… Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from plants of the generis Berberis, has been recognized as being capable of decreasing oxidative stress, LDL, triglycerides, and insulin resistance and of improving the mood. This review describes the cellular and clinical effects associated with the use of berberine, which suggest that this molecule could be an effective natural supplement to ensure a smooth peri- and postmenopausal transition.
The above is from a paper published in 2015, Potential benefits of berberine in the management of perimenopausal syndrome.
These are just a few of the many benefits of berberine. Other research reports impacts on the microbiome, benefits for bone density and kidney health – all very relevant in perimenopause and menopause.
I feel that berberine may be a nutrient to consider, in addition to dietary changes, stress reduction and lifestyle changes, and targeted individual amino acids. Read on to discover some of the mechanisms and the benefits of using a comprehensive approach, and feedback from folks in the community who are using berberine with success.
Impacts on oxidative stress, blood sugar/insulin resistance, lipids and heart health, and mood
I encourage you to read the full paper in order to get an overview of the impacts on oxidative stress, blood sugar/insulin resistance, lipids and heart health, and mood. Here is a very high level summary:
- Estrogen deficiency, increased cardiovascular risk, an “overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS)” and reduced nitric oxide (NO) which are important contributing factors when it comes to “menopause-related endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiovascular, and renal diseases.” Berberine counters this via various mechanisms.
- Type 2 diabetes is higher amongst menopausal women, causing high blood sugar and insulin resistance. This paper shares a study that found berberine “significantly lowered fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, and insulin levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes as well as metformin and rosiglitazone.” One way berberine does this is via “increased insulin receptor (InsR) messenger RNA and protein expression.”
- “inactivity of LDL receptor (LDLR)” in liver cells leads to higher levels of oxidized LDL, a risk factor for “endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.” One mechanism is that berberine improves LDLR expression and has lipid-lowering activity.
- When it comes to mood issues, the increased oxidative stress, immune dysfunction and inflammation play a role because of “interactions between neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, oxidative and nitrosative stress, and cytokines.” Higher levels of inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), and TNFα “can enter the brain and may cause alterations of the metabolism of serotonin and dopamine.” Berberine helps to counter this inflammatory cascade and “inhibits the expression of MAO” , increasing norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine – and improving mood and presumably reducing anxiety too.
Feedback from folks in the community
When I shared this research on Facebook I received much in the way of positive results.
Susan shared this: “A functional medicine doctor suggested I take it with every meal. My A1C was not bad, (5.3) but my last level was 4.8. This was over the course of about 1 year.”
Becky shared this: “I used it for about 6 months along with diet changes to drop my A1C. Have been holding steady since with dietary measures alone. I didn’t realize berberine also helped lower LDL. Mine is slightly elevated. Not enough that my traditional MD has called me on it, but I’ve adjusted my diet again and hearing this about berberine I think I’ll try going back on it.”
Liz shared this: “I had gained some caregiver weight so started on berberine twice a day and it was helpful. However my Doc quickly had me switch over to [a combination product with berberine, chromium and alpha lipoic acid] and it’s fabulous! Twice a day and I feel great, my carb cravings are at bay and my bloodwork and overall health has vastly improved in just a few months.”
Marcy shared this: “Yes!! My son had been steadily gaining weight from binge eating and medications. In October 2022 his triglycerides were through the roof and I was so worried about his health. I put him on 500 mg of Berberine twice a day. Fast forward to today, he has lost approximately 50 pounds and his triglycerides are normal. There were other factors that may have contributed to the weight loss such as therapy and more structured eating times, but I absolutely believe the Berberine supported all this!” (this was also a combination product with berberine and a small amount of alpha lipoic acid and grape seed extract)
Marcia shared this: “I’ve used Berberine for appetite suppression, which it seems to help with, though not enough for me to lose any weight. But it did also actually lift my mood, which I was not expecting.”
Berberine: the microbiota, the gut-brain connection and anxiety
The number of studies on berberine is impressive and growing by the day. It’s not discussed in the above paper, but this paper, Effects of Berberine on the Gastrointestinal Microbiota states this: “The mechanism underlying the role of berberine in lipid‐lowering and insulin resistance is incompletely understood, but one of the possible mechanisms is related to its effect on the gastrointestinal microbiota.” Given what we know about the gut-brain connection, this is another likely mechanism for mood and anxiety benefits.
In another paper, Berberine ameliorates ovariectomy-induced anxiety-like behaviors by enrichment in equol generating gut microbiota, the authors propose that the use of berberine “modulates the gut microbiota, stimulates equol production, and improves anxiety-like symptoms” … “suggesting a direct link between gut microbiota modulation and estrogen deficiency-induced anxiety.”
