Overview

What is berberine?

What are berberine’s main benefits?

What are berberine’s main drawbacks?

How does berberine work?

Dosage information

The standard dose of berberine is 900-2,000mg a day, divided into three to four doses.

Berberine should be taken with a meal, or shortly after, to take advantage of the blood glucose and lipid spike associated with eating.

Too much berberine at once can result in stomach upset, cramping, and diarrhea.

Examine Database: Berberine

Show Conditions

Health Condition/Goal	Health Outcome	Evidence
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease	10 Outcomes	209 Studies
Metabolic Syndrome	10 Outcomes	209 Studies
General Cardiovascular Health	9 Outcomes	207 Studies
Type 2 Diabetes	14 Outcomes	183 Studies
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome	17 Outcomes	167 Studies
Prediabetes	10 Outcomes	144 Studies
Dyslipidemia	10 Outcomes	126 Studies
Metabolic Health	13 Outcomes	95 Studies
Schizophrenia	5 Outcomes	54 Studies
Infertility	9 Outcomes	47 Studies
Body Composition	4 Outcomes	23 Studies
Atherosclerosis	7 Outcomes	20 Studies
Coronary Artery Disease	7 Outcomes	20 Studies
Cardiovascular Disease	7 Outcomes	20 Studies
Ischemic Heart Disease	7 Outcomes	20 Studies
High Cholesterol	8 Outcomes	10 Studies
Colorectal Polyps	1 Outcome	3 Studies
Cardiomyopathy	2 Outcomes	2 Studies
Heart Failure	2 Outcomes	2 Studies
Canker Sores	1 Outcome	1 Study

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

10 Outcomes

209 Studies

Metabolic Syndrome

10 Outcomes

209 Studies

General Cardiovascular Health

9 Outcomes

207 Studies

Type 2 Diabetes

14 Outcomes

183 Studies

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

17 Outcomes

167 Studies

Prediabetes

10 Outcomes

144 Studies

Dyslipidemia

10 Outcomes

126 Studies

Metabolic Health

13 Outcomes

95 Studies

Schizophrenia

5 Outcomes

54 Studies

Infertility

9 Outcomes

47 Studies

Body Composition

4 Outcomes

23 Studies

Atherosclerosis

7 Outcomes

20 Studies

Coronary Artery Disease

7 Outcomes

20 Studies

Cardiovascular Disease

7 Outcomes

20 Studies

Ischemic Heart Disease

7 Outcomes

20 Studies

High Cholesterol

8 Outcomes

10 Studies

Colorectal Polyps

1 Outcome

3 Studies

Cardiomyopathy

2 Outcomes

2 Studies

Heart Failure

2 Outcomes

2 Studies

Canker Sores

1 Outcome

1 Study

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Metabolic Syndrome

General Cardiovascular Health

Type 2 Diabetes

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Coronary Artery Disease

Cardiovascular Disease

Ischemic Heart Disease

Research FeedRead all studies

Can berberine and cinnamon improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes?

In this 12-week randomized controlled trial in 33 adults (18 women, 15 men) with type 2 diabetes, taking 1,200 milligrams of berberine and 600 milligrams of cinnamon daily reduced (improved) HbA1c (the primary outcome) by 0.4%.

Berberine may improve metabolic health in people with type 2 diabetes

Berberine for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?

Phytosomal berberine for polycystic ovarian syndrome

Berberine improves glycemic control and reduces markers of inflammation

Frequently asked questions

Does berberine help with weight loss?

Does berberine affect reproductive health and function?

Does berberine affect immune health and function?

Does berberine have antimicrobial effects?

How does berberine reduce blood sugar?

