- Berberine is a supplement found in the roots, leaves, and stems of several plants.
- It has been used for thousands of years to treat infections and heal wounds.
- Recently, more and more people on social media have dubbed the place ‘Nature’s Ozempic’, but experts disagree.
Berberine is a yellow, bitter chemical found in the roots, leaves, and stems of several plants and has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It is often used to heal wounds and treat infections. Several spare evidence It may be effective for such problems as well.
But this year, this old compound has suddenly become the new hot internet sensation for weight loss, and many are TikTok influencers call it ‘Nature’s Ozempic’‘ and how it helped me lose weight and improve my hormonal imbalance.
The use of this supplement has become a very prominent epidemic online, Even the National Institutes of Health was trampled Earlier this month, it posted a cautionary statement on its website warning of the potential dangers of consuming berberine.
But in reality, berberine is no match for the newer class of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic.. Small studies have shown that the potential weight loss effects of this supplement are very modest, and experts believe there are no other well-regulated, inexpensive drugs that are more effective for weight loss and metabolic problems. He told an insider that there is.
“Berberine is not that powerful,” Dr. Amy Rothberg, an expert in metabolism, nutrition and diabetes at the University of Michigan, told Insider. “If it makes you lose weight, it’s going to be pretty modest.”
Here are the basics of what we know about berberine.
Berberine is far from Ozempic when it comes to weight loss
Even if berberine does help with weight loss, it’s very modest compared to the dramatic results people have seen with expensive GLP-1 prescription drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.In clinical trials, these were given once a week Taking injections for more than a year can lead to weight loss of 15% or more.
vice versa, A small study of fewer than 10 obese patients who took berberine It was found that taking berberine three times a day for three months resulted in an average weight loss of only about five pounds.
Rothberg said the supplement may not actually do anything to help you lose weight.
“It can be a very strong placebo effect in itself,” she says.
Berberine may be akin to cheap diabetes drug metformin
Although there is not much convincing data on berberine weight loss yet, there is a small growing body of evidence available suggesting that this compound may have some weight loss benefits. control blood sugar, cholesterol,expensive blood pressure.
Dr. Michael Weintraub, an obesity medicine expert at New York University Langone University, told Insider that this could lead to cheaper generic diabetes drugs. better comparison for berberine. Berberine’s beneficial effects on blood sugar “may be comparable to moderate doses of metformin,” he said.
Although metformin is also “the most commonly prescribed off-label drug for weight loss,” Weintraub said most people who take metformin lose only a modest amount of weight, perhaps 5 to 10 pounds. Stated.
metformin too A very common treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)which is one of the metabolic diseases TikTokers say berberine can help treat.
Still, Weintraub isn’t convinced berberine will replace metformin anytime soon.
“I would certainly like to see a better designed, large-scale clinical trial run, so we might be able to see if there is room for that.” he said.
Like many supplements, berberine is largely unregulated
The idea that berberine is somehow cleaner, better, or purer than licensed prescription drugs like Ozempic is not supported by experts.
“Like any over-the-counter supplement, frankly, you don’t even know what’s in it,” says Rothberg. “It could be advertised as berberine, but it could actually be ephedra,” he said, referring to the supplement, which is now banned in the US. A history of serious health problems such as heart attacks and sudden death.
Rothberg said he had seen “very abnormal blood” in a patient taking an over-the-counter supplement, and when the patient’s supplement was tested in a lab, doctors found that there was He said he had discovered “all kinds of chemicals,” including the hormone testosterone. The stimulant amphetamines and other substances not listed anywhere on the label.
“There is no real oversight of these over-the-counter supplements,” she says.
Berberine May Be Dangerous for Some People
Both medical professionals The Insider spoke to for this article agreed that pure berberine is a relatively safe and well-tolerated compound.
Like metformin, the most common side effects of berberine include constipation, diarrhea, and an upset stomach. But health care providers said there are at least three groups of people who should avoid berberine at all costs.
They include:
- pregnant personTaking berberine can pass on a type of irreversible brain damage called kernicterus to your child.
- breastfeeding mothers, Because berberine can have adverse effects, affect child development
- People taking other medicines should be careful. That’s because berberine can affect key enzymes that affect how our bodies metabolize many other drugs. If you are taking other medicines, you should talk to your doctor first to make sure berberine does not cause adverse interactions, such as making other medicines less effective.
supplements too increased risk of bleeding The antiplatelet effect causes bruising.
“Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s better or more effective,” says Rothberg. “In reality, the opposite is often the case.”
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