Berberine: osteoporosis and the kidneys
An osteoporosis study shows that berberine regulates “the estrogen and thyroid hormone signaling pathways to treat osteoporosis in a multi-target, multi-pathway, and multi-system manner.”
And berberine used in conjunction with calcium carbonate and vitamin D, helps to prevent drug-induced bone loss too: “berberine inhibits bone resorption and improves bone formation to prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.” I’d be considering vitamin K and other approaches like working towards optimal homocysteine, addressing food sensitivities, addressing possible oxalate and gallbladder issues too. The latter are more common during and after perimenopause.
Interestingly berberine also improves kidney health. One study reports that berberine “significantly ameliorated chronic kidney disease by altering the composition of the gut microbiota and inhibiting the production of gut-derived uremic toxins.”
A comprehensive approach that includes amino acids
As I mentioned above, I feel that berberine may be a nutrient to consider, in addition to dietary changes, stress reduction and lifestyle changes, and targeted individual amino acids. Berberine is relatively new to me and not covered in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” but it’s a great resource for the rest.
Here are are few blog posts specific to amino acids in perimenopause and menopause:
- Tryptophan had the added benefit of turning me completely off alcohol when I took it to improve mood and sleep during perimenopause
- “Potion” of tyrosine, Endorphigen, GABA and tryptophan has been nothing less than a miracle for my depression and anxiety – how long can I remain on these?
- I have issues with perimenopausal anxiety a couple of weeks per month and don’t want to turn to SSRIs
- The individual amino acids glutamine, GABA, tryptophan (or 5-HTP), DPA and tyrosine are powerful for eliminating sugar cravings, often within 5 minutes
The good news is that the amino acids provide immediate relief while the berberine is slower-acting and starting to have an impact.
Product recommendation: Thorne Berberine
There are many good berberine products available. I did some reading and research and landed on Thorne Berberine.
It is available from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account) and it’s available via iherb (use this link to save 5%).
If you’re new to berberine, be sure to discuss the research and if it may be something to consider with your practitioner.
Additional resources when you are new to using amino acids as supplements
As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.
If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.
There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control (this is covered in an entire chapter too), sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.
The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.
If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.
If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.
Wrapping up and your feedback
I do always appreciate feedback from the community and being able to share it on the blog.
Now I’d love to hear from you – have you used berberine with success? How much have you used, which product and how has it helped?
Were you aware of all these benefits?
Have you also used amino acids and dietary approaches as you start to see hormonal shifts?
If you’re a practitioner do you berberine with your clients/patients?
And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them.
Feel free to share and ask your questions below.
Norma says
Hello. I wanted to share that both my daughter and I tried Berberine for insulin control as recommended by our ND. Unfortunately we both had very negative results, within 20 min of taking it, we were nauseous and within 30 were vomiting. I tried it again with a different brand a few months later and had the same reaction. I guess it’s not the right fit for us. Curious if you’ve heard of this response in others?
Trudy Scott says
Norma
Digestive issues are recognized adverse effects for some folks – diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea and even vomiting. I have not found anything that discusses the reason or mechanism but suspect it may be due to changes in the microbiome.
I’d appreciate hearing which products you both tried, how much you tried and was it with food? And I’m curious to hear what your ND’s feedback was and if low and slow would be an option?
Diana Erdie says
Hi Trudy,
I was not aware that berberine has so many benefits. I am postmenopausal and have had Hashimoto’s for 30 years. I frequently experience many of both hyper and hypothyroid symptoms swings which include anxiety as well as insomnia. I did have my left thyroid recently removed as it had a couple of large nodules on it and since that time I’m unable to balance my thyroid despite taking NDT for over a year. I’m currently not taking it as it made me feel worse (very hyper though my TSH is just over 5 with low FT4).
I have read some functional med doctors say that taking thyroid will not improve the TSH for Hashimoto’s patients since it is an auto-immune disease. Now I’m wondering if berberine would be beneficial in my case as you mention it does help the thyroid? My last blood work showed A1C of 5.8 as well as high cholesterol and low neutiphils/WBC. Is there any chance of berberine causing blood sugar to drop too much? Thank you for your comments.
Trudy Scott says
Diana
Pharmacist Izabella Wentz is my go-to resource for Hashimoto’s and she finds berberine to be very helpful. Here is one of a number of her blog posts where she discusses berberine and the connection between insulin resistance and increased thyroid nodule formation and volume, and the fact that berberine has “broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties, making it effective in helping to clear gut infections and overgrowths of pathogenic bacteria” that can play a role in Hashimotos – https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-thyroid-nodules/
If you are new to her work I encourage you to check out her book “Hashimoto’s Protocol” https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/hashimotos-protocol-izabella-wentz/ and programs
And as I write in today’s blog, we can get some quick relief for anxiety and insomnia with the amino acids – while everything else is being addressed.
