Berberine

Berberine Cheat Sheet

Summary

Berberine is a plant alkaloid with anti-diabetic action.

Top 3 Uses

• Lower blood sugar
• Treat gastrointestinal infections
• Alleviate dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases

How To Take It

Dosage

500mg 3x daily

Timing

with meals

Important Notes

additional information, e.g. best form

What It Is

Berberine (molecular formula C20H19NO5 and molecular weight of 353.36) is the main active component of an ancient Chinese herb Coptis chinensis French, which has been used to treat diabetes for thousands of years.

How It Works

• berberine and metformin promote glucose metabolism by stimulating glycolysis, which probably results from inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, independent of AMPK activation.

Uses

General Purpose

• Lowering blood sugar
• treat gastrointestinal infections

Conditions It Treats

• Type 2 Diabetes
  • Hypoglycemic effect similar to that of metformin:
    • hemoglobin A1c from 9.5% ± 0.5% to 7.5% ± 0.4%
    • fasting blood glucose from 10.6 ± 0.9 mmol/L to 6.9 ± 0.5 mmol/L
    • postprandial blood glucose(PBG) from 19.8 ± 1.7 to 11.1
    • plasma triglycerides from 1.13 ± 0.13 mmol/L to 0.89 ± 0.03 mmol/L
• alleviate dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases

How To Take It

• Rhizoma Coptidis is a popular traditional Chinese herb used for treatment of inflammation and diabetes, and contains 5.2%–7.7% of berberine