Is Berberine “Nature’s Ozempic”? Why This Superstar Supplement Shines For Weight Loss, Blood Sugar Balance + More

If you’ve read any of the news stories or tabloids, chances are you’ve heard of Ozempic. This medication designed to help treat Type 2 diabetes,  has become popular among celebrities and everyday people as an effective solution to get rid of stubborn weight. However, as a functional medicine expert, I understand that not everyone wants to be on medication - after all, they can come with a whole slew of other unwanted side effects. 

Enter berberine. This supplement has been touted across social media as “nature’s Ozempic” for its ability to encourage weight loss without the need for a prescription. But is it really all that social media hypes it up to be? Read on to learn more about how it can help you lose weight, its additional health benefits, and my personal opinion on this trending new supplement.

What is berberine?

Berberine is a naturally occurring compound found mainly in the roots, stems, and bark of multiple plants including Oregon grape, goldenseal, goldenthread, tree turmeric, and European barberry.  It has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Native American medicine due to its long list of health benefits for a variety of conditions. Because of its extensive history, many clinical studies have been done to assess berberine’s effectiveness with surprising results in support of this compound as a natural option when medication is not available - or the first choice.

The berberine-weight loss connection

Berberine isn't a magic pill when it comes to weight loss. Instead, berberine has been shown to address the most common underlying forces behind why you gain weight in the first place - and why you can't seem to get rid of it.

1. Blood sugar balance

When it comes to weight loss, berberine’s most compelling benefit is its ability to support blood sugar regulation. The thing is, most Americans eat way too much sugar - 95% more in fact than just 200 years ago! - and all this added sugar spells trouble for our weight.

When glucose hits your bloodstream, your body releases insulin to help deliver it to where it is needed for fuel. But since no one needs as much fuel as we are consuming, it leaves most of us with blood glucose levels that are dangerously high which can lead to serious health issues and weight gain. This is because any excess sugar that your body can’t burn gets stored as fat around your liver, stomach and in circulating fat known as triglycerides. On top of that, the by-products of glucose metabolism contribute to chronic inflammation levels that, you guessed it, further perpetuate weight gain and your inability to lose weight.

Berberine has been found in multiple studies to engage with your body’s cellular processes to enhance your body’s insulin sensitivity and aid in the uptake of glucose by your cells.

2. Metabolic function

Another key way that berberine helps with weight loss is through its ability to influence metabolic pathways. Through its interaction with brown adipose tissue and activation (1) of the AMPK pathway, berberine may spark a metabolic shift that encourages your body to preferentially burn fat for fuel instead of glucose - similar to the popular ketogenic diet that aims to shift your body from a sugar-burner to a fat-burner - to effectively mitigate high glucose levels.

READ MORE: Are Fat Burners Safe? Ingredients To Look For And What To Avoid

More health benefits of berberine

But weight loss isn't all that berberine can do! Even if you aren't looking to lose weight, berberine can be a beneficial supplement to consider if you are dealing with any the following health issues.

1. Improves cholesterol

For many people with high cholesterol, statins are the go-to option to get your levels under control. However, statins have been associated with memory problems and can increase your risk for dementia, so finding a natural solution to cholesterol issues is of vital importance. Enter berberine. Studies have found that berberine is just as beneficial as statins - but without the side effects. In fact, one study published in Natural Medicine (2) found that berberine was able to lower cholesterol by 29%, triglycerides by 35% and “bad” LDL-cholesterol by 25% after just 3 months!

2. Fights inflammation and oxidative stress

Chronic inflammation is the driving force behind many of today’s health problems. A recent clinical review of over 50 studies on berberine, showed that this compound led to a significant decrease (3) in all of the major inflammatory markers including CRP, TNF-, and IL-6.

3. Supports heart health

Studies have confirmed (4) berberine’s ability to improve heart health by reducing cholesterol, inflammation, and oxidative stress to alleviate common heart problems like hypertension, arrhythmia, and heart failure.

4. Alleviates PCOS

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a hormone condition that affects 12% of American women and is closely linked to blood sugar imbalances. When insulin levels are too high it can lead to the ovaries producing more androgen hormones like testosterone - a key marker of this condition.

Since blood sugar levels are a driving force behind PCOS, Metformin - a popular blood sugar balancing medication - is one of the most commonly prescribed solutions for PCOS in conventional medicine. Due to berberine’s ability to lower blood sugar, studies have actually found that berberine was just as effective at managing PCOS symptoms and was actually found to be even more effective (5) than Metformin when it came to reducing cardiovascular disease and improving overall hormone status. 

READ NEXT: The Best PCOS Diet Plan With Food List And Grocery Shopping Tips

5. Enhances cognitive function

While more research needs to be done, early studies from 2023 have been extremely promising when it comes to berberine’s ability to improve brain health. Not only was berberine able to improve memory and spatial learning, it was also confirmed to improve (6) key markers of aging in the brain.

6. Boosts gut health

In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, berberine has been linked to improved (7) gut barrier function which is extremely important in the case of leaky gut syndrome. One study also showed (8) that berberine increased levels of beneficial bacteria in the microbiome by killing off overgrowths of pathogenic bacteria - some of which were connected to poor metabolic health! 

Dosage and side effects

Since studies surrounding berberine and weight loss are still emerging, there is no recommended daily dosage, but initial research suggests anywhere between 900-2,000mg per day. In general berberine is safe for most people with minimal - if any - side effects, but like most supplements when taken in excess it can lead to digestive distress and diarrhea. To be on the safe side, talk with your doctor before taking berberine, especially if you are on any medications or are pregnant.

The Takeaway

The science doesn’t lie - berberine can be an effective tool to help with weight loss and blood sugar balance. But with anything, it is important to note that everyone’s individual results will vary and it’s still essential to tackle the root cause of weight loss. As I always say, you have to get healthy to lose weight, not lose weight to get healthy. If you are struggling with weight loss resistance and are ready to lose weight and optimize your health naturally, schedule a telehealth consultation today to learn more about how we can help you with functional medicine.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.

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