Dietary supplement berberine

As an ingredient that has been touted as a "universal supplement" by the entire Internet, the actual role of berberine is actually very focused: it only has a clear auxiliary improvement effect on abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism and intestinal damp-heat flora disorder. It cannot replace conventional drugs and is not suitable for all people. Blind supplementation by healthy people may cause gastrointestinal problems.

A while ago, I accompanied my aunt to a community hospital to check her blood sugar. Among the health products she took out from her pocket were three bottles of berberine of different brands. They were said to be the "three high-killers" that were snatched in the live broadcast room. They were promoted as being able to lower blood sugar, lose weight, and cure chronic diseases. She had gastritis and had to take 2 pills before every meal. As a result, she had abdominal distension and diarrhea every day. She thought it was due to her high blood sugar. The doctor immediately told her to stop, saying that she had a cold spleen and stomach. It was strange that she didn't have diarrhea after taking this cold extract every day.

To be honest, the power of berberine is not entirely due to marketing. There are indeed many high-quality clinical studies that endorse it. Controlled trials on patients with mild type 2 diabetes have shown that consuming 0.5-1.5g of berberine per day for more than 3 months can reduce fasting blood sugar and glycated hemoglobin by about the same amount as the auxiliary effect of low-dose metformin. Its regulatory effect on triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein has also been confirmed by many studies. However, most endocrinologists do not recommend that patients stop conventional antidiabetic drugs and switch to berberine on their own. After all, its effects vary greatly among individuals, and there is no long-term large-sample safety data to support it. At best, it can only be used as an auxiliary supplement in addition to diet, exercise, and regular medication. The perspective of traditional Chinese medicine actually focuses more on physical matching: berberine is extracted from bitter and cold medicinal materials such as coptis and phellodendron. It has the effect of clearing away dampness and heat and relieving diarrhea. Therefore, for people with damp-heat constitutions who often have bad breath, sticky stools, and gastroenteritis after eating spicy food, taking it in small doses can indeed relieve gastrointestinal discomfort. However, if you have a cold constitution that is afraid of cold and has stomachache when eating something cold, eating it will make things worse.

What everyone is most concerned about now is whether "berberine weight loss" is true. The academic community has not yet reached a conclusion on this matter. Supporters have come up with animal experiments and small-scale clinical data: berberine can regulate intestinal flora, reduce intestinal fat absorption, and improve insulin sensitivity. For people with abdominal obesity and insulin resistance, combined with dietary control, the waist circumference can be reduced by 2-3cm in about 3 months. But the opposition is also clear: A friend I know who is a clinical nutritionist said that most of the current weight loss-related trials are based on the subjects controlling their diet and increasing exercise. The weight loss effect of taking berberine alone is minimal. Many people lose weight after taking it. The essence is diarrhea caused by berberine stimulating the intestines. All water is lost, and it will rebound quickly after stopping the drug. It is not a good idea to toss your stomach for that little weight.

The most important thing is the dosage. Do not consume more than 1.5g per day. Exceeding this amount will easily cause gastrointestinal reactions. Long-term excessive consumption may also increase the metabolic burden on the liver and kidneys. Also, patients with favismosis must not take berberine, as it will induce hemolysis. Pregnant women, lactating women, and people with severe liver and kidney dysfunction should also not take it blindly, as the risk is too high. Oh, by the way, the dosages of dietary supplement-grade berberine on the market now vary greatly. Some contain only 1g, and some only contain 100mg. When buying, be sure to turn to the ingredient list to read it clearly. Don’t just follow the “two pills at a time” instructions in the live broadcast room. It’s easy to overdose.

I used to have a friend who was pre-diabetic and loved to eat hot pot and drink milk tea. The physical examination showed that his fasting blood sugar was 6.2. The doctor asked him to control his diet and exercise more. He checked the information himself and took 0.5g of berberine every day. After half a year, his glucose tolerance returned to the normal range when he was rechecked. The sticky stool problem that had troubled him for a long time was gone. But he recommended this method to a colleague in the same department. The colleague himself had a weak spleen and stomach, and his hands and feet were cold in winter. After taking it for half a month, he had watery stools every day. His stomach hurt so much that he couldn't even go to work, so he had to stop immediately. You see, the same thing is a treasure when used by suitable people, and a disaster when used by unsuitable people.

To put it bluntly, dietary supplements are meant to be "supplementary", not miracle drugs, and the same goes for berberine. Don't just buy it after hearing the hype on the Internet. Before you really eat it, ask a doctor or nutritionist to see if it's suitable for your physical condition. That's better than anything else. After all, eating well, staying up less late, and exercising more are the most cost-effective health investments compared to relying on supplements, right?