Berberine

Berberine is a plant alkaloid with a long history of use in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for the management of various health conditions. Its seemingly potent ability to reduce blood sugar rivals that of some anti-diabetic drugs.

Quick Answer

What it is

Berberine is a plant alkaloid with a long history of use in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for the management of various health conditions. Its seemingly potent ability to reduce blood sugar rivals that of some anti-diabetic drugs.

Key findings

  • Grade B: Blood glucose (Type 2 Diabetes)
  • Grade B: Body Mass Index (BMI) (Body Composition)
  • Grade B: Apolipoprotein B (Type 2 Diabetes)

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Berberine

Quick Facts: Berberine

  • Best Evidence:Grade B
  • Conditions Studied:19
  • Research Outcomes:148
  • Grade B Findings:9
  • Key Effect:Atherosclerosis
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B9
C8
D2
19 conditions Β· 148 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
B
Blood glucose
Large Improvement
11 studies
large↓Improves
B
Apolipoprotein B
Small Improvement
2 studies
small↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
20 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
20 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Insulin
16 studies
↑Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
15 studies
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
10 studies
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 6
6 studies
↓Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
B
Blood glucose
Large Improvement
11 studies
large↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
20 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Insulin Resistance
15 studies
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
10 studies
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 6
6 studies
↓Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
5 studies
↓Improves
B
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Small Decrease
small↓Improves
?
Weight
6 studies
↓Improves
?
Waist circumference
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
3 studies
↑Improves
B
Apolipoprotein B
Small Improvement
2 studies
small↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
35 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
20 studies
↓Improves
?
Insulin
16 studies
↑Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
14 studies
↓Improves
?
Luteinizing Hormone
8 studies
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
8 studies
↑Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
↓Improves
?
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
7 studies
↑Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
5 studies
↑Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Fertility
2 studies
↑Improves
B
Apolipoprotein B
Small Improvement
2 studies
small↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
35 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
20 studies
↓Improves
?
Insulin
16 studies
↑Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
14 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
1 study
↓Improves
B
Blood glucose
Large Improvement
2 studies
large↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
35 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
20 studies
↓Improves
?
Insulin
16 studies
↑Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
14 studies
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Liver Fat
1 study
↓Improves
B
Blood glucose
Large Improvement
2 studies
large↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
35 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
20 studies
↓Improves
?
Insulin
16 studies
↑Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
14 studies
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
B
Apolipoprotein B
Small Improvement
2 studies
small↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
12 studies
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Large Improvement
1 study
large↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
35 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
20 studies
↓Improves
?
Insulin
16 studies
↑Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
14 studies
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Large Improvement
1 study
large↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
C
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Small Decrease
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
2 studies
↓Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
C
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Small Decrease
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
2 studies
↓Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Large Improvement
1 study
large↓Improves
?
Luteinizing Hormone
8 studies
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
8 studies
↑Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
↓Improves
?
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
7 studies
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
5 studies
↑Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Fertility
2 studies
↑Improves
C
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Small Decrease
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
2 studies
↓Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
C
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Small Decrease
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
2 studies
↓Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
1 study
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Large Improvement
1 study
large↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
14 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Insulin Resistance
5 studies
↓Improves
D
Exercise Tolerance
No effect
none
?
Quality of Life
1 study
↑Improves
D
Exercise Tolerance
No effect
none
?
Quality of Life
1 study
↑Improves
?
Colorectal Polyp Incidence
↑Worsens
?
Canker Sores Symptoms
↓Improves

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

BAtherosclerosis
2
↓C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Improves↓Total cholesterolImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves
BIschemic Heart Disease
2
↓C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Improves↓Total cholesterolImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves
BType 2 Diabetes
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓Apolipoprotein BImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves
BPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
1
↓Apolipoprotein BImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves↓Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves
BDyslipidemia
1
↓Apolipoprotein BImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves↓Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves
BNonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves↓Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves
BMetabolic Syndrome
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves↓Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves
BBody Composition
1
↓Body Mass Index (BMI)Improves↓WeightImproves↓Waist circumferenceImproves
BPrediabetes
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves↓Total cholesterolImproves
BSchizophrenia
1
↓Apolipoprotein BImproves↓Total cholesterolImproves↑High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves
BColorectal Polyps
1
↑Colorectal Polyp IncidenceWorsens
CCardiomyopathy
2
Exercise Tolerance↑Quality of LifeImproves
CHigh Cholesterol
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓Total cholesterolImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves
CCoronary Artery Disease (CAD)
1
↓C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Improves↓Total cholesterolImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves
CInfertility
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↑Luteinizing HormoneImproves↑TestosteroneImproves
CCardiovascular Disease
1
↓C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Improves↓Total cholesterolImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves
CMetabolic Health
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓Total cholesterolImproves↓TriglyceridesImproves
DHeart Failure
1
Exercise Tolerance↑Quality of LifeImproves

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