Nature Made Better Absorption‡ Berberine Phytosome 550 mg Capsules Review
Tier ⓘ
Tier 4 · Rank 18
Tier 4 · Emerging. A promising mechanism or animal data, with thin human evidence so far. Rank 18 within Tier 4 for Blood Sugar; 63 of 75 overall. Tiers run from 1, the strongest evidence, to 5. How we grade →
Evidence ⓘ
15 /100
How strongly the evidence says this product works: human studies count most, then real reviews, then our biohacker panel.
Biohacker Mentions
0 of 10
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Study, Trial or Testing Result Summary
Members Only65 human studies · 53 improved
65 human studies53 improved7 no effect16,378 people studied
Berberine, the main ingredient here, has strong human evidence for lowering blood sugar. Pooled results from 37 trials in 3,048 people with type 2 diabetes showed lower fasting and long-term blood sugar without raising the risk of low blood sugar [1]. A pooled analysis of 46 trials found similar drops plus better insulin resistance [2]. In 409 adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, 12 weeks of berberine lowered long-term blood sugar more than placebo, with more stomach upset [3]. One gram daily for 3 months lowered long-term blood sugar from 7.5% to 6.6% in 116 people [4]. In 300 adults with newly found high blood sugar, 16 weeks lowered fasting and after-meal sugar [5]. Benefits seemed weaker beyond 90 days or above 2 grams a day [6]. This product gives a full studied dose at 1,100 milligrams a day. Studies of this phytosome form itself disagree. A 6 month observational study in people with borderline high cholesterol found larger drops in blood sugar [7], but a randomized trial in 130 women with polycystic ovary syndrome found no blood sugar difference, though cycles and acne improved [8]. Animal and cell studies are never counted.
See all 65 studies →Hide the studies
- Across 37 trials in 3,048 people with type 2 diabetes, berberine lowered fasting blood sugar by 0.82 mmol/L and HbA1c by 0.63 percentage points without raising the risk of low blood sugar.Glucose-lowering effect of berberine on type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Across 27 trials with 2,569 people, berberine added to lifestyle changes or medicines tended to lower blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure more than those alone, with no serious side effects, though study quality was limited.Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hyper…
- Across 28 trials in 2,313 people with type 2 diabetes, berberine lowered fasting glucose by 0.54 mmol/L and after-meal glucose by 0.94 mmol/L more than controls, with weaker effects beyond 90 days, above 2 g a day, or over age 60.Effects of berberine on blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic literature review and a me…
- Pooling 17 trials with 1,337 adults with type 2 diabetes, berberine lowered blood sugar and improved blood fats, though resveratrol and silymarin ranked higher overall.Clinical Efficacy of Curcumin, Resveratrol, Silymarin, and Berberine on Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors Among Patients Wit…
- In 22 trials of 1,079 women with polycystic ovary syndrome, other insulin-sensitizing treatments such as inositol and meds were reported as better than a med alone, and the abstract does not report a berberine-specific result.Read the study on PubMed (34407851) →
- In 10 trials of 811 people with fatty liver disease, berberine improved insulin resistance, liver enzymes, triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol and body mass index, with only mild stomach side effects.The clinical efficacy and safety of berberine in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis and…
- Pooling four placebo-controlled trials of 491 adults with high blood fats, a berberine and milk thistle combination taken for about 3 months lowered fasting blood sugar and insulin resistance compared with placebo, as well as LDL and total cholesterol.The Effects of a Fixed Combination of Berberis aristata and Silybum marianum on Dyslipidaemia - A Meta-analysis and Syst…
- A pooled analysis in people with metabolic syndrome found glucose was lower in groups taking Berberis vulgaris or Berberis aristata than in control groups, along with better cholesterol and triglycerides.The effects of Berberis vulgaris L. and Berberis aristata L. in metabolic syndrome patients: a systematic and meta-analy…
- Across 46 trials in people with type 2 diabetes, berberine lowered HbA1c by 0.73 points, fasting glucose by 0.86 mmol/L, insulin resistance, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, and improved inflammation markers.The Effect of Berberine on Metabolic Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Rand…
- An umbrella review of randomized trials in adults with metabolic disorders found berberine lowered fasting blood sugar, long-term blood sugar (HbA1c), insulin resistance, insulin and inflammation markers.The Effect of Berberine Supplementation on Glycemic Control and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Metabolic Disorders: An Umbre…
- A review of lab, animal and human studies found berberine affected glucose handling and gut bacteria, with a daily 1.0 g dose in humans linked to less glucose build-up, but it gave no pooled human numbers.The effect of Berberine on weight loss in order to prevent obesity: A systematic review.
