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.

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Examine Database: Berberine

Health Condition/Goal	Health Outcome	Evidence
Type 2 Diabetes	14 outcomes	37 Studies
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome	17 outcomes	22 Studies
General Cardiovascular Health	9 outcomes	155 Studies
Dyslipidemia	10 outcomes	135 Studies
High Cholesterol	8 outcomes	4 Studies
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease	12 outcomes	2 Studies
Metabolic Syndrome	10 outcomes	92 Studies
Atherosclerosis	7 outcomes	1 Study
Coronary Artery Disease	7 outcomes	1 Study
Infertility	9 outcomes	2 Studies
Body Composition	4 outcomes	1 Study
Canker Sores	1 outcome	1 Study
Cardiomyopathy	2 outcomes	1 Study
Cardiovascular Disease	7 outcomes	1 Study
Heart Failure	2 outcomes	1 Study
Ischemic Heart Disease	7 outcomes	1 Study
Metabolic Health	6 outcomes	1 Study
Prediabetes	10 outcomes	25 Studies
Schizophrenia	5 outcomes	1 Study
Colorectal Polyps	1 outcome	3 Studies

Type 2 Diabetes

14 outcomes

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

17 outcomes

General Cardiovascular Health

9 outcomes

Dyslipidemia

10 outcomes

High Cholesterol

8 outcomes

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

12 outcomes

Metabolic Syndrome

10 outcomes

Atherosclerosis

7 outcomes

Coronary Artery Disease

7 outcomes

9 outcomes

4 outcomes

1 outcome

2 outcomes

Cardiovascular Disease

7 outcomes

Heart Failure

2 outcomes

Ischemic Heart Disease

7 outcomes

6 outcomes

10 outcomes

5 outcomes

1 outcome

Safety InformationNew

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?

How does berberine reduce blood lipids and cholesterol?

What are other names for Berberine?

Update History

December 3, 2025

Safety Information update
minor

Research written by

Gregory Lopez

Edited by

Conni Covington

Reviewed by

Giulia Guerrini

September 4, 2025

Safety Information added
major

Research written by

Katie Jantz

Edited by

Conni Covington

Reviewed by

Giulia Guerrini

August 7, 2023

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

Health Condition/Goal	Health Outcome	Evidence
Type 2 Diabetes	14 outcomes	37 Studies
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome	17 outcomes	22 Studies
General Cardiovascular Health	9 outcomes	155 Studies
Dyslipidemia	10 outcomes	135 Studies
High Cholesterol	8 outcomes	4 Studies
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease	12 outcomes	2 Studies
Metabolic Syndrome	10 outcomes	92 Studies
Atherosclerosis	7 outcomes	1 Study
Coronary Artery Disease	7 outcomes	1 Study
Infertility	9 outcomes	2 Studies
Body Composition	4 outcomes	1 Study
Canker Sores	1 outcome	1 Study
Cardiomyopathy	2 outcomes	1 Study
Cardiovascular Disease	7 outcomes	1 Study
Heart Failure	2 outcomes	1 Study
Ischemic Heart Disease	7 outcomes	1 Study
Metabolic Health	6 outcomes	1 Study
Prediabetes	10 outcomes	25 Studies
Schizophrenia	5 outcomes	1 Study
Colorectal Polyps	1 outcome	3 Studies

Safety InformationNew

Visit Safety Checker Page

Summary
Side Effects
Interactions
Pregnancy & Lactation
Precautions
WADA Status

Safety Summary

Berberine can cause gastrointestinal side effects in some people, including stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and nausea.
Berberine can have additive effects with medications that lower blood glucose and may interact with medications metabolized by , CYP2D6, and CYP2C9.
Berberine should not be used during pregnancy and lactation due to safety concerns.

Caution: Quality concerns

Studies conducted in the United States and France both found that when tested, berberine supplements frequently did not contain the labeled amount of berberine. This could affect the efficacy and safety of different products.^[51]^[52] Choosing supplements that have undergone third-party testing may help to avoid this issue.

Side Effects

Effect	Details
^[23]^[5]^[37]^[26]	Route: Oral
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Interactions

Berberine is very poorly absorbed in its natural state; only about 5% of the total dose makes it into the circulation. Formulations of berberine with absorption enhancers such as liposomes, microspheres, and micelles can increase its bioavailability by 6 times or more.^[55]^[56] These berberine formulations are also likely to produce drug interactions with a greater magnitude of effect.

