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Bbr7.5
Berberine Research
Likely helps
38 peer-reviewed studies
Our research database did not respond in time, so this list covers only our curated studies. It refreshes automatically.
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Berberine appears to help in 9 of 12 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2008–2025 with a typical study size of 849 participants.
Based on 38 studies · 20 meta-analyses · 12 RCTs · 54,868 total participants
Confidence
High confidence
What the studies found
9helped2unclear1didn't help· 26 more without graded effect data
Digestive healthModulates gut microbiome and supports GI function · 4-8 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Liver health
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Cognitive function
Too few graded studies2 studies
By the numbers
Pulled from 28 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
75%
across studies
People studied
55k
typical study: 849 people
Strongest designs
32
20 pooled, 12 randomised
Showed benefit
75%
9/12 studies
How long studies ran
1–4 weeks
2
1–3 months
5
3+ months
2
Populations Studied
Type 2 diabetes patients4
Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus1
Patients with diabetes1
Adults1
Active research area
25 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
200820162025
1HbA1c reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 4×n=1,337 · large study2025
In plain English: However, further validation of these findings is necessary through extensive clinical studies with larger sample sizes.
Miao R et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2025)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Borderline
For HbA1c, silymarin was more effective than resveratrol (MD -2.08, 95%Cl -3.50 to -0.72) (P < 0.05).
For body mass index (BMI), curcumin was more effective than resveratrol (MD -1.27, 95%Cl -2.43 to -0.03) (P < 0.05).
Curcumin, resveratrol, silymarin, and berberine can effectively improve cardio-metabolic risk factors in T2DM, and different herbal phytochemicals have different clinical advantages.
3Glycemic control improvementMeta-AnalysisCited 15×n=5,000 · very large study2024
In plain English: The finding of our umbrella showed that the supplementation of BBR could be effective in improving glycemic parameters and inflammatory marker in adults.
4Meta-AnalysisCited 26×n=4,606 · very large study2023
In plain English: This study suggests that berberine may be a promising alternative for CVDs with no serious adverse reactions.
Yang L et al. · Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2023)
Berberine alone significantly reduced National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and intima-media thickness (IMT) levels than routine therapy.
Berberine plus statins significantly reduced TC, TG, LDL-C, NIHSS score, hs-CRP, TNF-α, IMT, Crouse score, and number of unstable plaques levels than routine or statins.
This study suggests that berberine may be a promising alternative for CVDs with no serious adverse reactions.
5Inflammatory biomarkers reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 13×n=1,600 · large study2023
In plain English: However, more investigation and high-quality evidence must be conducted to obtain more comprehensive and generalizable results.
Vahedi-Mazdabadi Y et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2023)
In addition, the non-linear analysis showed a significant lowering effect of berberine/barberry on IL-6 and TNF-α levels in doses <1000 mg/day and less than 5 weeks of intervention.
There are limitations to our findings, including low-quality studies and significant heterogeneity.
These interventions might be considered adjunct therapy to managing inflammation status.
6LDL cholesterol reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 23×n=1,788 · large study2023
In plain English: Berberine produces small reductions in LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B, with potential sex-specific effects on HDL cholesterol.
Blais JE et al. · Drugs (2023)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Eighteen studies (n = 1788 participants), conducted mainly in mainland China and Hong Kong (15 studies [83%]), were included with treatment durations ranging from 4 to 24 weeks.
Berberine increased HDL cholesterol by 0.06 mmol/L (95% CI 0.00 to 0.11, 15 studies, n = 1471).
Notably, the effect on HDL cholesterol was different in women (0.11 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.13) from that in men (- 0.07 mmol/L, 95% CI - 0.16 to 0.02).
7Total cholesterol reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 8×n=4,838 · very large study2024
In plain English: Berberine, alone or with other nutraceuticals, can provide a modest positive impact on lipid concentrations.
Hernandez AV et al. · Journal of dietary supplements (2024)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Products with berberine alone had less robust effects on TC (MD -12.08 mg/dL [95%CI: -21.79 to -2.37]), LDL (MD -9.26 mg/dL [95%CI: -20.31 to 1.78]), and HDL (MD 1.38 mg/dL [95%CI: -1.27 to 4.03]) but TG effects were similar (MD -17.40 mg/dL [95%CI: -32.57 to -2.23]).
Berberine, alone or with other nutraceuticals, can provide a modest positive impact on lipid concentrations.
In plain English: Ours is the first study to report that for women with PCOS, myo-inositol combined with D-chiro-inositol and metformin combined with thiazolidinediones appear superior to metformin alone in improving insulin resistance and decreasing total testosterone.
Zhao H et al. · Reproductive health (2021)
Compared with metformin, treatment with myo-inositol + D-chiro-inositol was associated with a greater improvement in menstrual frequency (odds ratio 14.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.31-93.58]).
Ours is the first study to report that for women with PCOS, myo-inositol combined with D-chiro-inositol and metformin combined with thiazolidinediones appear superior to metformin alone in improving insulin resistance and decreasing total testosterone.
Myo-inositol combined with D-chiro-inositol is particularly efficacious in menstrual recovery.
10Liver enzymes improvementMeta-AnalysisCited 46×n=811 · large study2024
In plain English: This meta-analysis demonstrates berberine's efficacy in improving liver enzymes, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in NAFLD patients.