- A review of trials in women with polycystic ovary syndrome found berberine reduced insulin resistance and waist-to-hip ratio but did not significantly change body weight.The effect and safety of Berberine on polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review.
- An umbrella review of 11 meta-analyses of trials found berberine improved blood sugar, insulin resistance, blood fats and inflammation markers, with common side effects of constipation and diarrhea.Berberine and health outcomes: An umbrella review.
- An overview of 54 systematic reviews found berberine improved 25 of 27 type 2 diabetes outcomes and 25 of 32 heart disease outcomes, but most reviews were of low or very low quality.Berberine and health outcomes: an overview of systematic reviews.
- A review of 35 systematic reviews found berberine and a herbal decoction appeared to improve blood sugar and cholesterol in people with diabetes, though better studies are needed.The effects of Gegen Qinlian decoction and its main constituents on glucolipid metabolic disorders in diabetes: an overv…
- In 409 adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, 12 weeks of berberine lowered HbA1c by about 1.0% versus about 0.6% on placebo, with more stomach side effects.Gut microbiome-related effects of berberine and probiotics on type 2 diabetes (the PREMOTE study).
- In 365 adults with type 2 diabetes, berberine combined with probiotics for 3 months improved after-meal total and LDL cholesterol more than either one alone.Combined berberine and probiotic treatment as an effective regimen for improving postprandial hyperlipidemia in type 2 d…
- In 337 diabetes-free adults with obesity and fatty liver, 1 g of berberine daily for 6 months did not reduce belly fat or liver fat versus placebo and did not improve other secondary outcomes, though it lowered LDL cholesterol and C-reactive protein slightly.Berberine and Adiposity in Diabetes-Free Individuals With Obesity and MASLD: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
- In 300 adults with newly diagnosed high blood sugar, 16 weeks of berberine lowered fasting blood glucose by about 0.5 mmol/L and after-meal glucose more than placebo.Effectiveness and safety of Bifidobacterium and berberine in human hyperglycemia and their regulatory effect on the gut …
- In 184 people with fatty liver disease, berberine plus lifestyle changes for 16 weeks cut liver fat more than lifestyle changes alone (52.7% vs 36.4%) and improved weight, insulin resistance and blood fats, in an open-label trial.Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
- In 175 people with high cholesterol who could not tolerate high-dose meds, six months of a berberine and silymarin combination lowered fasting blood sugar, insulin and insulin resistance compared with placebo.Read the study on PubMed (25765827) →
- In 158 adults with metabolic syndrome, a daily tablet containing 500 mg berberine plus red yeast rice and policosanol for 24 weeks lowered total and LDL cholesterol compared with placebo.Efficacy of a nutraceutical combination on lipid metabolism in patients with metabolic syndrome: a multicenter, double b…
- In 150 women with polycystic ovary syndrome preparing for IVF, 3 months of berberine lowered fasting glucose, insulin and insulin resistance compared with placebo, with fewer stomach side effects than a med.The use of berberine for women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing IVF treatment.
