Berberine

[ghreid]

Had started berberine a few years ago as there were claims that it improved insulin sensitivity. discovered however that it is contraindicated with many of the new blood thinners. also there was a new published article questioning its effect on fat storage.

Treatment with the supplement berberine failed to reduce visceral adipose tissue or liver fat in adults with obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a randomized trial found.

JAMA Network Open

Source Reference: Lei L, et al "Berberine and adiposity in diabetes-free individuals with obesity and MASLD: a randomized clinical trial" JAMA Netw Open 2026; DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.54152.

 

[Crumplestiltskin]

I don't take blood thinners, so I can say berberine has been tremendously helpful for me with insulin sensitivity/resistance.

 

[mrfat]

I take it to control blood glucose levels and I notice it is effective. Normal fasted bg level in the morning was high 80s and it brought it down to 78-80.

 

[pilsnermagnus]

I use it for synergy with my eating habits of low carb and fasting.

 

[itsmenotyou]

I have taken it on and off for years but never really noticed a difference

 

[lessthanhalf]

Had started berberine a few years ago as there were claims that it improved insulin sensitivity. discovered however that it is contraindicated with many of the new blood thinners. also there was a new published article questioning its effect on fat storage.

Treatment with the supplement berberine failed to reduce visceral adipose tissue or liver fat in adults with obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a randomized trial found.

JAMA Network Open

Source Reference: Lei L, et al "Berberine and adiposity in diabetes-free individuals with obesity and MASLD: a randomized clinical trial" JAMA Netw Open 2026; DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.54152.

It did drop ldl, hs-crp and apolipoprotein B - all cardiovascular risk factors though.

 

[jperiod]

I was taking it at the suggestion of my dr for years and after the last dose increase, it totally messed up my gut and I had to completely stop. I gained 10 pounds within 2 months of going off, which is what lead me to GLPs.

 

[Dumme]

I am doing keto, and it has turned into one meal a day keto. I take one 500 mg pill before my meal if I am on the high end on carbs ( meaning if I have yogurt with some blueberries etc ) or on my upper limit of carbs for the day. So it’s used as a booster more than anything. The following from ChatGPT is what really has me still using it until my supply runs out.

On keto specifically, berberine may help with:

insulin sensitivity

glucose regulation

triglycerides

appetite control

microbial balance during low-fiber dieting

Research suggests berberine can:

reduce overgrowth of some harmful/pathobiont bacteria

increase short-chain-fatty-acid–associated species indirectly

improve gut barrier integrity

reduce endotoxin/inflammation signaling

But it is not a simple probiotic booster.

 

[lastresort]

People really should start eating Green Banana Flour.

No, I am not advertising for D*le.

 

[sheilarae74]

People really should start eating Green Banana Flour.

No, I am not advertising for D*le.

Is there a brand you would recommend? I see mostly green banana powder.

 

[lastresort]

Is there a brand you would recommend? I see mostly green banana powder.

Yeah they are the same thing.

Any will do.

 

[Cluni0n]

I took berberine for a few months to help me with insulin sensitivity, it did help:

Sept 2025: Fasting Glucose 99, A1C 5.1, Total Cholesterol 171, Triglycerides 162.

May 2026: Fasting Glucose 88, A1C 5.1, Total Cholesterol 120, Triglycerides 87

I have struggled with Vitamin D deficiency my whole life. To fix this, my doctor put me on a protocol of megadoses (50,000 IU of Vitamin D3 for 8 weeks). I even extended the treatment, and I did it during the summer to take advantage of natural sunlight. The clinical threshold for sufficient Vitamin D is 30 ng/mL. I started at deficient 18 ng/mL. After months of megadoses and summer sun, my levels only crawled up to 28 ng/mL, still officially deficient.

I was taking berberine twice a day. Vitamin D3 is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it strictly requires dietary fats and bile acids to be absorbed in your intestines. Berberine alters lipid metabolism and modifies how your body processes cholesterol and bile acids. By taking them "together" (same period of time), basically, the berberine blocked the absorption of the D3, and my body just flushed those massive 50000 IU doses straight out of my system.

If you are taking berberine and need to correct a vitamin (Specially a liposoluble one) deficiency, make sure you separate the doses by several hours, even days. Alternatively, talk to your doctor about different forms of Vitamin D (like calcifediol, which absorbs much more efficiently, I'm taking that one now) so you don't waste your supplements and time like I did!