Linda says
Hi,
I have read that Berberine can cause other supplements to be absorbed less. This has caused me to not want to try Berberine for health benefits. Does anyone have any experience with this?
Trudy Scott says
Linda
Please share a link to the article or study and I’ll share my thoughts
Linda says
Berberine inhibits cytochromes P450 (CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and 2C9) in your liver. Which means it can cause a substantial increase in the bioavailability of certain drugs and nootropics. Which can be dangerous. You may need to lower your dosage of certain drugs to prevent this potential toxicity. Or avoid Berberine altogether. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21870106/
Trudy Scott says
Linda
I see your quote above is from https://nootropicsexpert.com/berberine/
He references the study, Repeated administration of berberine inhibits cytochromes P450 in humans https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21870106/ which discusses how midazolam, dextromethorphan and losartan were affected when berberine was used.
You’ll see many statements about using berberine with Metformin – for example “Berberine can interact with metformin and affect blood sugar levels, making them harder to manage.” (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325798) However, there is also research stating they can be used together and may be more effective used together (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711322001775 and https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=113351).
I’m not aware of research showing nutrients are affected but it’s possible.
As I mention in the blog be sure to discuss the use of berberine with your practitioner. This is especially relevant when there are any prescription medications involved (for berberine and all supplementation). The research is growing and we have much to learn.
Linda says
Thank you for y sharing your thoughts on the matter!
Amy says
Word of caution …if you are bipolar beware. Berberdine is common in supplements for Sibo. I had become hypo manic and after eliminating Berberdine, I returned to normal.. Ater googling, it said Berberdine may induce mania. I retried it again and sure enough within the week, I became dysregulated again.
Trudy Scott says
Amy
Thanks for sharing your caution and experience. One possible mechanism is the fact that it does increase dopamine.
May I ask if you have a bipolar diagnosis and if you used a combination product or berberine on it’s own? And which product/how much? How quickly did it affect you and what manic symptoms did you experience? Please share a link to what you read about berberine triggering mania as I have not been able to find anything about this.
The research on berberine and bipolar has focused on the effects of antipsychotics on metabolic health/insulin resistance:
“Berberine modulates gut microbiota and metabolic disturbances of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, as well as mild olanzapine-induced metabolic disturbances. For the patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder treated with olanzapine for at least 9 months, followed by 12 weeks of treatment with BBR (100–300 mg/tid), there is a remarkable decrease in the abundance of Firmicutes while a remarkable increase in the abundance of Bacteroides. Antipsychotic treatment can cause changes in the gut microbiota that induce chronic low-grade inflammation, suppress resting metabolic rates, and activate multiple signal transduction pathways, leading to metabolic dysfunction. Gut microbiota is promising for research of antipsychotic-induced metabolic disturbances, and BBR is a candidate for treatment.” https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1187718/full
I’m also curious if you have similar adverse effects from tyrosine?
Mary Beth says
Consumerlab.com is a good resource for understanding benefits/concerns and cautions when taking Berberine. I know that GI upsets can happen with this supplement. They suggest dividing doses and taking it with food. Under the concerns and cautions section they mention that it can increase liver bilirubin count in some individuals. And while it can lower blood sugar numbers in some individuals it can also change gut microbiome impacting some healthy gut microbes. I would highly recommend utilizing this resource before deciding on a supplement. Knowing the benefits and possible risks is key before trying any supplement.
Trudy, thanks for bringing this supplement as a possibility for perimenopause/menopausal women. I’m always interested in what can help improve my bone density and bladder/kidney health.
Jai says
At least in the US, it would be so helpful for folks to understand the
benefits of berberine present in the roots of the invasive Japanese
barberry that is everywhere in our woods. Some entreprenurial folks
can reap public gratitude for helping to control the non-native
barberry while also using the roots medicinally. I’ll read further to
learn if the berries have been checked for berberine – that would also
be useful!
We need to focus on barberry for berberine, and NOT on goldenseal
which is already at risk…
Trudy Scott says
Jai
Thanks for sharing this – I found this article about Japanese barberry https://www.ecolandscaping.org/11/landscape-challenges/invasive-plants/japanese-barberry-exotic-invasive-plant-fact-sheet/ and I look forward to reading more on this too.
I believe there is awareness about issues with goldenseal – more on this here for other blog readers https://www.iucn.org/news/species/201711/unregulated-wild-collection-and-habitat-loss-lead-vulnerable-status-medicinal-goldenseal
And a comment that the Thorne Berberine product I mention is made from Indian Barberry
Shlok mali says
This review highlights Berberine’s impressive range of benefits during perimenopause and menopause, from mood enhancement to improving heart health and bone density. It’s exciting to see such detailed insights into how this natural supplement can support various aspects of menopausal health. Thanks for sharing this valuable information and personal success stories!