Agent	Effect	Level of Evidence	Level of Severity
	Berberine can inhibit CYP3A4, which could reduce the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates, potentially increasing their levels and effects.^[38]^[39]^[40]^[41] In most cases this interaction is likely to be moderate in severity; however, a severe interaction was reported in a case report where berberine was suspected of increasing tacrolimus levels to potentially toxic levels. In this case, the individual may have been genetically susceptible to a more severe interaction.^[42]	Level of Evidence: Probable	Level of Severity: Moderate
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Condition	Safety Information
Pregnancy Avoid	Limited research suggests that berberine can initiate uterine contractions, which might then increase the risk of miscarriage.^[53] Additionally, animal research has found that berberine increases bilirubin in the blood by decreasing the binding of bilirubin to proteins.^[54] Theoretically, berberine can lead to bilirubin toxicity in infants, with symptoms such as icterus (jaundice or yellowing of skin and eyes) and kernicterus (brain damage and swelling). Avoid berberine in pregnancy.

Pregnancy

Avoid

Limited research suggests that berberine can initiate uterine contractions, which might then increase the risk of miscarriage.^[53] Additionally, animal research has found that berberine increases bilirubin in the blood by decreasing the binding of bilirubin to proteins.^[54] Theoretically, berberine can lead to bilirubin toxicity in infants, with symptoms such as icterus (jaundice or yellowing of skin and eyes) and kernicterus (brain damage and swelling). Avoid berberine in pregnancy.

Precautions

Precautions for specific demographics, populations, and/or conditions

Population/Condition	Details
	Meta-analyses of clinical studies showed that taking berberine in addition to medications for diabetes further reduced glycemic parameters compared to medications alone.^[5] ^[35] Although this likely doesn’t increase the risk of hypoglycemia^[36], caution and monitoring are warranted for people with diabetes and taking medications.
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

World Anti-Doping Agency
Not Prohibited

According to the 2026 WADA List of Prohibited Substances, berberine is not prohibited.

Route: Oral

Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Berberine can inhibit CYP3A4, which could reduce the metabolism of CYP3A4 substrates, potentially increasing their levels and effects.^[38]^[39]^[40]^[41] In most cases this interaction is likely to be moderate in severity; however, a severe interaction was reported in a case report where berberine was suspected of increasing tacrolimus levels to potentially toxic levels. In this case, the individual may have been genetically susceptible to a more severe interaction.^[42]

Level of Evidence:

Probable

Level of Severity:

Moderate

Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Condition	Safety Information
Pregnancy Avoid	Limited research suggests that berberine can initiate uterine contractions, which might then increase the risk of miscarriage.^[53] Additionally, animal research has found that berberine increases bilirubin in the blood by decreasing the binding of bilirubin to proteins.^[54] Theoretically, berberine can lead to bilirubin toxicity in infants, with symptoms such as icterus (jaundice or yellowing of skin and eyes) and kernicterus (brain damage and swelling). Avoid berberine in pregnancy.

Pregnancy

Avoid

Population/Condition	Details
	Meta-analyses of clinical studies showed that taking berberine in addition to medications for diabetes further reduced glycemic parameters compared to medications alone.^[5] ^[35] Although this likely doesn’t increase the risk of hypoglycemia^[36], caution and monitoring are warranted for people with diabetes and taking medications.
Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Meta-analyses of clinical studies showed that taking berberine in addition to medications for diabetes further reduced glycemic parameters compared to medications alone.^[5] ^[35] Although this likely doesn’t increase the risk of hypoglycemia^[36], caution and monitoring are warranted for people with diabetes and taking medications.

Full safety information is available to Examine Pro members. Try free for 14 days.

Berberine

Overview

What is berberine?

What are berberine’s main benefits?

What are berberine’s main drawbacks?

How does berberine work?

Dosage InformationMedical disclaimer

Supplements Demystified: Get Our Unbiased, Evidence-Based Guide

Examine Database: Berberine

Safety InformationNew

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?

How does berberine reduce blood lipids and cholesterol?

What are other names for Berberine?

Update History

Safety Information updateminor

Safety Information addedmajor

Full FAQ and database update.major

References

Examine Database References

Examine Database: Berberine

Safety InformationNew

Table of Contents

Safety Summary

Caution: Quality concerns

Side Effects

Interactions

Pregnancy and Lactation

Precautions

Precautions for specific demographics, populations, and/or conditions

World Anti-Doping Agency Not Prohibited

Table of Contents

Safety Summary

Caution: Quality concerns

Side Effects

Interactions

Pregnancy and Lactation

Precautions

Precautions for specific demographics, populations, and/or conditions

World Anti-Doping Agency Not Prohibited

Dosage Information

Safety Information update
minor

Safety Information added
major

Full FAQ and database update.
major

World Anti-Doping Agency
Not Prohibited

World Anti-Doping Agency
Not Prohibited