I don’t usually pick out a specific nutrient to write about. I am more focused on health problems and how to find the underlying cause and cure them. However, I’m going to make an exception with berberine because it is so good! It’s hard to even say all the benefits of berberine. This is something that can help almost any health problem!
HOW BERBERINE WORKS
Berberine is an alkaloid that comes from many different plants such as golden seal and barberry root. These alkaloids have many different effects such as:
- Turning on or off enzymes and DNA/RNA.
- Influencing how energy is made.
- By turning on a gene called AMPK, it blocks the use of glucose (sugar) for energy, causing the body to switch to fat-burning metabolism. This alone has huge effects on many common health issues.
Since many of the illnesses in the modern world are due to toxicity of glucose, shutting down energy from sugar is a good thing.
The other effects include:
- A direct and indirect antioxidant activity.
- As well as lowering inflammation.
This is probably the most studied and most useful herb with benefits for almost any illness.
BERBERINE FOR CANCER
Berberine promotes cell death (apoptotic activity) in many types of cancer, especially breast and colon cancer.[1]Cancer cells require glucose for energy[2] and if they don’t have it, they stop dividing.[3] Berberine starves the cells of glucose for energy, especially the glycolysis pathway, thus shutting them off.
Breast cancer research is ongoing and very promising. Berberine binds to several proteins and DNA sequences to shut down breast cancer.[4] Interestingly, there is evidence that a low dose can actually be counter-productive to treating cancer. There is one study to show that it is not good to use a low dose of berberine because it can block the normal mechanisms of cell death for the cancer.[5] A full-dose of 1,500mg per day is best.
There have also been multiple studies on colon cancer. Berberine increases life expectancy with colon cancer by causing the cancer cells to get old and die.[6] It seems to do the same with skin cancer.
BERBERINE FOR INFLAMMATION
Berberine decreases inflammation in the body by blocking the receptors for the chemicals that cause inflammation, such as leukotriene B4.[7] This may work for many types of inflammation such as arthritis and hepatitis and colitis.
BERBERINE AS AN ANTIOXIDANT
Berberine has a direct antioxidant effect, and it also increases several genes that reduce oxidative damage to DNA. This is a similar effect to taking multiple antioxidant supplements such as vitamin E, vitamin A, carotenoids, and resveratrol.
BERBERINE FOR NEUROLOGIC DISORDERS
Mostly because of the antioxidant effects, berberine helps prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, and Multiple Sclerosis.[8]
BERBERINE FOR HIGH BLOOD SUGAR
By blocking the use of sugar, and making the body use more fat for energy, berberine can improve the metabolic problems of type. This is essentially the same effect of the high blood sugar medication METFORMIN (Glucophage). One study comparing berberine to placebo showed significant improvement in numbers:[9]
- The HbA1c dropped from 8.1% to 7.3% (normal is less than 5.7%)
- Fasting plasma insulin decreased by 28.1%
- Total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol also decreased without a decrease in HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
The amazing thing is that this completely natural and well-tested plant extract works as well as prescription medications, decreasing insulin resistance, where prescription medications increase it.
Therefore, berberine is better than the drugs!
Moreover, it also lowers inflammation, prevents liver damage, improves cholesterol and body mass index,[10] taking the place of multiple medications.
BERBERINE FOR HEART DISEASE
Anyone with heart disease should also be taking berberine regularly. This herb has multiple benefits for the heart, for both prevention and treatment of heart disease,[11] including:
- Arrhythmia
- Congestive heart failure
- Bundle branch block,
- Coronary atherosclerosis
- Ischemic heart disease
- Myocarditis
- And cardiomyopathy
Since heart disease is all about energy production, Berberine benefits any type of heart disease.
BERBERINE FOR HYPERTENSION
Some may say that berberine lowers blood pressure because some studies have shown this. However, while there is a trend towards lower blood pressure, the actual numbers aren’t convincing.[12] Having said this, remember that hypertension is only the symptom of an underlying condition. Finding the cause of hypertension is the key, and in some cases, berberine will still benefit.
