Berberine has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for over a thousand years. The plant molecule from the barberry is primarily still used in Asian culture to treat diarrhea, inflammation, and infections.
In the search for possible ways to extend health span, researchers have only recently studied berberine more thoroughly for its molecular mechanism of action. They found that berberine can have a positive effect on blood sugar levels . Insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus are both very widespread in the population, and pharmaceutical giants like Novo Nordisk with medications such as Ozempic® and Wegovy® are trying to develop effective substances against them.
In this article, you will learn more about how berberine can support your sugar metabolism, what role it plays in longevity research , and why a combination with phospholipids ensures improved bioavailability. We provide you with an overview of the study situation and answer the question of what dosages berberine has been used in. Additionally, we have researched the claim that berberine is the plant-based and natural counterpart to Ozempic®.
What is berberine?
Berberine is a naturally occurring dye that is extracted from the bark of barberry plants.It is one of the oldest and most commonly used dyes and is used by us humans for many different purposes, z.B. in the food industry, in the textile and printing industries, as well as in cosmetics. Berberine also has a long history as a remedy. More on that later.
Occurrence of Berberine in Food
Berberine occurs naturally in some plants. Foods include the famous barberry, the root of goldenrod, and the root of the Mahonia plant. In addition, berberine is found in several other barberry species, known as Berberidaceae, which can be found in some gardens. The common barberry is a popular hedge plant in Germany due to its thorny branches. Its red fruits stand out particularly in summer. The fruits themselves taste rather sour.But please be careful: The plant itself is toxic, apart from the berries! The berries, on the other hand, are rich in Vitamin C and secondary plant compounds such as the aforementioned berberine. Berberine as a dietary supplement Due to the various positive properties attributed to the substance, berberine is also offered as a dietary supplement in capsule or tablet form. In addition, dried barberries are available in stores. These can be used to refine dishes, such as rice dishes. However, in Germany, barberry is hardly used as a spice in the kitchen – it is more common in the Oriental region.
Berberine has been used for thousands of years in traditional Ayurvedic medicine – for example, as a remedy for digestive issues and inflammation. Additionally, some studies suggest that berberine may assist in the support of metabolism, weight loss, improving insulin sensitivity , and supporting heart health . These properties are conveyed through the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the vital substance. However, berberine is not only attributed positive effects in terms of health maintenance – it is also said to help in cases of illness. According to studies, for example, in gastrointestinal infections.
We will take a closer look at how exactly berberine affects various areas.
Short disclaimer:
The use of berberine should be discussed in advance with your trusted doctor if you are regularly taking medications, as the molecule (like many plant substances) can influence the effects of medications.
Diabetes – not a rare phenomenon
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, 7.2% of Germans aged 18 to 79 have diabetes mellitus, or in other words, they are diabetic. That amounts to several million people in Germany, and the number of individuals with Insulin resistance, the precursor to diabetes, is likely even higher.
If type 2 diabetes is present, the body can no longer sufficiently lower high blood sugar levels. The hormone insulin, which brings sugar from the blood into the cells, is no longer effective enough.
Medicine provides a whole arsenal of different medications in the fight against diabetes. However, one does not have to let it get that far!
Ozempic® and Wegovy® – the pharmaceutical answer to the sugar epidemic
There are several approaches to treating diabetes. In the early stages, so-called “lifestyle changes” may be sufficient. This refers to more exercise and a change in diet. If this is not enough, medications that intervene in sugar metabolism are added.
For exactly this purpose, the medication Ozempic® with the active ingredient Semaglutide was developed. It mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) . This hormone causes more insulin to be released during food intake, making it a very effective medication for type 2 diabetes. At the same time, it also affects the sensation of hunger, by suppressing it.
Weight loss through Ozempic®
The "side effect": People lose weight. And not just a little. Up to 20% of body weight has been lost by people undergoing treatment with Ozempic®. Stars like the Kardashians or Elon Musk have also used the medication, not because they are diabetic, but because they wanted to lose weight. An incredible hype for the medication broke out on social media. At times, there were supply shortages because Ozempic® was prescribed "off-label" so often that it was no longer available for the true target group (namely diabetics). Because: Ozempic® is only approved for Type 2 diabetes.
As a result, Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy®, which contains the same active ingredient, Semaglutide, in a different dosage. This time, however, for a different indication. Wegovy® can now be prescribed as a weight loss aid for a BMI > 30.
Berberine – the natural Ozempic®?
In addition to the rush for Ozempic®, Berberine has been particularly marketed in the USA as a natural and cost-effective alternative to the medication.What is the hype about?
First of all, both berberine and Ozempic® affect sugar metabolism – but that’s where the similarity ends.
Ozempic®, with the active ingredient semaglutide, affects the hormone GLP-1 , while berberine increases insulin secretion via the so-called AMPK pathway . Thus, berberine's mode of action is more similar to the medication metformin.
Berbersomecombines the (sugar) metabolism benefits of berberine, chromium, and zinc.
