Berberine: Benefits, Supplements, Side Effects, Dosage, And More

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Medical News TodaySubscribeEverything to know about berberine

Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Jennifer Berry — Updated on February 19, 2026

Benefits
Supplements
Vs. metformin
Side effects
FAQ
Summary

Key takeaways

Berberine, or berberine hydrochloride, is a plant compound used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine that may support metabolic health, but research is still evolving.
Studies suggest berberine may help with type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), inflammation, and gut health, though evidence varies by condition.
Berberine supplements may cause digestive side effects and can interact with medications, including metformin, so it’s best to talk with a doctor first.

Berberine has been a part of Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It works in the body in multiple ways and is able to make changes within the body’s cells.

Studies of berberine have indicated that it can treat several metabolic health conditions, including diabetes, obesity, and heart problems. It may also improve gut health.

Although berberine appears safe and causes few side effects, it is a good idea to speak with a doctor before taking it.

Benefits of berberine

barberry berries — LeliaSpb/Getty Images

Research suggests berberine may benefit the following conditions.

Bacterial infections

Berberine could be an effective antimicrobial agent. A 2022 study found that berberine helped inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.

S. aureus can cause many health problems, including:

sepsis
pneumonia
meningitis
certain skin conditions

Another study suggests that berberine may be effective against certain antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Inflammation

Inflammation is a key factor in various health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.

Animal research highlights berberine’s anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting it may have therapeutic potential for inflammation-related health conditions.

Diabetes

Research suggests that berberine may work as a diabetes treatment. For example, a 2019 literature review indicated that berberine was better than a placebo at lowering blood sugar, although factors such as treatment duration affected this.

The same analysis suggests that a combination of berberine and blood-sugar-lowering drugs is more effective than the drugs alone.

A 2021 systematic review highlights strong evidence to support berberine’s use as a supportive therapy in type 2 diabetes management.

The researchers suggest that berberine may help to improve insulin resistance by lowering body mass index (BMI) scores and fasting blood insulin levels.

Berberine appears to activate SIRT1 proteins, which are involved in cellular processes such as metabolism and inflammation, and AMP-activated protein kinase, which can help regulate how the body uses blood sugar.

The review also suggests berberine may help to improve blood lipids, potentially contributing to beneficial effects for people with type 2 diabetes.

However, more research is necessary to understand the full therapeutic potential of berberine for people with diabetes. People should speak with a doctor before taking this supplement, as it may not be suitable for everyone and could interact with other medications.

High cholesterol

High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

A 2021 systematic review highlights research suggesting that berberine may help lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It may also help to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol.

A 2021 study involving 84 Chinese men gave participants either 500 milligrams (mg) of berberine or a placebo for 12 weeks.

Those who took berberine had more significant reductions in total and LDL cholesterol than those taking the placebo. The researchers also highlighted a slight reduction in HDL cholesterol but suggest this may be a chance occurrence.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure is a risk factor for conditions such as heart disease.

A 2021 systematic review highlights some research suggesting that berberine may help to reduce blood pressure. However, they highlight that evidence is mixed and low quality and that other substances in the studies may have contributed to these results.

A 2021 study outlines previous research suggesting berberine may have a positive effect on blood pressure. However, the study authors found no differences in blood pressure levels between the berberine and placebo groups.

Obesity

A 2021 review suggests that berberine may have antiobesity effects.

Another 2020 review suggests that berberine supplementation may contribute to reductions in the following weight markers:

BMI
body weight
waist circumference
C-reactive protein concentrations

A 2020 animal study suggests that berberine may help to act as an appetite suppressant, since it led to a lower food intake in mice and rats.

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs when a female has high levels of certain male hormones. The syndrome is a hormonal and metabolic imbalance that can lead to infertility and other health issues.

A 2022 study compared the effects of berberine with the medications metformin (Glucophage) and myoinositol (Inofolic alpha) on people with PCOS.

Berberine caused greater reductions in clinical, hormonal, and lipid parameters than metformin and myoinositol. The authors suggest berberine may be better than metformin at reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with PCOS.

Cancer

A 2019 review found that berberine has “clear inhibitory effects” on the following cancers:

colorectal cancer
lung cancer
ovarian cancer
prostate cancer
liver cancer
cervical cancer

Another 2021 review suggests that berberine may prevent the spread of cancer cells by controlling the cell cycle and causing cell death.

