Berberine

Uses

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. The effectiveness ratings for BERBERINE are as follows:

Possibly effective for…

• Canker sores. Research shows that applying a gel containing berberine can reduce pain, redness, oozing, and the size of ulcers in people with canker sores.
• Diabetes. Berberine seems to slightly reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Also, some early research shows that taking 500 mg of berberine 2-3 times daily for up to 3 months might control blood sugar as effectively as metformin or rosiglitazone.
• High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). Berberine might help lower cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol. Taking berberine for up to 2 years seems to reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with high cholesterol. When compared with standard cholesterol-lowering medications, berberine appears to cause similar changes in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol, and it might be better at reducing triglyceride levels.
• High blood pressure. Taking 0.9 grams of berberine per day along with the blood pressure-lowering drug amlodipine reduces systolic blood pressure (the top number) and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) better than taking amlodipine alone in people with high blood pressure.
• A hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries with cysts (polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS). Research shows that berberine can lower blood sugar, improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels, reduce testosterone levels, and lower waist-to-hip ratio in women with PCOS. Berberine may even lower blood sugar levels similar to metformin and may improve cholesterol levels better than metformin. It is unclear if berberine increases pregnancy rates or live birth rates in women with PCOS.

Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for…

• Burns. Early research shows that applying an ointment that contains berberine and beta-sitosterol can treat second-degree burns as effectively as conventional treatment with silver sulfadiazine.
• An infection of the intestines that causes diarrhea (cholera). Some early research shows that taking berberine sulfate can decrease diarrhea by a small amount in people with cholera. However, berberine does not seem to improve the effects of the antibiotic tetracycline in treating diarrhea related to cholera infection.
• Non-cancerous growths in the large intestine and rectum (colorectal adenoma). Early research shows that taking berberine for 2 years seems to prevent regrowth of colorectal adenomas in people who have already been treated for these growths.
• Heart failure and fluid build up in the body (congestive heart failure or CHF). Early research shows that berberine can reduce some of the symptoms and lower the death rate in some people with congestive heart failure.
• Heart disease. Research shows that taking a specific product containing berberine and other ingredients for 3 months lowers cholesterol levels in people with heart disease who had a procedure called a percutaneous intervention (PCI). This product seems to lower cholesterol levels more than the standard medication ezetimibe, which is used to lower cholesterol. Also taking this product in combination with low doses of medicines called “statins” seems to work better than taking low-dose statins alone. It’s unclear if the effects of this product are due to berberine, other ingredients, or the combination. It’s also unknown whether this product reduces the risk of major adverse heart-related events in people with heart disease.
• Diarrhea. Some early research shows that taking berberine sulfate can decrease diarrhea in people with an E. coli infection.
• A group of eye disorders that can lead to vision loss (glaucoma). Early research shows that using eye drops containing berberine and tetrahydrozoline for does not reduce eye pressure in people with glaucoma better than eye drops containing tetrahydrozoline alone.
• A digestive tract infection that can lead to ulcers (Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori). Early research shows that taking berberine is more effective than the drug ranitidine at treating H. pylori infection. But it seems less effective at healing ulcers in people with stomach ulcers due to H. pylori. Other research shows that berberine might treat H. pylori infection as well as the medication bismuth when taken in combination with a standard three-drug regimen for H. pylori infection.
• Swelling (inflammation) of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (hepatitis B). Early research shows that berberine decreases blood sugar, blood fats called triglycerides, and markers of liver damage in people with diabetes and hepatitis B.
• Swelling (inflammation) of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (hepatitis C). Early research shows that it decreases blood sugar, blood fats called triglycerides, and markers of liver damage in people with diabetes and hepatitis C.
• A long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS). Early research shows taking that berberine twice daily for 8 weeks might reduce diarrhea and stomach pain and might improve the quality of life in people with IBS with diarrhea.
• Symptoms of the menopause. Early research shows that taking a combination of berberine and soy isoflavones can reduce menopausal symptoms. However, it’s not clear if berberine reduces menopausal symptoms if used alone.
• A grouping of symptoms that increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke (metabolic syndrome). Early research shows that berberine reduces body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (the top number), blood fats called triglycerides, and blood sugar levels in people with metabolic syndrome. It also seems to improve insulin sensitivity. Other early research suggests that taking a combination product containing berberine, policosanol, red yeast rice, folic acid, coenzyme Q10, and astaxanthin improves blood pressure and blood flow in people with metabolic syndrome.
• Build-up of fat in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD). Early research shows that berberine reduces fat in the blood and markers of liver injury in people with diabetes and liver disease not caused by alcohol. Other early research shows that berberine might reduce fat on the liver, markers of liver injury, and weight in people with this condition. Berberine seems to work about as well as the medication pioglitazone.
• Obesity. Early research shows that taking berberine can reduce weight in obese people by about 5 pounds.
• Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis). Early research shows that taking berberine together with vitamin D3, vitamin K, and a chemical found in hops can decrease bone loss in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. It’s not known if berberine is beneficial if taken by itself.
• Diarrhea caused by radiation therapy. Some early research shows that taking berberine during radiation therapy can reduce intestinal injury from radiation in patients being treated for cancer.
• Scarring of tissue caused by radiation therapy. Some early research shows that taking berberine during radiation therapy can reduce lung injury from radiation in patients being treated for cancer.
• Low levels of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia). Blood platelets are important for blood clotting. Early research shows that taking berberine either alone or with prednisolone, can increase the number of blood platelets in people with low blood platelet counts.
• An eye infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (trachoma). There is some evidence that eye drops containing berberine might be useful for treating trachoma, a common cause of blindness in developing countries.
• A type of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis). Early research shows that taking berberine does not seem to improve symptoms in people with ulcerative colitis who take the drug mesalamine.
• Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of berberine for these uses.