- In 143 people at low heart risk, three months of a berberine, silymarin and monacolin combination lowered fasting blood sugar by 12.2% and cut cholesterol and inflammation markers compared with placebo.Effects of a Combination of Berberis aristata, Silybum marianum and Monacolin on Lipid Profile in Subjects at Low Cardio…
- In 137 people who could not tolerate high-dose meds, adding a berberine-plant and milk thistle tablet twice daily for 6 months lowered fasting glucose by 9 mg/dl and insulin resistance compared with placebo, and kept cholesterol from rising.Read the study on PubMed (25577665) →
- In 136 obese adults with type 2 diabetes, 52 weeks of berberine with silymarin improved fasting blood sugar, insulin, insulin resistance, cholesterol and abdominal fat compared with placebo.Bioimpedance analysis, metabolic effects and safety of the association Berberis aristata/Bilybum marianum: a 52-week dou…
- In 130 women with polycystic ovary syndrome, 1,100 mg a day of berberine phytosome for 90 days improved menstruation, ovary anatomy and acne, but blood sugar and other metabolic and hormone measures did not differ from the control group.Effect of Berberine Phytosome on reproductive, dermatologic, and metabolic characteristics in women with polycystic ovar…
- In 116 people with type 2 diabetes and abnormal blood fats, 1 g of berberine daily for 3 months lowered fasting and after-meal blood sugar and HbA1c (7.5% to 6.6%) significantly more than placebo.Treatment of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia with the natural plant alkaloid berberine.
- In 113 people with schizophrenia and metabolic syndrome, 600 mg of berberine daily for 12 weeks reduced weight gain, cholesterol and long-term blood sugar (HbA1c) more than placebo.Adjunctive berberine reduces antipsychotic-associated weight gain and metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia:…
- In 113 adults with type 2 diabetes, berberine ursodeoxycholate at 1000 mg or 2000 mg daily for 12 weeks lowered HbA1c by 0.4% to 0.7% more than placebo and was well tolerated.Berberine Ursodeoxycholate for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
- In 105 overweight adults with unhealthy blood fats, a berberine-plant and milk thistle combination taken twice daily for 3 months lowered insulin, insulin resistance, cholesterol and triglycerides compared with placebo, and the effects faded after stopping.Effects of Berberis aristata/Silybum marianum association on metabolic parameters and adipocytokines in overweight dysli…
- In 102 people with abnormal blood fats, a berberine-containing combination (588 mg Berberis aristata extract with 105 mg silymarin twice daily) for two 3-month periods improved cholesterol and insulin secretion with a lower blood sugar rise after a glucagon test than placebo.Berberis aristata/Silybum marianum fixed combination on lipid profile and insulin secretion in dyslipidemic patients.
- In 100 people with fatty liver disease and diabetes, 1000 mg of berberine ursodeoxycholate twice daily for 18 weeks reduced liver fat and improved blood sugar control more than placebo.A phase 2, proof of concept, randomised controlled trial of berberine ursodeoxycholate in patients with presumed non-alc…
- In 97 people with mild high blood fats, berberine 900 mg a day for two 3-month courses lowered triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol and raised HDL cholesterol compared with placebo; blood sugar results were not reported.[Therapeutic Effects of Berberine Capsule on Patients with Mild Hyperlipidemia].
- In 89 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance, 3 months of berberine lowered fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, insulin resistance and cholesterol compared with placebo.Read the study on PubMed (22019891) →
- In 85 people with type 1 diabetes, a berberine-plant and milk thistle tablet twice daily for 6 months reduced insulin needs and fasting and after-meal glucose compared with placebo, but long-term blood sugar (HbA1c) did not differ from placebo.The role of a fixed Berberis aristata/Silybum marianum combination in the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus.
- In 84 adults with type 2 diabetes, berberine taken for 3 months lowered HbA1c, fasting and after-meal blood sugar, similar to a med in the first study, though 34.5% had temporary stomach side effects in the second.Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- In 80 people with fatty liver disease, 16 weeks of berberine changed blood fat profiles more than lifestyle changes alone and lowered ceramides, but blood sugar was not reported.Lipid profiling of the therapeutic effects of berberine in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- In 70 adults with fatty liver disease, 1500 mg of berberine daily for 12 weeks lowered a liver enzyme and total cholesterol versus placebo, but showed no significant differences in glucose measures.Does berberine impact anthropometric, hepatic, and metabolic parameters in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associate…
- In 70 overweight or obese adults with fatty liver disease, 1500 mg of berberine daily for 12 weeks raised a blood vessel growth marker and lowered aortic systolic pressure, but arterial stiffness did not differ from placebo.The Influence of Berberine on Vascular Function Parameters, Among Them VEGF, in Individuals with MAFLD: A Double-Blind, …
- In 65 people with schizophrenia, 900 mg of berberine daily for eight weeks lowered cholesterol, fasting insulin and insulin resistance compared with placebo.The effect of berberine adjunctive treatment on glycolipid metabolism in patients with schizophrenia: A randomized, doub…
- In 60 people with type 2 diabetes and high blood fats, berberine lowered the levels of 13 circulating fatty acids, 10 of them significantly more than placebo.Effect of traditional Chinese medicine berberine on type 2 diabetes based on comprehensive metabonomics.