However, further research is necessary to understand the full therapeutic potential of berberine for cancer.

Gut health

If berberine can help treat cancer, inflammation, diabetes, and other conditions, it may be due to a beneficial effect on gut microbiota, according to research from 2020. Scientists have found links between the gut microbiome — bacteria colonies in the gut — and these conditions.

Berberine has an antibacterial action that seems to remove the harmful bacteria in the gut and thus enhance the growth of healthy bacteria.

While studies in humans and rodents suggest this could be true, scientists caution that more research is necessary to confirm how berberine affects humans and whether it is safe.

Berberine supplements

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) notes that berberine supplements are available as powder or capsules.

They add that many studies suggest taking 900 to 1,500 mg per day, but most people take 500 mg three times per day. However, the AANP urges people to speak with a doctor before taking berberine to check its safety and how much they can take.

If a doctor agrees that berberine is safe to use, the AANP also recommends checking the product label for third-party certification, for example, from the National Science Foundation (NSF) or NSF International.

An older 2017 study found wide variation in the content of various berberine capsules, which could cause confusion about safety and dosages. The researchers did not find that a higher cost necessarily reflected a higher quality product.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements. There is no guarantee of the safety or effectiveness of a supplement, and it is not always possible to verify the quality of the product.

Berberine vs. metformin

Berberine and metformin share certain features, and both could be useful for treating metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes.

However, if a doctor prescribes metformin, people should not take berberine as an alternative without first speaking with their doctor.

A doctor will prescribe the correct amount of metformin for someone based on clinical research. It is not possible to know how a supplement will match that amount.

Berberine may interact with metformin and affect blood sugar levels, making them harder to manage. In one study, taking goldenseal, an extract containing berberine, and metformin together led to a 25% drop in the impact of metformin.

One day, berberine may become a suitable alternative to metformin for managing blood sugar levels, but more research is necessary.

Side effects of berberine

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) notes that if adults take goldenseal, which contains berberine, by mouth it is unlikely to cause severe adverse effects. However, more research on the long-term effects is necessary.

Berberine can cause digestive side effects, such as:

upset stomach
constipation
nausea
rash
headache

In animal studies, scientists have noticed the following effects, depending on the type of animal, how much they consumed, and for how long:

diarrhea
vomiting
nausea
muscle tremor
gastric ulcers
liver and kidney enlargement
a reduction in white blood cells

Precautions to take

It is essential to speak with a doctor before taking berberine or other supplements, as they may not be safe or suitable for everyone. Anyone who develops an allergic reaction to any herbal product should stop using it at once.

Some herbal supplements may contain ingredients that are not on their label, so people should monitor their reaction after first taking them.

The NCCIH advises people not to use goldenseal, which contains berberine, during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. They also caution against giving it to infants.

There may also be a potential for hypoglycemia from taking goldenseal, depending on whether someone is taking other hypoglycemic prescription medications. Goldenseal may also interact with prescription medications.

Frequently asked questions

Is berberine good for weight loss?

Some people may use berberine to support weight loss. For example, a 2020 study associated berberine intake with a significant reduction in body weight, BMI, and waist circumference.

Is berberine bad for kidneys?

According to a 2023 study, berberine has a positive effect on people with kidney problems. It does this by changing the types of friendly bacteria in the gut and stopping the production of bad substances in the gut that can make kidney disease worse.

Does berberine kill good bacteria?

Berberine does not kill good bacteria. A 2020 study found that while berberine can induce cell death of harmful intestinal bacteria, it also increases the number and species of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Summary

Research suggests that berberine could be a promising therapy for several conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. However, more research is necessary to understand its safety and efficacy.

Berberine is a natural remedy that shares properties with some prescription drugs. As such, people should use it with care and speak with a doctor before taking it.

Cholesterol
Diabetes
Nutrition / Diet
Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

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Liu D, et al. (2019). A natural isoquinoline alkaloid with antitumor activity: Studies of the biological activities of berberine.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6382680/
Mishra N, et al. (2022). Study on the effect of berberine, myoinositol, and metformin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A prospective randomised study.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8890747/
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Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — Written by Jennifer Berry — Updated on February 19, 2026

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