BERBERINE FOR CHOLESTEROL
Berberine is significantly better than statins for lowering cholesterol because it has all the benefits, without any of the risks.[13] One study used 500 mg of berberine two to three times daily for up to three months.
- Total cholesterol levels were lowered 29%
- LDL cholesterol levels were lowered by an average of 21%
- Triglyceride levels were lowered as much as 35%
- HDL levels were unchanged
This combination of benefits is good for cholesterol, but berberine has the added benefit of lowering inflammation and helping repair the blood vessels. Thus, berberine is much better than drugs for decreasing vascular disease.[14]
BERBERINE FOR PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
Berberine has shown to significantly improve PCOS issues better than medication.[15] A comparison between berberine and metformin for PCOS showed that those on the berberine lost more weight than either metformin or placebo groups. Berberine also improves fertility, cholesterol, and prevents high blood sugar and fatty liver disease.
BERBERINE FOR OBESITY
Everyone is looking for the perfect weight loss pill, the one that lets you eat anything you want and still lose weight. I think this is going to be berberine. Here’s the plan: Take 500 to 1,000mg of berberine at 6pm after dinner, and don’t eat or drink anything afterwards until 8am. This will have multiple benefits for:
- Sleep
- Circadian rhythm
- Weight loss
- Fat burning
- Ketosis
- And prevention of high blood sugar and metabolic syndrome.
It’s simple, and you don’t need to count calories.
BERBERINE FOR INFECTIONS
For many centuries, Chinese medicine use berberine for infectious diseases. It has antibiotic effects on multiple bacteria, viruses, yeast, and parasites. Used as an adjunctive treatment, berberine is especially useful for chronic candida.
BERBERINE FOR ULCERATIVE COLITIS
A study in China showed improvement of those with biopsy-proven ulcerative colitis more than with a drug (mesalamine) alone.[16] Berberine helps to increase the good bacteria in the intestines while lowering inflammation.
BERBERINE FOR ANTI-AGING
While there are no longevity studies in humans, berberine does all the things that are important to increase health span. The AMPK gene is the master metabolism enzyme that controls energy production in cells. Berberine seems to turn on all the genes that increase lifespan, while protecting against inflammation and cancer. Other genes, such as mTOR and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) are a double-edged sword. They increase muscle mass and DNA repair, but also increase cancer if there is too much of them.
Berberine, on the other hand, has been shown to significantly extend the life of mice. Those treated with chemotherapy lived 50% longer, and normal mice lived 80% longer if given berberine. Of all the medications, vitamins, supplements, or preparations to help people live longer, there is none that has greater promise than berberine.
WHO YOU SHOULD TAKE BERBERINE
You may be thinking by now that everyone should be taking berberine. Perhaps. On the other hand, you can get all the same benefits and more from fasting (I always need to put a plug in for fasting). Berberine is very well-tolerated, as a rule, with many centuries of experience. The side-effects are minimal, generally consisting of intestinal upset (the same as Metformin). Those who get gas, bloating, diarrhea, or abdominal pain can just decrease the dose or stop taking it and the symptoms will resolve.
HOW MUCH BERBERINE TO TAKE
Berberine is short-acting in the body so divide the does into three times per day. The usual dose is 500mg three times per day for a total of 1500mg. Though I could not find any studies, I suggest that you take it for five days on, and two days off, or one week on and one week off. I have seen in many other herb and supplement studies that taking time off prevents people from getting resistant to the effects. For example, wormwood extract, artemisinin, used for malaria, doesn’t work if continuously taken. It is best taken either 5 days on and 2 days off, or one week on and one week off. Then the malaria parasites don’t develop tolerance to it. Also, take berberine with food to get better absorption.
Berberine may just be the wonder pill for the modern age. Because our lifestyle is one of excess, berberine seems to be specifically tuned to our needs. The mechanisms of the way it works is to shut down the issues brought about by excess.
