Berberine has been part of traditional Chinese medicine for more than a thousand years. The plant molecule from barberry is still used primarily in Asian culture to treat diarrhea, inflammation and infections.
In search of possible ways to extend healthspan, researchers have only been studying berberine more thoroughly for a few years to determine 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 drugs like Ozempic® or Wegovy® are trying to develop effective substances against this.
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 will give you an overview of the study situation and answer your question as to the dosages in which berberine was used. We also researched what is true about the claim that berberine is the herbal and natural counterpart to Ozempic®.
What is berberine?
Berberine is a naturally occurring dye that is obtained from the bark of the barberry plant. It is one of the oldest and most commonly used dyes and is used by us humans for many different purposes, such as:b in the food industry, in the textile and printing industries and in cosmetics. Berberine also has a long history as a medicine. More on that later.
Occurrence of berberine in food
Berberine occurs naturally in some plants. The foods include the famous barberry, the root of the goldenrod and the root of the Mahonia plant. Berberine is also contained in several other barberry plants, the so-called Berberidaceae, which are found in some gardens. The common barberry is a popular hedge plant in Germany due to its thorny branches. Their red fruits particularly stand out in summer. The fruits themselves taste rather sour. But please be careful: the plant itself, apart from the berries, is poisonous! The berries, on the other hand, are rich in Vitamin C and secondary plant substances such as the said berberine.
This is what the popular barberry plants in Germany's gardens look like. Berberine is mainly found in berries.
Berberine as a dietary supplement
Due to the many positive properties that the substance is said to have, berberine is also offered as a dietary supplement in capsule or tablet form. Apart from that, dried barberries are still available commercially. These can be used to refine dishes, e.g.b of rice dishes. In Germany, however, barberry is rarely used as a spice in the kitchen - it is more common in the oriental region.
Berberine itself has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years - for example as a remedy for digestive problems and inflammation. In addition, some studies indicate that berberine is effective in supporting metabolism, weight loss, Improve insulin sensitivity and Support heart health could help. These properties are conveyed by the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the vital substance. Berberine is not only said to have positive effects in terms of maintaining health - the molecule is also said to help with illness. According to studies, for example in gastrointestinal infections.
We'll take a look at exactly how berberine affects the different areas.
Short disclaimer:
The use of berberine should be used when taking medication or Medications in advance with the doctor or be discussed with your trusted doctor, as the molecule (like so many herbal substances) can influence the effect of medication.
Diabetes – not a rare phenomenon
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, 7.2% of Germans between 18 and 79 have diabetes mellitus, or to put it another way, they are diabetic. That's several million people in Germany and the number of people with insulin resistance, the precursor to diabetes, is probably even higher.
If you have type 2 diabetes, the body can no longer sufficiently reduce 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 to combat diabetes. But you don't 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 “life style changes” may be sufficient. This means more exercise and a change in diet. If this is not enough, medications are added that interfere with sugar metabolism.
The drug Ozempic® with the active ingredient semaglutide was developed for exactly this purpose. It mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) . This hormone causes more insulin to be released when food is consumed, making it a very effective medication for type 2 diabetes. At the same time, it also affects the feeling of hunger by suppressing it.
Weight loss with Ozempic®
The “side effect”: People lose weight. And not too little. People have lost up to 20% of their body weight while treated with Ozempic®. Stars like the Kardashians and Elon Musk have also used the drug, not because they are diabetic, but because they wanted to lose weight. An incredible hype about the drug broke out on social media. At times there were supply bottlenecks because Ozempic® was prescribed so often “off-label” that it was no longer available to the true target group (namely diabetics). Because: Ozempic® is only approved for type 2 diabetes.
Novo Nordisk then launched Wegovy®, the same active ingredient, semaglutide, in a different dosage. But this time for a different indication. Wegovy® can now be prescribed as a weight loss aid with a BMI > 30.
Berberine – the natural Ozempic®?
In addition to the rush for Ozempic®, Berberine was traded as a natural and inexpensive alternative to the drug, especially in the USA. What's the truth in the hype??
First of all, both berberine and Ozempic® both have an effect on sugar metabolism - but that's where the similarity ends.
Ozempic®, with the active ingredient Semaglutide, affects the hormone GLP-1 , while berberine increases the secretion of insulin via the so-called AMPK pathway . Berberine's mode of action is more similar to the drug metformin.