- In 54 middle-aged men with prediabetes, about 1000 mg of berberine daily for 8 weeks lowered fasting glucose and insulin resistance from baseline, but adding it to interval exercise gave no extra benefit.Inflammatory markers and noncoding-RNAs responses to low and high compressions of HIIT with or without berberine supplem…
- In 50 adults with high cholesterol, a combination with 500 mg berberine for 6 weeks lowered total and LDL cholesterol and improved blood vessel function versus placebo, and insulin sensitivity improved after a further 4 weeks in those with insulin resistance.Effects of a nutraceutical combination (berberine, red yeast rice and policosanols) on lipid levels and endothelial func…
- In 50 adults with abnormal blood fats, a berberine-containing combination taken for 6 weeks improved cholesterol, but the other combination without berberine gave the significant improvement in blood vessel function.Effects of a New Combination of Medical Food on Endothelial Function and Lipid Profile in Dyslipidemic Subjects: A Pilot…
- In 50 adults with high cholesterol, 2000 mg a day of berberine ursodeoxycholate for 28 days lowered total cholesterol by 8.2% and LDL cholesterol by 10.4% versus placebo; blood sugar was not reported as a result.Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of HTD1801 (berberine ursodeoxycholate, BUDCA) in patients with hyperlipidemia.
- In 49 adults with fatty liver, six months of a plant extract mix containing Berberis aristata lowered blood sugar, insulin and insulin resistance and reduced liver fat compared with placebo.Berberis aristata, Elaeis guineensis and Coffea canephora Extracts Modulate the Insulin Receptor Expression and Improve …
- In 44 overweight adults with heart and blood sugar risk factors, 13 weeks of diet plus a supplement bundle including berberine lowered weight, cholesterol, triglycerides and inflammation more than diet alone, and cut a 10-year heart risk score by 40%.A 13-week low glycemic load diet and lifestyle modification program combining low glycemic load protein shakes and targe…
- In 43 adults with HIV and metabolic syndrome, 1500 mg of berberine daily for 20 weeks reduced weight, body mass index, insulin resistance and an inflammation marker compared with placebo.Pilot study on the efficacy and safety of berberine in people with metabolic syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus i…
- In 40 adults with raised fasting glucose, an 8-week multi-ingredient supplement including berberry lowered fasting insulin by 13.4% and insulin resistance by 25% compared with placebo, and also improved triglycerides and HDL cholesterol.Nutraceutical Effects on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Patients with Impaired Fasting Glucose: A Pilot, Double-Blind, …
- In 40 people with high triglycerides taking fenofibrate, 8 weeks of berberine 500 mg with monacolin brought 75% to their LDL cholesterol target and 80% to their triglyceride target, without testing blood sugar.Optimizing Lipid Pattern by Adding a Combined Nutraceutical or Pravastatin to Fenofibrate Treatment in Hypertriglyceride…
- In 36 adults with mixed high blood fats, berberine 500 mg three times daily for 90 days lowered total cholesterol, but no blood sugar benefit was reported.Effect of Berberine Plus Bezafibrate Administration on the Lipid Profile of Patients with Mixed Dyslipidemia: A Pilot Cl…
- In 34 adults with prediabetes, 1500 mg of berberine daily for 12 weeks lowered fasting glucose, HbA1c, insulin resistance and post-glucose-test blood sugar compared with placebo.Efficacy and safety of HIMABERB® Berberine on glycemic control in patients with prediabetes: double-blind, placebo-contr…
- In 24 people with metabolic syndrome, 500 mg of berberine three times daily for three months led to remission in 36%, lower blood sugar and insulin responses, and better insulin sensitivity.Effect of berberine administration on metabolic syndrome, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion.
