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Botanical

Berberine

Berberine is a yellow plant alkaloid found in barberry, goldenseal and Oregon grape, and is mostly studied for blood sugar.

Also listed as Berberine Extract 10:1, Dihydroberberine, berberine hcl, berberine hydrochloride

Weight ManagementCardiovascularGut HealthOrgan Function

What it is studied for

The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.

Blood sugarWeight ManagementStrongA3 studies
Cholesterol balanceCardiovascularStrongA3 studies
Gut healthStrongA3 studies
InflammationStrongA3 studies
Liver healthOrgan FunctionStrongA3 studies
Microbiome healthGut HealthStrongA3 studies
All 10 rated effectsGrouped by health goal, with the publications behind each rating

What is berberine?

Berberine is a plant substance found in barberry, goldenseal and Oregon grape. Research includes diabetes and weight. 1

Key studies

The most recent publications linked to Berberine's ratings.

Lei et al. — Berberine and adiposity in adults with obesity and MASLD2026 · Six-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialBerberine in rheumatoid arthritis: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory mechanisms in animal models2024 · Animal-model review and meta-analysisThe Effect of Berberine Supplementation on Glycemic Control and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Metabolic Disorders: An Umbrella Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials2023 · Systematic review / meta-analysisBerberine influences multiple diseases by modifying gut microbiota2023 · See original publicationA Comprehensive Insight into the Effect of Berberine on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): A Systematic Review2023 · Systematic review / meta-analysis
All 23 studiesEvery publication linked to Berberine

Why people take it

Gut Health17.8%
Weight Management17%
Cardiovascular15.9%
Immune Support13.6%
Detox9%
Essential Health8.2%

SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.

Questions people ask

Is weight loss established?

Not conclusively; better-quality trials are needed. 1

What doses were associated with weight changes?

The review summarized by NCCIH found effects mainly above 1 g daily for longer than eight weeks; these are study exposures, not dosing advice. 1

Can I combine it with medicines?

Potential interactions warrant discussion with the prescriber. 1

Do the diabetes results apply to healthy people?

The cited review studied people with type 2 diabetes; it does not establish benefit in healthy adults. 2

Sources

Further reading

Illustration for Berberine.GuideBerberine: what do the studies show?Berberine is sold for blood sugar, cholesterol and weight management. Trials have found modest improvements in some blood measurements; the weight-loss claims are harder to support. What does that mean when choosing a supplement?Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideBerberine: effects on blood sugar, cholesterol and weightWhat studies show about berberine, how large the effects are, and why interactions, product quality and the comparison with Ozempic deserve particular attention.Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideDihydroberberine vs. berberine: how do absorption, effects and safety differ?Is dihydroberberine absorbed better than berberine, and does that make it work better on blood sugar? A small pilot study points to higher berberine levels in the blood after lower doses of dihydroberberine. That does not yet establish…Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideBerberine vs. metforminBerberine vs. metformin: the basics, how to read the findings, and common questions.Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideDoes berberine help with weight loss?In studies, berberine usually produces only modest weight loss. Who tends to respond, how it works and how the data compare with semaglutide.Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideHow berberine affects blood sugarCan berberine lower blood sugar? In people with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes or insulin resistance, clinical trials show reductions in fasting glucose and in HbA1c, the long-term blood sugar marker. Whether people with normal starting…Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideBerberine for PCOS: what studies show about metabolism, cycles and fertilityWhat evidence exists for berberine in PCOS, why lab values and live births are different goals, and which safety questions matter before taking it.Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideHow berberine changes gut bacteriaHow does berberine affect the gut microbiome, and what does that mean for metabolism? Berberine can change the makeup of gut bacteria and the metabolites they produce. Researchers are studying its effects on the gut barrier, bile acid…Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideBerberine for SIBO: mechanisms, studies and open questions about dosingBerberine is being studied for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. What the source article reports about its effects, which gaps in its sources stand out, and why high doses do not justify self-treatment.Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideBerberine phytosome: better absorption, but also stronger effects?Phytosome formulations change how berberine is absorbed. What blood levels, metabolic studies and product labels tell us, and which interactions matter.Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideCan berberine lower cholesterol?Berberine can lower LDL and triglycerides. What the studies show, which long-term data are missing and why drug interactions matter.Read the article Illustration for Berberine.GuideTaking berberine: dosage, timing and tolerabilityWhich berberine doses studies use, how the forms differ, and what is known about intake, side effects, interactions and taking breaks.Read the article