Berbersome combines the (sugar) metabolic benefits of berberine, chromium and zinc.
Why sugar metabolism is important for healthspan
Our body needs a lot of sugar every day so that metabolic processes run smoothly. However, if the glucose in our blood becomes too much, it sticks together everything it can attach to and as a result, so-called Advanced Glycation Endproducts, or AGEs for short, are created. These AGEs are also found in our food - especially highly processed foods contain a particularly large amount of them.
These AGEs can wreak havoc on our bodies. Vessels lose their elasticity and high blood pressure occurs. The small blood vessels in particular are affected, causing vision to worsen and the fine nerve endings to die.
Doctors, like Dr. Peter Attia like to describe a sugar metabolism gone awry as a basis on which other diseases build.
Now for the good news: The blood sugar metabolism is extremely easy to influence! The earlier you start, the easier it is.
Did you know? Healthy people can excrete up to a third of the AGEs they ingest through food through their urine. For people with diabetes, there are only approx. 5%. This means that significantly more of the harmful AGEs remain in the body.
Carnosine, a dipeptide that is mainly found in animal foods has been shown in studies to result in formation of AGEs prevent. The small molecule also has a positive effect on the protective caps of our DNA, the telomeres, and can protect the muscles of athletes from “acidification”.
Berberine and sugar metabolism
How does berberine affect sugar metabolism? In this scientific review work several studies on the use of berberine in people were summarized.
The most important findings were the following:
- Berberine was able to lower long-term sugar (HbA1c)
- Berberine lowered blood sugar similarly to the drug metformin
- Berberine lowers fasting blood sugar
- Berberine may 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 ensures 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? According to this meta-analysis it mainly works in two ways:
First: Berberine stimulates the secretion of insulin via the AMPK pathway and secondly, Berberine can restore the cells make you more sensitive to insulin. Both processes play a role, especially in diabetes. In addition to berberine the trace elements chromium and zinc are also essential for the normal functioning of our sugar and carbohydrate metabolism.
Berberine and longevity
Studies show that berberine functions via the regulation of multiple signaling and longevity pathways, including AMPK, NF-κB and Sirtuine, which has a positive effect on the body and longevity.
A supplement with berberine for C. elegans worms extended their lifespan by favorably influencing the aging process. This effect was mediated by the reduction of cell stress and the increase in gene expression that are important for longevity. In another study on worms, berberine improved the stress tolerance of worms and, as a result, 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 a lot of further human research is still necessary, the prospect of improved insulin sensitivity, a reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation is very promising.
Berberine in phospholipid form (bioavailability)
Bioavailability plays an important role in dietary supplements, especially herbal substances. Ultimately, what matters is not how much of a nutrient you take in but rather how much of this nutrient is actually absorbed into the blood (via the intestines). This is called bioavailability.
A bioavailability of 100% would therefore mean that everything you take of the substance is also absorbed in the intestines. The decisive factor for bioavailability is the form in which the substance is bound. An example: Magnesium can be used as magnesium oxide or Magnesium glycinate is present. However, the magnesium glycinate (contained, among other things, in our QNESIUM complex) has a significantly higher bioavailability, so that more elemental magnesium is absorbed.
We can also observe the same effect with berberine! In the innovative Berbersome complex from MoleQlar we therefore use highly pure berberine surrounded by a Phospholipidlayer to increase the bioavailability of the molecule. The result: 10 times 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. Various dosages have been tried in human studies, from 100 mg to over 6000 mg per day.
If you look at the studies on berberine and type 2 diabetes mellitus, then a daily dosage between 1500 and 2000 mg seems to be most effective. In order to develop the full effect on blood sugar parameters, such as HbA1c, , the test subjects needed berberine for Take regularly for at least 12 weeks.
An example, in a three-month study with a daily intake of 1500 mg berberine in type 2 diabetes patients there was a 73 percent reduction in the HOMA index lead. This is a value for the extent of the body's insulin resistance.
Conclusion
Berberine is a natural molecule that has a positive effect on blood sugar metabolism . Even though it is often touted as a “natural Ozempic® alternative”, the effect of berberine is slightly different. Taking berberine could contribute to a lower increase in blood sugar, especially with meals rich in carbohydrates.
In addition, berberine has a positive effect on various longevity pathways, such as sirtuins. In animal studies, this has already led to an extended lifespan.