- In 15 healthy men, a single dose of berberine increased insulin secretion during high blood sugar compared with placebo without affecting baseline insulin.Berberine is an insulin secretagogue targeting the KCNH6 potassium channel.
- In five healthy young men, four doses of berberine (500 mg) or dihydroberberine over about a day did not change blood glucose or insulin compared with placebo, though dihydroberberine raised blood berberine levels more.Absorption Kinetics of Berberine and Dihydroberberine and Their Impact on Glycemia: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover …
- In a crossover trial of adults with high cholesterol, a combination with 531 mg berberine, red yeast rice and mulberry leaf extract taken for 4 weeks lowered LDL cholesterol below 130 mg/dl in 56.5% of patients and also reduced fasting glucose, insulin and glycated hemoglobin.Effects of a new combination of nutraceuticals with Morus alba on lipid profile, insulin sensitivity and endotelial func…
- In adults with type 2 diabetes on a med, adding a berberine, hesperidin and chromium picolinate combination for 12 weeks lowered fasting blood glucose by 11.7% and long-term blood sugar (HbA1c) by 7.5%, with no HbA1c change in a med-only group.Read the study on PubMed (34371883) →
- In people with type 2 diabetes, 1200 mg of berberine plus 600 mg of cinnamon daily for 12 weeks lowered fasting blood sugar, HbA1c and LDL cholesterol more than placebo.The efficacy and safety of berberine in combination with cinnamon supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a ra…
- In 131 adults with pre-hypertension and high cholesterol, 3 months of a berberine-containing combination plus diet lowered cholesterol and blood glucose more than diet alone.The Effects of a New Generation of Nutraceutical Compounds on Lipid Profile and Glycaemia in Subjects with Pre-hypertens…
- In 50 adults with obesity given berberine or Gymnema sylvestre for 3 months, berberine lowered body weight and blood pressure, while Gymnema sylvestre was the one that lowered fasting glucose.Comparative Effects of Gymnema sylvestre and Berberine on Adipokines, Body Composition, and Metabolic Parameters in Obes…
- In 30 people with non-insulin dependent diabetes, an herbal formula lowered blood sugar better than berberine, so berberine was the weaker comparator and no berberine benefit was shown.[Clinical study on jiang tang san in treating non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients].
- In people with type 2 diabetes, berberine significantly lowered fasting blood sugar, long-term blood sugar (HbA1c), triglycerides and insulin, with blood sugar effects similar to a med and rosiglitazone.Berberine lowers blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients through increasing insulin receptor expression.
- Twelve women with polycystic ovary syndrome took 1100 mg of a bioavailable berberine daily for 60 days with no control group, and insulin resistance, inflammation markers, triglycerides, body fat and testosterone all decreased.Read the study on PubMed (34684666) →
- In people with borderline high cholesterol and no drug treatment, 6 months of berberine phospholipid on top of standard management lowered fasting blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin more than standard management alone, along with improvements in cholesterol, weight, oxidative stress and artery thickness.Borderline hyperlipidemia: preventive supplementation with berberine phospholipids to prevent early atherosclerosis evol…
Review Totals and Summary
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Biohacker Summary
Members Only0 of 10 recommend it
0 of 10 biohackers on our panel recommend it
Berberine, the main ingredient, gets a mostly positive response, with five of the ten panelists recommending it and two more saying they take it. Most take it for blood sugar and insulin resistance, and others mention cholesterol, sleep, cravings and gut health. The dose given most often is 500 mg with meals, with one panelist citing 500 mg three times a day, and two prefer dihydroberberine or a better absorbed form. Cautions are clear: one panelist warns that taking it on an empty stomach can cause low blood sugar, headaches, dizziness and blurred vision, another advises care when combining it with other glucose lowering supplements or meds, and one is skeptical of the evidence for supplements in general. One panelist stopped taking it once he left the diet that made it useful, and the rest of the panel is neutral.