Dr. Scott Saunders MD
Sources:
[1] https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/berberine-3569378/
[2] nature nature communications Published: 21 March 2022
A non-dividing cell population with high pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase activity regulates metabolic heterogeneity and tumorigenesis in the intestine
Carlos Sebastian, Christina Ferrer, Maria Serra, Jee-Eun Choi, Nadia Ducano, Alessia Mira, Manasvi S. Shah, Sylwia A. Stopka, Andrew J. Perciaccante, Claudio Isella, Daniel Moya-Rull, Marianela Vara-Messler, Silvia Giordano, Elena Maldi, Niyati Desai, Diane E. Capen, Enzo Medico, Murat Cetinbas, Ruslan I. Sadreyev, Dennis Brown, Miguel N. Rivera, Anna Sapino, David T. Breault, Nathalie Y. R. Agar & Raul Mostoslavsky
[3] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180126095312.htm
[4] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.993775/full
[5] Dose Response. 2020 Oct 9;18(4):1559325820939751. doi: 10.1177/1559325820939751. eCollection 2020 Oct-Dec. Low-Dose Berberine Attenuates the Anti-Breast Cancer Activity of Chemotherapeutic Agents via Induction of Autophagy and Antioxidation; Bing Han 1, Kai Wang 1, Yanbei Tu 1, Lihua Tan 1, Chengwei He
[6] Molecules. 2021 Jan 13;26(2):376. doi: 10.3390/molecules26020376.
Berberine Inhibits Telomerase Activity and Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Telomere Erosion in Colorectal Cancer Cell Line, HCT 116; Muhammad Azizan Samad 1, Mohd Zuwairi Saiman 1 2, Nazia Abdul Majid 1, Saiful Anuar Karsani 1, Jamilah Syafawati Yaacob
[7] Front Pharmacol. 2021 Nov 4;12:722360. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.722360. eCollection 2021.
Berberine Alleviates Insulin Resistance and Inflammation via Inhibiting the LTB4-BLT1 Axis
Minmin Gong 1, Huiyan Duan 2, Fan Wu 1, Yanlin Ren 3, Jing Gong 4, Lijun Xu 1, Fuer Lu 1, Dingkun Wang 4
[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128177808000141
[9] Metabolism. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2009 May 1.Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes; Jun Yin,a,b,* Huili Xing,a and Jianping Yeb
[10] Meta-Analysis Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2021 Dec 15;2021:2074610. doi: 10.1155/2021/2074610. eCollection 2021.
The Effect of Berberine on Metabolic Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials; Jing Guo 1, Hongdong Chen 1 2, Xueqin Zhang 1, Wenjiao Lou 1, Pingna Zhang 1, Yuheng Qiu 1, Chao Zhang 1, Yaoxian Wang 1, Wei Jing Liu 1 3
[11] Front. Pharmacol., 17 March 2021; Volume 12 – 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.631100A New Therapeutic Candidate for Cardiovascular Diseases: Berberine; Yun Cai, et. Al.
[12] Meta-Analysis Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2021 Feb;42:101287. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101287. Epub 2020 Dec 24. Berberine for the treatment of hypertension: A systematic review
Marco Tullio Suadoni, Iain Atherton
[13] REVIEW ARTICLE| VOLUME 243, ISSUE 2, P449-461, DECEMBER 2015; Berberine, a plant alkaloid with lipid- and glucose-lowering properties: From in vitro evidence to clinical studies; Angela Pirillo; Alberico Luigi Catapano
[14] Review J Ethnopharmacol. 2015 Feb 23;161:69-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.09.049. Epub 2014 Dec 10.
Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension; Jiarong Lan 1, Yanyun Zhao 2, Feixia Dong 3, Ziyou Yan 4, Wenjie Zheng 5, Jinping Fan 6, Guoli Sun 7
[15] https://www.verywellhealth.com/pcos-and-berberine-4136324
[16] https://aacrjournals.org/cancerpreventionresearch/article/13/1/117/47275