Why sugar metabolism is important for health span
Our body needs a lot of sugar every day for metabolic processes to run smoothly. However, when glucose in our blood becomes too much, it sticks to everything it can attach to, resulting in the formation of so-called Advanced Glycation Endproducts, or AGEs. These AGEs are also present in our food – especially highly processed foods contain particularly high amounts of them.
These AGEs can cause a lot of harm in our body. Blood vessels lose their elasticity, leading to high blood pressure. In particular, the small blood vessels are affected, leading to a decline in vision, and the fine nerve endings die off.
Doctors, such as Dr. Peter Attia often describe a disrupted sugar metabolism as a foundation upon which other diseases build.
But now for the good news: The blood sugar metabolism is extremely manageable! The earlier you start, the easier it is.
Did you know? Healthy people can excrete up to one third of the AGEs ingested through food via urine. In people with diabetes, it is only about 5%.This means that significantly more of the harmful AGEs remain in the body.
Carnosine, a dipeptide primarily found in animal foods, has been shown in studies to prevent the formation of AGEs . In addition, this small molecule positively affects the protective caps of our DNA, the telomeres, and can protect athletes' muscles from "acidosis".
Berberine and Sugar Metabolism
How does berberine affect sugar metabolism? To answer this, several studies on the use of berberine in humans were summarized in this scientific review article .
The most important findings were as follows:
- Berberine was able to lower the long-term blood sugar (HbA1c)
- Berberine lowered blood sugar similarly to the medication Metformin
- Berberine lowers fasting blood sugar
- Berberine can contribute to lower blood sugar 2 hours after eating
- Berberine increases insulin sensitivity
- Berberine lowers blood lipid levels
The clever combination of Berberine with phospholipids results in a 10-fold increase in bioavailability compared to conventional Berberine powder.
Berberine and Sugar Metabolism – A Deeper Insight
How exactly does berberine manage to influence sugar metabolism? After this meta-analysis it mainly succeeds through two pathways:
First: Berberine stimulates insulin secretion via the AMPK pathway and second, berberine can make the cells more sensitive to insulin again. Especially in diabetes, both processes play a role. In addition to berberine, the trace elements chromium and zinc are also essential for the normal function of our sugar and carbohydrate metabolism.
Berberine and Longevity
Studies show that berberine has a positive effect on the body and longevity through the regulation of multiple signaling pathways and longevity pathways, including AMPK, NF-κB, and sirtuins. A supplement with berberine in C. elegans worms extended their lifespan by favorably influencing the aging process. This effect was mediated by the reduction of cellular stress and the increase of gene expression important for longevity. In another study on worms berberine improved the stress tolerance of worms and consequently also their lifespan and healthspan.The results of these studies could be replicated in other organisms such as flies and mice.
These many animal studies paint a positive picture with numerous effects of berberine on the molecular Hallmarks of Aging. Even though further human research is still necessary, the perspective of improved insulin sensitivity, a reduction in oxidative stress, and inflammation is consistently promising.
Berberine in phospholipid form (bioavailability)
In dietary supplements, and especially with plant substances, bioavailability plays an important role.Because ultimately what matters is not how much of a nutrient one takes in, but how much of that nutrient is actually (through the intestine) absorbed into the blood. This is referred to as bioavailability.
A bioavailability of 100% would therefore mean that everything one takes of the substance is also absorbed in the intestine. Decisive for bioavailability is in what form the substance is bound. An example: Magnesium can be present as magnesium oxide or magnesium glycinate. However, magnesium glycinate (among other things contained in our QNESIUM complex) has a significantly higher bioavailability, so that more elemental magnesium is absorbed.
The same effect can also be observed with berberine! In the innovative Berbersome complex from MoleQlar , we therefore use high-purity berberine wrapped in a phospholipidlayer to increase the bioavailability of the molecule. The result: a 10-fold better bioavailability than normal berberine capsules.
Dosages of berberine
How much berberine is needed to achieve the health-promoting effects? This question is actually not always easy to answer. In studies on humans, various dosages have been tested, ranging from 100 mg to over 6000 mg per day.
Looking at the studies on berberine and type 2 diabetes mellitus, a daily dosage between 1500 and 2000 mg seems to be the most effective. To fully unleash the effect on blood sugar parameters, such as HbA1c, participants had to take berberine regularly for at least 12 weeks.
For example, in a three-month study with a daily intake of 1500 mg of berberine in type 2 diabetes patients, there was a 73 percent reduction in the HOMA index which is a measure of the body's insulin resistance.
Conclusion
Berberine is a natural molecule that primarily has a positive effect on glucose metabolism . Although it is often touted as a "natural Ozempic® alternative," the effect of berberine is somewhat different. Especially with carbohydrate-rich meals, the intake of berberine could contribute to a lower increase in blood sugar levels.
Furthermore, berberine positively affects various longevity pathways, such as the sirtuins from. In animal studies, this has already led to an extended lifespan.