Nie Q et al. · Journal of translational medicine (2024)
This meta-analysis demonstrates berberine's efficacy in improving liver enzymes, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in NAFLD patients.
These results indicate that berberine shows promise as an adjunct therapy for NAFLD.
12Clinical efficacy rate improvementMeta-AnalysisCited 11×n=952 · large study2024
In plain English: BBR demonstrates substantial efficacy in treating UC without causing severe adverse reactions and may serve as a viable complementary therapy.
Li J et al. · PloS one (2024)
Noticeable harm
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
BBR considerably improved the clinical efficacy rate (RR = 1.22, 95% CI [1.15, 1.30], P < 0.00001), attenuated the Baron score (SMD = -1.72, 95% CI [-2.30, -1.13], P < 0.00001) and reduced the DAI score (SMD = -2.93, 95% CI [-4.42, -1.43], P < 0.00001).
Additionally, it ameliorated clinical symptoms (SMD = -2.74, 95% CI [-3.45, 2.02], P < 0.00001), diminished inflammatory responses (SMD = -1.59, 95% CI [-2.14, 1.04], P < 0.00001), and modulated immune reactions (SMD = 1.06,95% CI [0.24,1.87], P <0.00001).
Nonetheless, the impact of BBR on reducing adverse reactions was not statistically significant (RR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.42, 1.33], P > 0.05).
13Meta-AnalysisCited 93×n=2,313 · very large study2019
In plain English: The dosage and treatment duration of Berberine and patients' age may modify the effect.
Liang Y et al. · Endocrine journal (2019)
We calculated weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.
The pool data showed that Berberine treatment was associated with a better reduction on FPG (WMD = -0.54 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.77 to -0.30), PPG (WMD = -0.94 mmol/L, 95% CI: -1.27 to -0.61), and HbA1c (WMD = -0.54 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.93 to -0.15) than control groups.
Subgroup-analyses indicated that effects of Berberine on blood glucose became unremarkable as the treatment lasted more than 90 days, the daily dosage more than 2 g/d and patients aged more than 60 years.
14Meta-AnalysisCited 330×n=2,569 · very large study2015
In plain English: This study indicates that berberine has comparable therapeutic effect on type 2 DM, hyperlipidemia and hypertension with no serious side effect.
Lan J et al. · Journal of ethnopharmacology (2015)
This study indicates that berberine has comparable therapeutic effect on type 2 DM, hyperlipidemia and hypertension with no serious side effect.
Considering the relatively low cost compared with other first-line medicine and treatment, berberine might be a good alternative for low socioeconomic status patients to treat type 2 DM, hyperlipidemia, hypertension over long time period.
Due to overall limited quality of the included studies, the therapeutic benefit of berberine can be substantiated to a limited degree.
In plain English: Higher quality studies are needed to provide more high quality evidence.
Zhang LS et al. · The American journal of Chinese medicine (2019)
The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with the placebo group, berberine could significantly reduce the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels and elevate the high density lipoprotein level ( P<0.05 ).
Compared with the simvastatin group, berberine was effective only in reducing the level of triglyceride ( MD=-0.37 , 95% CI: - 0.66, - 0.07, P=0.02 ).
Compared with the simvastatin group, berberine plus simvastatin was more effective in reducing the level of triglyceride ( MD=-0.33 , 95% CI: - 0.46, - 0.20, P<0.00001 ) and total cholesterol ( MD=-0.36 , 95% CI: - 0.60, - 0.12, P=0.003 ).
In plain English: We found a significant reduction in WHR following berberine consumption in adults.
Amini MR et al. · Complementary therapies in medicine (2020)
We found a significant reduction in WHR following berberine consumption in adults.
Further clinical trials with high quality according to challenges mentioned seem to be helpful to use berberine and barberry as a supplement for certain health conditions, efficiently.
19Cognitive function improvementMeta-AnalysisCited 1×2025
In plain English: Future longer follow-up, larger samples, and more methodologically rigorous randomized controlled trials are recommended to clearly establish the effects of different dosages on cognitive function and quality of life in stroke patients.
Li J et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR (2025)
John's Wort extract (SUCRA 71.2%) was the most effective in reducing NIHSS scores, Berberine (SUCRA 84.1%) was most effective in reducing mRS scores, and St.
John's Wort extract (SUCRA 99.1%) showed the highest efficacy in enhancing ADL scores.
Ginsenosides were the most effective in improving Barthel Index (SUCRA 74.7%), MMSE (SUCRA 93%), and MOCA (SUCRA 79.7%) scores.
20Dementia preventionSystematic ReviewCited 33×n=120 · medium study2020
In plain English: Berberine could impede the development of dementia via multiple mechanisms: preventing brain damages and enhancing cognition directly in the brain, and indirectly through alleviating risk factors such as metabolic dysfunction, and cardiovascular, kidney and liver diseases.
Shinjyo N et al. · Journal of integrative medicine (2020)
Berberine could impede the development of dementia via multiple mechanisms: preventing brain damages and enhancing cognition directly in the brain, and indirectly through alleviating risk factors such as metabolic dysfunction, and cardiovascular, kidney and liver diseases.
This study provided evidence to support the value of berberine in the prevention of dementia associated with MetS.