Side Effects Of Berberine

• When taken by mouth: Berberine is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults for short-term use when taken by mouth. Side effects include diarrhea, constipation, gas, stomach upset, and headache.
• When applied to the skin: Berberine is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when used short-term.

Warnings & Precautions

• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It’s LIKELY UNSAFE to take berberine by mouth if you are pregnant. Researchers believe berberine can cross the placenta and might cause harm to the fetus. Kernicterus, a type of brain damage, has developed in newborn infants exposed to berberine.

It’s also LIKELY UNSAFE to take berberine if you are breast-feeding. It can be transferred to the infant through breast milk, and it might cause harm.

• Children: It’s LIKELY UNSAFE to give berberine to newborns. It can cause kernicterus, a rare type of brain damage that can occur in newborns who have severe jaundice. Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin caused by too much bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a chemical that is produced when the old red cells break down. It is normally removed by the liver. Berberine may keep the liver from removing bilirubin fast enough.

• Diabetes: Berberine can lower blood sugar. Theoretically, it may cause blood sugar to become too low if taken by diabetics who are controlling their blood sugar with insulin or medications. Use with caution in people with diabetes.

• High bilirubin levels in the blood in infants: Bilirubin is a chemical that is produced when the old red blood cells break down. It is normally removed by the liver. Berberine may keep the liver from removing bilirubin fast enough. This can cause brain problems, especially in infants with high levels of bilirubin in the blood. Avoid using.

• Low blood pressure: Berberine can lower blood pressure. Theoretically, it might increase the risk of blood pressure becoming too low in people who already have low blood pressure. Use with caution.

Dosage Of Berberine

ADULTS BY MOUTH:

• For diabetes: 0.9-1.5 grams has been taken in divided doses daily for 2-4 months.
• For high levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia): 0.6-1.5 grams of berberine has been taken in divided doses daily for 6 to 24 months. Combination products containing 500 mg of berberine, 10 mg of policosanol, and 200 mg of red yeast rice, along with other ingredients, have been taken daily for up to 12 months.
• For high blood pressure: 0.9 grams of berberine has been taken daily for 2 months.
• For a hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries with cysts (polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS): 1.5 grams has been taken daily for 3-6 months.

APPLIED TO THE SKIN:

• For canker sores: Gel containing 5 mg of berberine per gram has been applied four times per day for 5 days.

Other

Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Source All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.