Berberine

HCl · phytosome

A plant alkaloid with real glucose-lowering pharmacology, hyped as "nature's metformin." Many trials, mostly small and of mixed quality; the effect on blood sugar is consistent, the long-term outcome data absent.

last reviewed 2026-08-30

by draft — unverified

GRADE

CLAIM

SPECIES

EFFECT

STUDIES

glycemic control in type 2 diabetes — grade B, moderate effect (human-rct)

Lan et al. (2015)

species humandesign meta-analysis of 27 RCTsn 2569duration mixeddose mostly 900–1500 mg/dayfunding not-declaredoutcome HbA1c, fasting glucose, lipids

HbA1c reductions approaching oral antidiabetic drugs — from mostly small Chinese trials of variable quality. Consistent direction, weak individual trials: textbook B with an asterisk.

LDL cholesterol lowering — grade B, small effect (human-rct)

Grade timeline

No grade movement since first review.

Dosing & safety

TYPICAL SUPPLEMENT DOSE900–1500 mg/day, divided

DOSES USED IN STUDIES900–1500 mg/day

UPPER LIMITnone established

SAFETY NOTE GI side effects are common. Inhibits CYP3A4/2D6 — interacts with many prescription drugs, and should not be combined with other glucose-lowering medication without medical supervision. Avoid in pregnancy.

COST SNAPSHOT

No product records for this compound yet.

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