Update History

Full FAQ and database update.
major

Research written by

Daryl Nault & Nick Milazzo

Edited by

Natalka Roshak

Reviewed by

Antonis Damianou

References

Examine Database References

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Zamani M, Zarei M, Nikbaf-Shandiz M, Hosseini S, Shiraseb F, Asbaghi OThe effects of berberine supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.Front Nutr.(2022)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Derosa G, D'Angelo A, Bonaventura A, Bianchi L, Romano D, Maffioli PEffects of berberine on lipid profile in subjects with low cardiovascular riskExpert Opin Biol Ther.(2013 Apr)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Osadnik T, Goławski M, Lewandowski P, Morze J, Osadnik K, Pawlas N, Lejawa M, Jakubiak GK, Mazur A, Schwingschackl L, Gąsior M, Banach MA network meta-analysis on the comparative effect of nutraceuticals on lipid profile in adults.Pharmacol Res.(2022-Sep)
HbA1c - Jing Guo, Hongdong Chen, Xueqin Zhang, Wenjiao Lou, Pingna Zhang, Yuheng Qiu, Chao Zhang, Yaoxian Wang, Wei Jing LiuThe Effect of Berberine on Metabolic Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsOxid Med Cell Longev.(2021 Dec 15)
HbA1c - Dong H, Wang N, Zhao L, Lu FBerberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systemic review and meta-analysisEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
HbA1c - Zhang Y, Li X, Zou D, Liu W, Yang J, Zhu N, Huo L, Wang M, Hong J, Wu P, Ren G, Ning GTreatment of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia with the natural plant alkaloid berberineJ Clin Endocrinol Metab.(2008 Jul)
HbA1c - Xie W, Su F, Wang G, Peng Z, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Xu N, Hou K, Hu Z, Chen Y, Chen RGlucose-lowering effect of berberine on type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Pharmacol.(2022)
HbA1c - Wang J, Bi C, Xi H, Wei FEffects of administering berberine alone or in combination on type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Pharmacol.(2024)
Total cholesterol - Blais JE, Huang X, Zhao JVOverall and Sex-Specific Effect of Berberine for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials.Drugs.(2023-Apr)
Glycemic Control - Yan HM, Xia MF, Wang Y, Chang XX, Yao XZ, Rao SX, Zeng MS, Tu YF, Feng R, Jia WP, Liu J, Deng W, Jiang JD, Gao XEfficacy of Berberine in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseasePLoS One.(2015 Aug 7)
Glycemic Control - Pérez-Rubio KG, González-Ortiz M, Martínez-Abundis E, Robles-Cervantes JA, Espinel-Bermúdez MCEffect of berberine administration on metabolic syndrome, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretionMetab Syndr Relat Disord.(2013 Oct)
Exercise Capacity (with Heart Conditions) - Zeng XH, Zeng XJ, Li YYEfficacy and safety of berberine for congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathyAm J Cardiol.(2003 Jul 15)
Canker Sores Symptoms - Jiang XW, Zhang Y, Zhu YL, Zhang H, Lu K, Li FF, Peng HYEffects of berberine gelatin on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in a Chinese cohortOral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol.(2012 Dec 12)
Total cholesterol - Yang L, Zhu W, Zhang X, Zhou X, Wu W, Shen TEfficacy and safety of berberine for several cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Phytomedicine.(2023-Apr)
Colorectal adenoma (polyps) - Fang S, Guo S, Du S, Cao Z, Yang Y, Su X, Wei WEfficacy and safety of berberine in preventing recurrence of colorectal adenomas: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Ethnopharmacol.(2022-Jan-10)
Triglycerides - Ye Y, Liu X, Wu N, Han Y, Wang J, Yu Y, Chen QEfficacy and Safety of Berberine Alone for Several Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.Front Pharmacol.(2021)
Total cholesterol - Xie L, Zhang D, Ma H, He H, Xia Q, Shen W, Chang H, Deng Y, Wu Q, Cong J, Wang CC, Wu XThe Effect of Berberine on Reproduction and Metabolism in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2019)
Body Mass Index (BMI) - Mohammad Reza Amini, Fatemeh Sheikhhossein, Sina Naghshi, Farhang Djafari, Mohammadreza Askari, Hossein Shahinfar, Maryam Safabakhsh, Alireza Jafari, Sakineh Shab-BidarEffects of berberine and barberry on anthropometric measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsComplement Ther Med.(2020 Mar)

Berberine

Overview

What is berberine?

What are berberine’s main benefits?

What are berberine’s main drawbacks?

How does berberine work?

Dosage informationMedical disclaimer

Examine Database: Berberine

Research FeedRead all studies

Frequently asked questions

Does berberine help with weight loss?

Does berberine affect reproductive health and function?

Does berberine affect immune health and function?

Does berberine have antimicrobial effects?

How does berberine reduce blood sugar?

Update History

Full FAQ and database update.major

References

Examine Database References

Examine Database References

Research FeedRead all studies

Examine Database: Berberine

Dosage information

Full FAQ and database update.
major