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Also known as Berberine HCl
Isoquinoline plant alkaloid that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK); trials show blood-glucose-lowering effects in type 2 diabetes approaching those of metformin, though GI side effects are common.
We link to relevant studies and leave interpretation to you and your healthcare professional.
Number of audited published findings for Berberine by condition. Drill into a pair page for the full breakdown.
Where people report using it and what trials suggest
Common claims the trials do not support
Plant alkaloid with genuine glucose-lowering signals from mostly low-quality trials; 'nature's metformin' marketing overstates the case.
Safety notes: Significant CYP interactions (cyclosporine, some statins). Avoid in pregnancy and with antibiotics that it displaces. Not for self-treatment of diabetes.
Evidence grades reflect study quality and consistency, not marketing claims.
Summaries of published trial results for this compound, grouped by condition. Numbers are reported exactly as the researchers published them — we never calculate or convert.
How to read this table
In short: benefit is what was observed; evidence is how much you should trust the observation. A “Benefit seen” tag on a weak study counts for far less than the same tag on a meta-analysis.
| Outcome measured | What trials found | Effect size | People studied | Duration | Type of evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fasting plasma glucose (FPG) | Fasting plasma glucose reduced by 0.54 mmol/L vs control in 2,313 patients. (95% CI: -0.77 to -0.30)Benefit seen | -0.54 mmol/L | 2,313 | — | Meta-analysis · 2019 | PMID 30393248 |
| glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) | HbA1c reduced by 0.54 mmol/L vs control in 2,313 patients. (95% CI: -0.93 to -0.15)Benefit seen | -0.54 mmol/L | 2,313 | — | Meta-analysis · 2019 | PMID 30393248 |
| postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) |
Associated conditions and community-reported outcomes, wrapped together on one page. Aggregates appear only once enough reports arrive.
How this compound is sold in the UK, and where our readers typically find it.
Retailer search links — we may earn commission on purchases at no cost to you. Commission never affects our evidence ratings.
| Postprandial plasma glucose reduced by 0.94 mmol/L vs control in 2,313 patients. (95% CI: -1.27 to -0.61)Benefit seen |
| -0.94 mmol/L |
| 2,313 |
| — |
| Meta-analysis · 2019 |
| PMID 30393248 |
| blood glucose levels | Berberine significantly improved blood glucose levels compared to controls, though no specific effect size or sample count was reported.Benefit seen | no number reported | — | — | Systematic review · 2023 | PMID 36999891 |
| blood lipids | Berberine significantly improved blood lipids compared to controls, though no specific effect size or sample count was reported.Benefit seen | no number reported | — | — | Systematic review · 2023 | PMID 36999891 |
| body parameters and composition | Berberine significantly improved body parameters and composition compared to controls, though no specific effect size or sample count was reported.Benefit seen | no number reported | — | — | Systematic review · 2023 | PMID 36999891 |
| colorectal adenomas | Berberine significantly improved colorectal adenomas compared to controls, though no specific effect size or sample count was reported.Benefit seen | no number reported | — | — | Systematic review · 2023 | PMID 36999891 |
| gastrointestinal symptoms | Berberine caused common gastrointestinal side effects like constipation and diarrhea compared to controls, with no specific rates reported.Unclear | no number reported | — | — | Systematic review · 2023 | PMID 36999891 |
| Helicobacter pylori infections | Berberine significantly improved Helicobacter pylori infections compared to controls, though no specific effect size or sample count was reported.Benefit seen | no number reported | — | — | Systematic review · 2023 | PMID 36999891 |
| inflammatory markers | Berberine significantly improved inflammatory markers compared to controls, though no specific effect size or sample count was reported.Benefit seen | no number reported | — | — | Systematic review · 2023 | PMID 36999891 |
| insulin resistance | Berberine significantly improved insulin resistance compared to controls, though no specific effect size or sample count was reported.Benefit seen | no number reported | — | — | Systematic review · 2023 | PMID 36999891 |
| 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (2 h-OGTT) | 2 h-OGTT decreased from 10.44 to 8.12 mmol/L vs placebo in 34 people over 12 weeks. (p<10- 5)Benefit seen | 10.44 ± 0.52 to 8.12 ± 0.40 mmol/L | 34 | 12 weeks | RCT · 2023 | PMID 37679692 |
| Fasting insulin (FI) | Fasting insulin fell from 9.81 to 7.88 mmol/L vs placebo in 34 people over 12 weeks. (p<10- 5)Benefit seen | 9.81 ± 0.36 to 7.88 ± 0.52 mmol/L | 34 | 12 weeks | RCT · 2023 | PMID 37679692 |
| Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) | FPG dropped from 6.75 to 5.33 mmol/L vs placebo in 34 people over 12 weeks. (p<10- 5)Benefit seen | 6.75 ± 0.23 to 5.33 ± 0.28 mmol/L | 34 | 12 weeks | RCT · 2023 | PMID 37679692 |
| Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) | HbA1c reduced from 6.40% to 5.43% vs placebo in 34 people over 12 weeks. (p<10- 5)Benefit seen | 6.40% ± 0.20-5.43% ± 0.21% % | 34 | 12 weeks | RCT · 2023 | PMID 37679692 |
| Homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) | HOMA-IR dropped from 3.61 to 2.41 vs placebo in 34 people over 12 weeks. (p<10- 5)Benefit seen | 3.61 ± 0.31 to 2.41 ± 0.14 | 34 | 12 weeks | RCT · 2023 | PMID 37679692 |