See all 9 biohackers →Hide the biohackers
Dr. Eric Berg · Berberine · recommends
- Recommends adding berberine as another natural remedy to the combination for cancer.
- Dr. Eric Berg states that Berberine combined with a lower-carb diet may help support healthy blood sugar levels and reduce cravings over time.
- Notes that some people add berberine, which supports healthy blood glucose and makes one insulin resistant.
- Recommends taking berberine to block the effects of grains.
- Suggests incorporating anti-cancer foods like berberine to help prevent pancreatic cancer.
- Recommends taking berberine, stating it is very beneficial for type 2 diabetes.
- Dr. Eric Berg states that berberine may support blood sugar, but it should not be treated as an equivalent substitute for other treatments.
- Lists berberine as an epigenetic factor that may help with cancer prevention.
- Recommends berberine as a natural version of a med, citing powerful research that shows it makes the body more sensitive to insulin and has fewer side effects than a med.
- Berberine is often compared to a med because of its potential effects on blood sugar and insulin resistance. More than 50 clinical trials have investigated berberine, with studies reporting improvements in A1C, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol comparable to those seen with a med.
Thomas DeLauer · Berberine · neutral
- Mentions dihydroberberine as a component that can be used to optimize and support the AMPK pathway, helping to tune it up and have a higher baseline.
- Has found berberine to be very helpful for some of his patients who are night snackers, especially those with a sweet tooth.
- Recommends berberine if one is going to have fruit later in the day, as it specifically restores the AMPK-driven fat suppression.
- Recommends Dihydroberberine to improve mitochondrial performance and turn up the AMPK dial.
- Recommends Berberine, stating that 500mg taken three times with meals has shown comparable results to a med in dropping HbA1c and fasting glucose.
- Would start taking berberine because it helps with high glucose.
- Mentions dihydroberberine or berberine as a powerful tool to upregulate activity, especially in the context of optimizing pathways to support key areas of change like hormone health.
- Likes berberine for people who are insulin resistant, noting it helps lower blood glucose spikes when taken with meals. He cautions against taking it on an empty stomach due to potential nausea or hypoglycemia.
- Recommends berberine in occasional doses for general blood sugar regulation, noting it activates AMPK, similar to a med, triggering glucose clearing, and has shown efficacy in reducing HbA1c and improving gut microbiome for glucose uptake.
- Recommends berberine, typically at 500 plus milligrams multiple times per day, as a complementary tool to parsley for activating AMPK and promoting fat burning through a different mechanism.
Siim Land · Berberine · recommends
- Recommends berberine as a herbal supplement that increases fat metabolism, lowers mTor and blood sugar, making it a good combination for increased autophagy, and notes that meta-analyses show it reduces blood sugar, promotes weight loss, and decreases cholesterol.
- Recommends Berberine for blood sugar and cholesterol, based primarily on human research, especially randomized controlled trials showing measurable benefits.
- Lists Berberine as one of 15 supplements backed by human studies.
- Advises caution when using berberine with glycine, as it is a glucose-lowering medication.
- Is skeptical about most supplements, including berberine, because he doesn't see any evidence to back up their claims, which are often based on personal testimonials.
- Mentions berberine as a compound that can increase autophagy, but notes it doesn't come close to exercise in effectiveness.
- He takes 500 mg of berberine with meals for blood sugar control.
- Would take berberine for pre-diabetes.
- Advises caution with berberine due to its antibacterial effects and potential to change the microbiome, especially if one doesn't have gut problems.
- States that berberine also showed a lifespan extension in their hands.
Dr. Rhonda Patrick · Berberine · neutral
- Notes that berberine is a promising compound for cardiovascular health, with potential benefits spanning lipid metabolism, artery health, and the gut microbiome.
- Notes that berberine lowers LDL cholesterol in randomized trials and is interested in its connection to ApoB, artery plaque, and the gut microbiome.
