A dietary supplement called berberine has been gaining traction on social media for its weight loss benefits, and has even been dubbed “nature’s Ozempic” after a popular drug that helps you lose weight.
Berberine, found in many plants such as barberry, suppresses appetite and improves blood sugar levels, leading to weight loss, users say. Google search Because “Berberine” started to increase at the end of March and surged in late May.
Berberine’s popularity is rising as demand for medicines such as Ozempic and Wegobee, known for their weight loss benefits, increases.
Ozempic and Wegovy are a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which mimic hormones that help reduce food intake and appetite. These are very effective but are in short supply in the US. It is also expensive, with out-of-pocket costs of about $1,000 or more, and requires a doctor’s prescription.
By comparison, berberine appears to be widely available online, with prices typically ranging from $15 to $40 for a month’s supply.
“You don’t have to see a doctor and it’s a lot cheaper,” says Dr. Peter Cohen, who studies supplement use at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Somerville, Massachusetts. , it’s perfect.”
But that doesn’t mean berberine is effective or safe for weight loss. Here’s what you need to know, including functionality and safety.
Is Berberine Effective For Weight Loss?
Many of the claims about berberine have not been tested in large, peer-reviewed studies, and most of the studies were done in mice, not humans, experts say.
Meta-analysis of 49 studies published Last year, the journal Frontiers in Nutrition found that berberine may have a small effect on weight loss, but may have metabolic effects, primarily on the heart.
“The average weight loss from berberine is not dramatic,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine expert and director of equity in the Department of Endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The study found that the value was “between a quarter of a BMI point and one BMI point, well short of the average value of semaglutide,” referring to the drug found in Ozempic. Stanford University was not involved in this study.
One gram per day seems to be the optimal dose for those who participated in these studies, Stanford said.
Cohen was more cautious about using the compound for weight loss.
Cohen said dietary supplements aren’t reviewed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration, so they can be promoted for just about any health claim. Supplements may contain inaccurate amounts of compounds or may contain other ingredients not listed on the label.
“An active drug like berberine should not be taken indiscriminately,” he says.
Additionally, little, if any, is known about how the supplement supports weight loss, Cohen said.
“People say it’s like metformin, but it’s not,” Dr. Holly Lofton, director of the weight management program at New York University Langone Health, said of the drug. people with diabetes use to lower blood sugar. She said she does not recommend berberine for weight loss.
Is Berberine Safe?
Plant-based medicines are not uncommon, Cohen said. Potent drugs such as aspirin and morphine are made from plants.
Known side effects of berberine in humans include nausea and vomiting, according to Stanford. In animal studies, it was found to enlarge the liver and kidneys and reduce the number of white blood cells that fight infection. Larger studies will need to be conducted to know if there are significant side effects in humans.
Stanford said she recommends consulting a doctor before taking berberine as part of a weight loss plan. She may not be safe for pregnant women, he added.
“These are not FDA approved or regulated in any way,” she says. “You may end up working with someone who has some knowledge, whether it’s a doctor or a naturopathic doctor.”
If you have side effects, stop taking the medicine, she said.
Cohen said despite the potential benefits of losing weight, it was “not worth the risk.”
In fact, if you use berberine and experience weight loss, you should stop taking it immediately and consult your doctor, he said. “It could suggest that something is wrong with the product you’re taking and that you may be exposing yourself to something more dangerous than berberine,” he said.follow NBC Health upon twitter & Facebook.
