Several studies among people with type 2 diabetes have shown that taking 600—2,700 mg of berberine daily can lower fasting and long-term blood sugar levels by up to 20% and 12%, respectively, especially when taken together with blood sugar medications (8,. Berberine may lower fasting and postprandial or post-meal glucose levels by more than 30 percent, study finds. These are other markers for blood glucose control. It seems clear that berberine has a significant blood glucose lowering effect, whatever the mechanism (or, more likely, the mechanisms).
A number of clinical trials have been conducted to examine how much glucose berberine lowers in humans, as well as to assess overall safety and tolerability. These initial studies have found that berberine is as potent as other diabetes medications, and it can also lower cholesterol and improve the beneficial effects of blood flow that most diabetes medications do not have. Of course, the available research is limited and the results may not be generalized to people in the United States. Regardless, the findings to date are provocative.
Recently, berberine has become known for its ability to lower high blood glucose levels. By acting at the cellular level, it helps move glucose (sugar) from the blood to the cells, where it is needed most. Researchers in China have studied the effects of berberine on different types of human cells, including cells of the liver, colon, immune system and pancreas. If you have high bilirubin levels, stop taking berberine, as it may delay the elimination of bilirubin from the liver.
Berberine reduces insulin resistance through protein kinase C-dependent upregulation of receptor expression Berberine is a new cholesterol-lowering drug that works through a unique mechanism other than statins. Affuso's group found that, when combined with 200 mg of red yeast rice, 500 mg of berberine led to significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides after a six-week trial. Taking berberine and metformin at the same time does not seem to increase the amount of metformin in the body. If more research supports the safety of berberine in people with liver disease, it may become a regular part of care for people with diabetes and hepatitis.
A study in rats found that berberine may help protect against diabetes because it can increase insulin expression, regenerate B cells (which lose function as diabetes progresses), provides antioxidant properties, and decreases lipid peroxidation, which is a marker of oxidative stress. Laboratory studies, which generally involve studies with rodents or cultured human cells, have found several possible mechanisms for the beneficial effects of berberine on blood sugar control. The Chinese herb Coptis chinensis is also an important source of berberine, although it is less well known in the United States. Evaluation of the effect of a plant alkaloid (berberine derived from Berberis aristata) on Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro.
Inhibitory effect of Coptidis rhizome and berberine on the proliferation of human esophageal cancer cell lines. Berberine lowers blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by increasing insulin receptor expression. Studies on the preventive and curative effects of berberine on chemical-induced hepatotoxicity in rodents. Berberine has also been shown to be as effective in treating other conditions that respond positively to metformin, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), reduction in weight gain caused by antipsychotics, and potentially cancer.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women Berberine can harm an unborn baby if the mother takes it during pregnancy, and a type of brain damage called kernicterus can occur if a baby is exposed to berberine through breast milk. .
