include those that have been done on animals or human cells in a dish. These models have limits and only give us a glimpse of what might be possible in human studies.

Key Benefits of Berberine

Supports Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

Berberine helps promote insulin secretion. It attaches to an open potassium gate in insulin-releasing cells in the pancreas. Attaching to these gates causes them to close faster, so insulin can be released[4].

The effectiveness of the attachment depends on how much glucose is around. If there is not enough glucose around, the attachment is released and insulin stops being secreted. This lowers the risk of blood sugar going too low. This change in blood sugar levels is not seen in individuals with normal blood glucose, and the extent of the change depends on our blood sugar levels when fasting and our HbA1c[4].

This effect on insulin-releasing cells, in combination with turning on AMPK, increases glucose metabolism, meaning glucose isn’t left behind to be turned into fat or to linger in the bloodstream, which increases the risk of insulin resistance[4,5].

If you are diabetic, talk to your doctor before starting berberine supplementation.

Supports Healthy Cholesterol Levels

A review of berberine’s effect on LDL, HDL, and triglycerides showed a lowering of LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. HDL levels increased more in women than in men[6].

Supports a Healthy Gut Microbiome and Metabolism

When it comes to our gut health, we often see that a healthy gut microbiome is necessary for good health. Berberine has shown a positive effect on the gut microbiome, by reducing plasma levels of a fat-producing protein and decreasing systemic inflammation[5]. With the improvement of gut microflora, berberine may also help increase the number of L-cells in the ileum and support GLP-1 activation[5].

Supports Cellular Health

Berberine turns off Complex I, which helps us produce energy in our cellular powerhouses. However, this doesn’t stop all energy production. By turning off this pathway, it turned on the pathway that converts glucose into energy. The shift in pathway activation also controls the amount of stress our cellular powerhouses experience, so they don’t wear out as quickly, prevents an overproduction of energy, and protects the L-cells that produce GLP-1[3].

Additionally, berberine turns off as well as turns on and enzyme known as SIRT3. SIRT3 supports Complex I to maintain an energy baseline. It also breaks an enzyme which contributes to the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease[3].

Other Benefits

Other benefits berberine may have on the body include[2,3]:

• Helping fight oxidative stress (supports overall cell health)
• Supporting the body’s natural defenses against abnormal cell growth
• Encouraging healthy circulation by supporting nitric oxide production
• Helping protect the kidneys from damage caused by high blood sugar
• Supporting a healthy heart and circulation
• Protecting the brain and nervous system from stress and damage

How to Use Berberine

A typical dose of berberine is 400 – 1,500 mg a day[3,8].

• Capsules: 500 mg 3x/day
• Tincture 0.5 - 1 mL 3x/day

Take berberine right before, or soon after, a meal for best results. Absorption is improved when taken with fat or black pepper. Do not take in combination with fiber, as this may slow and reduce the amount of berberine available for use.

Berberine interacts with several medications, so be sure to talk with your doctor if you are on any medications or have any health concerns. If you are pregnant or experiencing jaundice, it is best to avoid taking berberine[8].

Symptoms of too much berberine (>1,500 mg) include[9]:

• Gastrointestinal distress
• Tiredness, brainfog
• Low blood pressure, slowed heart rate
• Trouble breathing
• Possible liver and kidney damage

Please stop taking berberine and seek medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms.

Naturally Occurring Berberine

Please know that while it’s important to be aware of the potential risks of high doses, berberine is generally safe when used thoughtfully and in the amounts found in whole herbs. Using it as part of Oregon grape root, as in our Detox Defense tincture, provides gentle, balanced support, letting you benefit from its powerful effects without the worry.

Berberine’s brilliance lies in its balance. Rather than acting on a single target, it supports multiple systems that keep the body in harmony, from blood sugar and fat metabolism to gut flora and mitochondrial function. Its ability to engage more than one pathway reflects the body’s own interconnected design, offering steady, sustainable support rather than quick, surface-level results.

When we use berberine as it’s found in nature, within whole, berberine-rich herbs like Oregon grape and others, we benefit from that same harmony. The result is gentle, effective support for long-term wellness, proving once again that nature’s wisdom and modern science often point in the same direction.

Disclaimer - This blog post is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services and its statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider regarding a specific medical condition.

Sources:

[1] Davis, R. ( n.d. ). Oregon grape – Berberis spp. HerbRally. https://www.herbrally.com/monographs/oregon-grape-hydrastis-canadensis-2/

[2] Jin, Y., Liu, S., Ma, Q., Xiao, D., & Chen, L. (2017). Berberine enhances the AMPK activation and autophagy and mitigates high glucose-induced apoptosis of mouse podocytes. European journal of pharmacology, 794, 106–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.11.037

[3] Fang, X., Wu, H., Wei, J., Miao, R., Zhang, Y., & Tian, J. (2022). Research progress on the pharmacological effects of berberine targeting mitochondria. Frontiers in endocrinology, 13, 982145. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.982145

[4] Xu, M., Xiao, Y., Yin, J., Hou, W., Yu, X., Shen, L., Liu, F., Wei, L., & Jia, W. (2014). Berberine promotes glucose consumption independently of AMP-activated protein kinase activation. PLoS ONE, 9(7), e103702. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103702

[5] Xie, W., Su, F., Wang, G., Peng, Z., Xu, Y., Zhang, Y., Xu, N., Hou, K., Hu, Z., Chen, Y., & Chen, R. (2022). Glucose-lowering effect of berberine on type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in pharmacology, 13, 1015045. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.1015045

[6] Cui, H.-X., Hu, Y.-N., Li, J.-W., & Yuan, K. (2018). Hypoglycemic mechanism of the berberine organic acid salt under the synergistic effect of intestinal flora and oxidative stress. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2018, Article 8930374. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8930374

[7] Blais, J. E., Huang, X., & Zhao, J. V. (2023). Overall and Sex-Specific Effect of Berberine for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials. Drugs, 83(5), 403–427. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-023-01841-4

[8] WebMD. (n.d.). Berberine: Overview. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1126/berberine

[9] Rad, S. Z. K., Rameshrad, M., & Hosseinzadeh, H. (2017). Toxicology effects of Berberis vulgaris (barberry) and its active constituent, berberine: a review. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences, 20(5), 516–529. https://doi.org/10.22038/IJBMS.2017.8676