If you’ve spent time scrolling through social media, you may have heard of berberine, a supplement touted as “nature’s Ozempic.” On TikTok, a video explaining the benefits of berberine has received 127 million views, including several claims about how berberine can help with weight loss, lower cholesterol and treat insulin resistance. or included. But experts say the benefits may be overstated.
Berberine is bright yellow Compounds Derived from Many Plants—It has been used for a long time, such as European barberry and goldenseal. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine For treating problems such as digestive disorders and inflammatory conditions.
Some Studies Show Berberine May Improve Symptoms blood sugar control, lower cholesterol levels, Helps moderate weight loss, on average about 4-5 pounds less. This fact has led people to try it as an alternative to weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegobee. Or tirzepatide – the active ingredient found in Mounjaro.
Regarding the use of berberine as an alternative to these drugs, Melinda Ring, an integrative medicine physician at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, describes the plant extract as “naturally ozempic.” is.
However, although berberine’s effects on weight loss are not as effective as newer treatments, there is some evidence to suggest that berberine may offer other health benefits.
minimal weight loss effect
When it comes to weight loss, studies have shown that berberine has very limited effects at best, leading to “on the order of 5 to 10 pounds,” Ring said.
In contrast, for drugs that: we goby or Munjaro, clinical trials have shown an average weight loss of 30 to 50 pounds compared to placebo. Weight loss also occurs by another mechanism. Semaglutide mimics the hormone that is naturally released after ingesting food and reduces hunger. In contrast, berberine’s mechanism of action for weight loss is most likely derived from its effects on blood sugar levels.
If your goal is to lose weight, the safest and most effective way to achieve it is to seek help from an obesity doctor, says Dan Azagli, a doctor who specializes in obesity at Stanford University. It is said that “If you have heart problems, you go to a cardiologist. If you have obesity, you go to an established and reputable weight loss clinic.”
“Gone are the days of despairing and trying dangerous things to lose weight. The cure is here,” says Azagli.
research has limitations
A major advantage of drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro is that the following conditions must be met: Stringent Food and Drug Administration approval process, it requires a significant amount of research to show that the drug is safe and effective. Even after these medicines are on the market, they are under surveillance, including evaluation of the effects of long-term use. “We do have long-term safety data for GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic,” says Lehmann Sheikh, a gastroenterologist at Baylor College of Medicine. “The same cannot be said for berberine.”
Supplements like berberine have been studied for their effectiveness, but these studies are much more limited in scope and lack data on whether it is safe to take long-term.
Supplement quality can vary widely
One of the biggest differences between drugs like Ozempic and supplements like berberine is how the FDA regulates them. Regarding drugs, Pharmaceutical companies are subject to many regulatory guidelinesThis includes additional monitoring measures to ensure patients receive products that are safe and contain the listed ingredients and dosages.
in contrast, Supplements are considered by the FDA to be in the same category as food., with completely different regulatory mechanisms to ensure quality and safety. The FDA “is not going to control what you eat with the same system that controls the drugs you take,” Azagli said. We have several products to ensure the quality and purity of our supplements. Independent laboratories providing external testingConsumerLab.com, NSF International, United States Pharmacopoeia, and more.
potential advantage
In his clinical practice, Mr. Ring has long suggested berberine to patients as an add-on therapy to manage conditions such as high cholesterol and insulin resistance, or to treat gastrointestinal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. I was.
One potential benefit of berberine is that it has a different mechanism of action than berberine. metformin and statinmay be helpful for patients who respond poorly to these first-line treatments.
But while berberine has been touted as an alternative to statins and metformin, “we can’t say the data is strong enough,” says a study from Examine.com, a website that analyzes the health claims of various supplements. author Nick Milazzo says:
As Milazzo points out, the berberine trial data are highly variable, which is often a sign of poor study design. Further research is needed to fully understand the effects of berberine, including its potential as an alternative to statins and metformin.
As Ring often advises patients, the use of supplements such as berberine should be approached with caution, understanding what it can be used for, what the optimal dose is, and how. It should be done under the guidance of an experienced medical practitioner. May interact with other medicines. “Berberine is good for some people when used properly,” says Ring. “But like anything else, it’s not a magic potion.”