- Notes that berberine has been on their radar for glucose control for years, and a new study on a biooptimized form of berberine showed reductions in fasting glucose, improved glucose tolerance, and an increase in fasting.
- Recommends berberine for atherosclerosis, noting it has a more compelling evidence base, showing reduction in plaque formation and improvement in LDL, HbA1c, and glucose regulation.
- Recommends Berberine for optimizing blood glucose, noting that meta-analyses show it reduces fasting glucose and HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Notes that Berberine may not have the same inhibitory effect on muscular hypertrophy and strength gains as a med, but there are currently no studies to support or refute this.
- Discusses ideal dosing for berberine.
- Notes that berberine is also effective for blood glucose regulation, similar to apple cider vinegar.
- States that berberine is undoubtedly effective for improving insulin sensitivity.
- Discusses berberine, noting it is a mitochondrial toxin and an analog of a med, and mentions a systematic review suggesting it was beneficial in lowering LDL cholesterol and reducing a med myopathy.
Dave Asprey · Berberine · recommends
- Recommends berberine as a good alternative to a med for longevity, citing its similar pathway effects without the downsides and its positive impact on the microbiome.
- Dave Asprey discusses berberine as a plant compound that genuinely lowers blood glucose, comparable to a med in some trials, but notes its poor absorption and lack of lifespan data, classifying it as a glucose drug, not a longevity drug.
- Notes that berberine supports sleep optimization, ketosis, and blocks a cancer growth pathway most drugs cannot touch.
- Prefers a med over berberine, stating there is more data for a med, though berberine might be useful for diabetics.
- Dave Asprey and his guests reveal how berberine can improve metabolism, regulate dopamine, and protect the brain, and can rival meds.
- Mentions that GL Perfect contains bioavailable berberine, which is 250 times more bioavailable than normal.
- Takes berberine when he eats carbs to help manage blood sugar levels.
- Notes that Intellx DNA provides information on what doses of berberine, such as two grams, were used in studies to improve blood sugars, emphasizing that a small amount won't have the same effect as a larger dose.
- Mentions needing 72 milligrams of Berberine as part of personalized supplements.
- States that berberine has anti-parasite qualities and he takes it nearly constantly, but warns that it is not without risk, as he experienced abnormally low heart rate and blood pressure on two occasions, which he attributes to berberine.
Dr. Mark Hyman · Berberine · uses
- Takes 500 mg of Berberine with meals for blood sugar control.
- Recommends berberine to help with insulin resistance.
- Mentions that berberine may be helpful for people with insulin resistance and that he uses it in his practice.
- Recommends taking berberine as a natural way to increase GLP-1.
- Used an herbal regimen that included berberine as part of a combination product to treat a patient's dysbiosis and yeast overgrowth.
- Mentions that berberine can affect certain genes.
- States that berberine helps with blood sugar regulation, insulin resistance, and cardiac health.
- Mentions berberine as one of many phytochemicals that influence the AMPK pathway and have similar benefits to a med.
- Recommends berberine as helpful for insulin resistance and regulating blood sugar.
- States that berberine has effects and they try it when dealing with tough, desperate patients.
Andrew Huberman · Berberine · uses
- Takes 500 mg of berberine with meals to help with blood glucose.
- Dr. Huberman states he will skip berberine because it gives him brutal headaches, makes him crave carbohydrates, and drops his blood sugar.
- Discusses berberine and other potent molecules for regulating blood glucose.
- Warns that berberine is a serious step and one should talk to their doctor about it, as taking it on an empty stomach can cause hypoglycemia, brutal headaches, dizziness, and impaired vision; however, when taken with a large, carbohydrate-rich meal, he felt fine on up to 750 mg or a gram.
- Mentions the use of fasting-related supplements, including berberine.
- Huberman warns that if you take berberine without ingesting carbohydrates, many people, including himself, experience a splitting headache due to becoming hypoglycemic, as it is a glucose clearing agent.
- States that berberine can further support fat loss and discusses its impact on insulin.
- Mentions berberine as a compound, derived from a plant, that is in growing use for reducing blood glucose and is very potent at doing so.
