Berberine
What is berberine? Berberine is a yellowish alkaloid found in several plants, including European barberry, goldenseal, Chinese goldthread, Oregon grape, phellodendron (cork tree) and tree turmeric.
Berberine has long been a part of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, but the western world is just beginning to be aware of it.
Type 2 diabetes
You may have heard of it as a remedy for type 2 diabetes; in fact Nature's Sunshine describes its berberine as follows:
"Berberine IR naturally supports healthy blood glucose levels by up-regulating enzymes that trigger blood glucose metabolism. Utilizing a time-honoured ingredient found in both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic medicine, Berberine IR works to support blood sugar balance and glucose metabolism through a unique cellular action. Berberine, a constituent of certain plants, helps activate a key enzyme that supports blood glucose metabolism, turning your cells from “idle” to “on” and helping them to use glucose efficiently."
One study compared taking 500 mg of berberine 2 to 3 times daily for 3 months with taking the common diabetes drug metformin. Berberine was able to control blood sugar and lipid metabolism as effectively as metformin, with the researchers describing it as a "potential oral hypoglycemic agent with beneficial effects on lipid metabolism."
Other health effects of berberine
There is an increasing amount of research showing that berberine can do much more than help to regulate blood glucose levels. These additional benefits include (but are not limited to):
Helps with healthy weight management
In addition to a healthy diet and regular exercise, berberine can help you maintain a healthy weight. It helps to activate adenosine monophosphate-activate kinase (AMPK), also known as the body's "metabolic master switch". AMPK is responsible for kick-starting your metabolism and encouraging your body to burn the calories it takes in, rather than storing them as fat.
Supports heart health
Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and losing weight will help to improve your cardiovascular health, but berberine has even more heart health benefits. It promotes healthy blood pressure by encouraging the natural release of nitric oxide, enabling blood flow. (See our February 2013 newsletter for additional information about nitric oxide.)
Berberine has also been shown to reduce serum cholesterol levels, including LDL cholesterol, as well as triglyceride levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. It may also help to increase levels of HDL (high density lipoprotein), the 'good' cholesterol.
Treats SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth)
People who suffer from SIBO symptoms have excessive bacteria in their small intestines. Conventional treatment of SIBO is limited to antibiotics, with a variable response rate. Berberine, together with digestive enzymes, is helpful in reducing bacterial overgrowth. Berberine exerts selective antimicrobial action against a wide range of disease causing organisms linked to SIBO, yet exerts no action against health-promoting species.
Increases immune health
Berberine may help improve immune function by maintaining healthy gut flora, providing antioxidant properties and activating white blood cells, which are responsible for inhibiting infections. The majority of your immune system (about 70 percent) is in your gut, so it makes sense that berberine's ability to minimize the bad bacteria while promoting beneficial strains would help your immune system.
Helps control non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Research suggests that berberine may be a useful supplement for people with NAFLD, because it helps decrease fat buildup in the liver and regulate hepatic lipid metabolism.
Possible additional benefits of berberine - more study needed:
- May help ease depression and anxiety.
- May promote optimal joint health.
- May assist in improving memory, spatial learning and overall cognitive functioning, as well as with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
- May help to maintain healthy lung function
Some authors have compared berberine to curcumin for its effectiveness in so many different aspects of our health. I encourage you to keep it in mind!
