Berberine has a long history of use in herbal traditions. This bright yellow alkaloid substance with a bitter taste is naturally found in numerous plants, including Oregon grape, barberry, tree turmeric, goldenseal, yellow root and Chinese goldthread.

For many practitioners, berberine is typically recognized for its antimicrobial or antifungal properties in the gut. However, it may be better referred to as a “microbial modulator” because of the distinctive relationship it has between the microbiome and overall metabolic health. A unique interaction occurs between the microbiota and berberine, which is a critical factor in the mechanisms underlying berberine’s metabolic activities throughout the body.

Antimicrobial Actions

Berberine is a compound that modifies the composition of the intestinal flora, promoting the “good” bacteria and reducing the “bad” ones. Thanks to its antimicrobial activity, berberine is also an ideal, natural candidate for tackling candidiasis. In addition to its inhibitory effect on Candida biofilms, berberine helps eliminate the bacteria that contribute to the multiplication of Candida while assisting the gut in replenishing beneficial bacteria.¹

As berberine modulates the microbiota, its actions positively alter microbiome diversity over time and, in doing so, may create a more metabolically favorable microbiome. As a microbial modulator, berberine has poor natural bioavailability and is poorly absorbed on its own.² However, individual microbiome differences (and enzymatic capacity) predictably determine differences in the metabolism and absorption of berberine.³

Gut Barrier Reinforcement

Berberine works on several fronts to strengthen the lining of the intestine by inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and increasing the expression of tight junction proteins. In addition, berberine boosts short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels, namely butyrate, by increasing SCFA-producing bacteria, which helps nourish the epithelial cells.⁴

Berberine increases the thickness of the colonic mucus layer by stimulating goblet cells to increase mucin. In fact, this action has an indirect, prebiotic-like effect by increasing the abundance of beneficial, commensal Akkermansia,⁵ a “keystone” probiotic strain that has gained much attention in the functional medicine world over the past few years.

Modification of Cardiometabolic Outcomes

In addition to its effects in the gut, berberine is more recently regarded as an ideal cardiometabolic phytonutrient, known to be helpful for several aspects of cardiovascular health. Numerous pathways are responsible for berberine’s beneficial effects on cardiometabolic outcomes.

Through its modification of the gut microbiota as well as its epigenetic effect on non-coding RNA sequences (a key master regulator of numerous downstream metabolic pathways), berberine has widespread impacts on the following:

Berberine can help lower blood glucose

• Berberine positively influences glucose-lipid metabolism and insulin resistance factors in patients with metabolic syndrome,⁶ which helps prevent type 2 diabetes and related complications.⁷

Berberine helps balance cholesterol levels

• Berberine may help lower high LDL and total cholesterol.⁸ Berberine has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol along with triglyceride levels in type 2 diabetic patients by promoting the excretion of cholesterol from the liver and inhibiting the intestinal absorption of cholesterol.⁹

Berberine may help support weight loss

• Berberine activates adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a cellular enzyme that plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism. Since AMPK activation boosts fat burning in the mitochondria, berberine is a potent lipid-lowering compound with a moderate weight loss effect.¹⁰

Berberine normalizes blood pressure

• Berberine can stimulate the release of nitric oxide, which relaxes the arteries and increases blood flow, thereby lowering blood pressure.¹¹ 

The Bottom Line

There is a unique interaction between the microbiota and berberine, which can serve your patients well. Through its microbiome-modulating properties, berberine has been shown to possess microbial-balancing and barrier-reinforcing properties in the gut. Its broad cardiometabolic and heart health benefits, which include normalizing blood glucose, cholesterol, lipid and blood pressure levels, cannot be understated for today’s functional medicine practitioner.

Joseph Ornelas, PhD, DC is the Pillars of GI Health Brand Manager at Lifestyle Matrix Resource Center. He holds a PhD from University of Illinois with concentration in Health Economics, an MA degree in Public Policy from the Harris School at the University of Chicago, an MS degree in Health Systems Management from Rush University, and a DC degree from National University of Health Sciences. As a licensed provider and health economist, Dr. Ornelas has published numerous evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, helping to improve quality standards of care and provide value for health care practitioners across several specialty areas.

References