What is the Best Berberine Supplement?
Berberine supplement benefits blood sugar metabolism, gut health, and inflammation. For these reasons, functional medicine practitioners are increasingly turning to berberine for weight loss support in addition to diet and lifestyle changes.
Today's article will discuss how to take berberine for weight loss, what to expect, and offer supplement options. Keep reading to learn more about:
- Berberine and weight loss
- How to take berberine for weight loss
- How long does it take berberine to work for weight loss?
- What is the best berberine supplement?
Berberine and Weight Loss
Berberine is an alkaloid compound in several plants, including Oregon grape root. It's believed to activate the AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) enzyme that regulates metabolism. (Source 1, 2)
Research demonstrates berberine benefits various metabolic markers, including:
- Blood glucose
- Lipids
- Insulin
- Inflammation (Source 3)
By addressing the underlying insulin resistance and other metabolic changes contributing to weight gain, berberine may help with weight loss. A meta-analysis of 12 studies looked at berberine supplementation and found a reduction in body weight, BMI, and waist circumference attributed to berberine. (Source 4)
"By addressing the underlying insulin resistance and other metabolic changes contributing to weight gain, berberine may help with weight loss."
How to Take Berberine for Weight Loss
One gram is the berberine dosage, where blood sugar-balancing and weight-loss effects are observed in studies. (Please note that the studies suggest 1 gram of standard berberine; if you use liposomal berberine, you'll see benefits at lower doses because of the increased absorption rate.) (Source 5)
For best results, take berberine with or after meals in divided doses. For example, you can take one capsule with breakfast and another with dinner.
How Long Does It Take Berberine to Work for Weight Loss?
While berberine is powerful and may support better metabolic health on the cellular level, it's not a stand-alone magic pill for dramatic weight loss. Consider berberine a tool to support you on your weight loss journey, along with building foundational health habits, including:
- Whole food nutrition
- Daily movement and exercise
- Good sleep habits
- Stress management
- Addressing root causes of weight loss with your functional medicine provider
Most studies exploring berberine and weight loss are short-term studies and show some weight loss around the 4-week mark. In many cases, people can use berberine for extended periods of time. Please work with your functional medicine doctor for guidance. (Source 5)
What is the Best Berberine Supplement?
While berberine is an effective supplement, it's poorly absorbed and utilized by the body, requiring higher doses to achieve benefits. Higher berberine doses may cause side effects, such as gastrointestinal distress.
"While berberine is an effective supplement, it's poorly absorbed and utilized by the body, requiring higher doses to achieve benefits. Higher berberine doses may cause side effects, such as gastrointestinal distress."
Core Med Science Liposomal Berberine 300mg - Capsules is a liposomal supplement, meaning the berberine is encapsulated in tiny liposomes made from sunflower-based phosphatidylcholine. This superior delivery method mimics human cell membranes, allowing for improved digestion, absorption, and metabolism. With the liposomal form, you may experience benefits at a lower dose (300 mg) with a lower risk of side effects.
FAQs
How long does it take berberine to work for weight loss?
Try Core Med Science Liposomal Berberine for at least 30 days, following guidance from your provider.
What is the best berberine supplement?
Core Med Science Liposomal Berberine! It's incredibly high-quality, physician-formulated, third-party tested, made in the USA, GMP compliant, and gluten, GMO, and soy-free.
When it comes to weight loss, you can't skip the lifestyle foundations, but you can enhance your progress with targeted supplements to support metabolic health. Core Med Science Liposomal Berberine is the superior choice to support blood sugar, insulin, and a healthy metabolism.
"When it comes to weight loss, you can't skip the lifestyle foundations, but you can enhance your progress with targeted supplements to support metabolic health."
References:
- Herzig, S., & Shaw, R. J. (2018). AMPK: guardian of metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis. Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology, 19(2), 121-135.
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/berberine-powerful-supplement
- https://examine.com/supplements/berberine/
- Asbaghi, O., Ghanbari, N., Shekari, M., Reiner, Ž., Amirani, E., Hallajzadeh, J., Mirsafaei, L., & Asemi, Z. (2020). The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity parameters, inflammation and liver function enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical nutrition ESPEN, 38, 43-49.
- Zamani, M., Zarei, M., Nikbaf-Shandiz, M., Hosseini, S., Shiraseb, F., & Asbaghi, O. (2022). The effects of berberine supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Frontiers in nutrition, 9, 1013055.