| Outcome measured | What trials found | Effect size | People studied | Duration | Type of evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apolipoprotein B | Berberine reduced apolipoprotein B by 0.25 g/L vs placebo in 127 participants over 4 to 24 weeks. (95% CI -0.40 to -0.11)Benefit seen | -0.25 g/L | 127 | 4 to 24 weeks | Meta-analysis · 2023 | PMID 36941490 |
| Gastrointestinal adverse events | Berberine caused more gastrointestinal adverse events (2-23%) than placebo (2-15%) over 4 to 24 weeks.Unclear | 2-23% vs 2-15% | — | 4 to 24 weeks | Meta-analysis · 2023 | PMID 36941490 |
| HDL cholesterol (men) | Berberine showed no significant benefit on HDL cholesterol in men vs placebo over 4 to 24 weeks. (95% CI -0.16 to 0.02)No clear benefit | -0.07 mmol/L | — | 4 to 24 weeks | Meta-analysis · 2023 | PMID 36941490 |
| HDL cholesterol (overall) | Berberine increased HDL cholesterol by 0.06 mmol/L vs placebo in 1471 participants over 4 to 24 weeks. (95% CI 0.00 to 0.11)Benefit seen | 0.06 mmol/L | 1471 | 4 to 24 weeks | Meta-analysis · 2023 | PMID 36941490 |
| HDL cholesterol (women) | Berberine increased HDL cholesterol by 0.11 mmol/L vs placebo in women over 4 to 24 weeks. (95% CI 0.09 to 0.13)Benefit seen | 0.11 mmol/L | — | 4 to 24 weeks | Meta-analysis · 2023 | PMID 36941490 |
| LDL cholesterol | Berberine reduced LDL cholesterol by 0.46 mmol/L vs placebo in 1447 participants over 4 to 24 weeks. (95% CI -0.62 to -0.30)Benefit seen | -0.46 mmol/L | 1447 | 4 to 24 weeks | Meta-analysis · 2023 | PMID 36941490 |
| Total cholesterol | Berberine reduced total cholesterol by 0.48 mmol/L vs placebo in 1637 participants over 4 to 24 weeks. (95% CI -0.63 to -0.33)Benefit seen | -0.48 mmol/L | 1637 | 4 to 24 weeks | Meta-analysis · 2023 | PMID 36941490 |
| Triglycerides | Berberine reduced triglycerides by 0.34 mmol/L vs placebo in 1661 participants over 4 to 24 weeks. (95% CI -0.46 to -0.23)Benefit seen | -0.34 mmol/L | 1661 | 4 to 24 weeks | Meta-analysis · 2023 | PMID 36941490 |
| Fasting plasma glucose | Berberine lowered fasting glucose from 7.0 to 5.6 mm/liter, with significantly greater improvement compared to placebo. (P < 0.0001)Benefit seen | 5.6 mm/liter | One hundred sixteen | 3 months | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18397984 |
| Glucose disposal rate | Berberine did not significantly improve glucose disposal rate compared to placebo. (P = 0.063)No clear benefit | no number reported | — | 3 months | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18397984 |
| HbA1c | Berberine lowered HbA1c from 7.5 to 6.6%, with significantly greater improvement compared to placebo. (P < 0.0001)Benefit seen | 6.6 % | One hundred sixteen | 3 months | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18397984 |
| Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol | Berberine lowered LDL cholesterol from 3.23 to 2.55 mm/liter, with significantly greater improvement compared to placebo. (P <0.0001)Benefit seen | 2.55 mm/liter | One hundred sixteen | 3 months | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18397984 |
| Postload plasma glucose | Berberine lowered postload glucose from 12.0 to 8.9 mm/liter, with significantly greater improvement compared to placebo. (P < 0.0001)Benefit seen | 8.9 mm/liter | One hundred sixteen | 3 months | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18397984 |
| Total cholesterol | Berberine lowered total cholesterol from 5.31 to 4.35 mm/liter, with significantly greater improvement compared to placebo. (P < 0.0001)Benefit seen | 4.35 mm/liter | One hundred sixteen | 3 months | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18397984 |
| Triglyceride | Berberine lowered triglyceride from 2.51 to 1.61 mm/liter, with significantly greater improvement compared to placebo. (P = 0.001)Benefit seen | 1.61 mm/liter | One hundred sixteen | 3 months | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18397984 |
| Fasting blood glucose in study A | Berberine lowered fasting glucose from 10.6 to 6.9 mmol/L compared to baseline. (P<.01)Benefit seen | 6.9 mmol/L | 36 | 3-month | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18442638 |
| Fasting plasma insulin in study B | Adding berberine reduced fasting plasma insulin by 28.1% compared to baseline. (P<.001)Benefit seen | 28.1% reduction | 48 | 3-month | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18442638 |
| Hemoglobin A1c in study A | Berberine lowered hemoglobin A1c from 9.5% to 7.5% compared to baseline; its glucose-lowering effect was similar to metformin. (P<.01)Benefit seen | 7.5% post-treatment value | 36 | 3-month | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18442638 |
| Hemoglobin A1c in study B | Adding berberine lowered hemoglobin A1c from 8.1% to 7.3% compared to baseline in poorly controlled diabetes. (P<.001)Benefit seen | 7.3% post-treatment value | 48 | 3-month | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18442638 |
| Insulin resistance index in study B | Adding berberine reduced the insulin resistance index by 44.7% compared to baseline. (P<.001)Benefit seen | 44.7% reduction | 48 | 3-month | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18442638 |
| Postprandial blood glucose in study A | Berberine lowered postprandial glucose from 19.8 to 11.1 mmol/L compared to baseline. (P<.01)Benefit seen | 11.1 mmol/L | 36 | 3-month | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18442638 |
| Triglycerides in study A | Berberine lowered triglycerides from 1.13 to 0.89 mmol/L compared to baseline. (P<.05)Benefit seen | 0.89 mmol/L | 36 | 3-month | RCT · 2008 | PMID 18442638 |