- Warns that berberine can decrease testosterone levels, and that people often take it for blood sugar or longevity without considering this side effect.
- Huberman does not take berberine because it gives him brutal headaches, which he attributes to its effect of lowering blood glucose.
Ben Greenfield · Berberine · recommends
- States that berberine is great for sleep, upregulating serotonin and dopamine, and that their bioavailable berberine product is taken by 75% of users for sleep, even though it was created for blood glucose management.
- Now uses berberine as a natural strategy instead of a med and as a natural insulin-sensitizer.
- Offers berberine as a natural alternative for better blood sugar control.
- Recommends berberine or dihydroberberine as a powerful insulin sensitizing agent and a good alternative to a med, noting its comparable hemoglobin A1c reductions in some type 2 diabetes trials.
- Berberine was mentioned in a study as a biofilm disruptor that can improve microbial access and affect outcomes in SIBO and methane-dominant cases.
- Uses Dihydroberberine as part of the Neuro Regenerate product to protect mitochondria, stabilize energy, and sustain cognitive output.
- Recommends Dihydroberberine as a powerful antioxidant in Neuro Regenerate to support mitochondria and fuel clean, crash-free mental energy.
- Mentions the report recommends taking 500 mg of berberine to address ETBF activity.
- Mentions berberine as something that can enhance fatty acid oxidation and white adipose to brown fat tissue conversion.
- Recommends the regular use of berberine to help nuke bacterial overgrowth in the gut for those with FODMAP sensitivity.
Peter Attia · Berberine · stopped
- Used to take berberine, which he called "poor man's a med," to buffer blood glucose and feel less sick after ingesting large amounts of calories on a cheat day, but stopped when he no longer followed the Slow Carb Diet.
- Uses berberine in clinical practice as a weak inhibitor of the enzyme PCSK9, which can help a subset of patients who overexpress PCSK9 and have high LDL cholesterol.
- Suggests Thorne as the brand for berberine when recommending it to patients.
- Uses berberine in clinical practice as a weak inhibitor of the enzyme PCSK9, which can help lower LDL cholesterol in a subset of people who overexpress PCSK9.
- Uses berberine in clinical practice because it is a weak inhibitor of the enzyme PCSK9, which degrades LDL receptors. He finds it effective for a subset of patients who overexpress PCSK9 and have high LDL, and he will prescribe it to see if it helps without prior testing.
- Shares insights about berberine.
- Used to take Berberine for longevity but stopped because he didn't see enough evidence.
RAL Summary
Members OnlyTier 4 for Blood Sugar
The ineffective grade rests on one product trial in women with polycystic ovary syndrome that found no blood sugar change, while another product study found lower blood sugar and berberine itself has strong blood sugar evidence, so the studies disagree rather than show it does not work. So it is graded Tier 4, as the studies disagree.
- Emerging: not enough evidence to rank higher yet.
Where the evidence disagrees: 7 of the 65 human studies found no effect.
More Details
Members OnlyBody systems · Combine with · Possible side effects
Body systems: Endocrine system, Cardiovascular system, Digestive system
Possible side effects: Studies report more stomach upset with berberine than with placebo; it did not raise the risk of low blood sugar.
Supplement Facts
Berbevis® Berberine Phytosome 550 mg
Supplement Facts
Serving Size 1 Capsule
Amount Per Serving% Daily Value
| Berbevis® Berberine Phytosome | 550 mg | † |
† Daily Value not established.
Other ingredients: Pea Protein Isolate, Hypromellose, Lecithin, Grape Seed Extract, Cellulose Gel, Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Less than 2% of Silicon Dioxide, Stearic Acid.
Directions: Adults, take 1 capsule 2 times daily, with water for at least 2 months. Store tightly closed, in a cool, dry place, out of reach of children. Do not use if seal under cap is broken or missing.
Barcode (UPC) 031604001575 · Label source: Reverseagelab · Report a label change
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Graded November 6, 2026 by the Reverse Age Lab evidence engine, from human studies, real reviews and our biohacker panel. How we grade. Is this medical advice? No. Rala organizes the published evidence; go over any change with your doctor, especially if you take meds.
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