The Science-backed Power of Berberine

Introduction

Berberine, a compound that is organically found in certain plants, has been a point of interest this week at Plateau for its multitple applications in health and wellness. From metabolic health to anticancer properties, it’s one compound with many health benefits that engage across multiple body systems. By the end of this article, you may want to add this supplement to your medicine cabinet collection.

What is Berberine?

Berberine is found in the roots, stems, and bark of tree turmeric, barberry, goldenseal, and oregon grape, just to name a few.

Research suggests berberine took up significant space in ancient Chinese medicinal practices, where it was applied for infections and GI disorders. The medicinal use of the plant, Rhizoma coptidis (goldenseal), containing berberine, dates back to 200 A.D. 

Recently, berberine has been examined in many clinical trials to push the boundaries of its usage. One of its more exciting applications is its potential anticancer properties.

Cancer-fighting properties

Scientists first studied berberine’s ability to kill cancer cells in 1986. Since then, many studies have shown that berberine can damage or kill a wide range of cancer cells in lab studies. These include cancer cells from leukemia, breast, colon, bladder, liver, lung, brain, skin (melanoma), and others.

Berberine’s effects depend on how much is used and how long the cells are exposed. In general, higher doses and longer exposure lead to stronger effects. Researchers have also found that berberine affects many genes that control how cancer cells grow, divide, and spread. Because of this, the safe and effective dose range for berberine is narrow and varies depending on the type of cell. 

The anticancer effects described here come mainly from laboratory and cell-based studies, not from large, well-controlled human clinical trials. Berberine should not be used as a replacement for cancer treatment, and any supplement use should be discussed with a licensed healthcare provider.

Cholesterol-lowering abilities

Berberine has proven to display an array of metabolic-enhancing properties, one of which is its ability to lower LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream

What is so unique about berberine is that it can do this in a multitude of ways. Berberine can tell the liver to catch more cholesterol during the recycling process, therefore removing more of it from the bloodstream. It reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine when digesting foods containing dietary fats. It can also increase the amount of cholesterol excreted in feces while simultaneously stimulating the exchange of cholesterol and bile acid production in the liver. Bile acids are created from recycled cholesterol and help absorb dietary fats in the gut from the food we eat. 

Long story short, berberine reduces cholesterol and helps us repackage it for its proper utilization in fat absorption. This reduces the risk of LDL cholesterol oxidizing in the bloodstream and causing plaque buildup, which leads to hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart attacks and more.

Blood Sugar Control in Type 2 Diabetes

Berberine can improve insulin sensitivity in individuals with T2 diabetes. It also has a blood-glucose-lowering effect that is similar to that of metformin, a drug prescribed for diabetics. In patients with T2 diabetes, berberine significantly improved fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). The supplementation of berberine in place of metformin proves to be very promising, and may even prove to be the healthier option with fewer side effects.

Secondary to T2 diabetes, berberine has positive effects on PCOS in women. Many symptoms of PCOS are linked to insulin resistance, a condition where the body’s cells do not respond properly to the insulin naturally secreted by the pancreas. As a result, glucose stays elevated in the bloodstream, leading to a range of health issues. Because berberine helps improve insulin sensitivity, it may be useful in managing certain PCOS symptoms in women. When we see improved glucose levels, we usually see improved blood lipid levels as well. There were improved blood lipid levels seen in patients with PCOS who supplemented 500 mg for 3 months. They also saw a higher pregnancy rate and a lower incidence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation.

Conclusion

Berberine is a very promising supplement in the health and wellness space, with further benefits in neurodegenerative protection, weight loss, and anti-inflammatory response. I personally take berberine twice a day; once after breakfast and once after dinner for blood glucose control and to maintain lower LDL cholesterol. Berberine’s cholesterol-lowering and glucose-controlling abilities remain its most prominent point of interest in my eyes because it has the most evidence to support it.

Its role in cancer, apoptosis, and metastasis needs more research. Trends to look out for in berberine’s anticancer properties lie in its bioavailability, the development of new formulations, and new derivatives in order to overcome its current limitations.

Sources:

1. Och A, Podgórski R, Nowak R. Biological Activity of Berberine—A Summary Update. Toxins. 2020; 12(11):713. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12110713