Berberine Weight-Loss Supplements: Is It Really ‘Nature’s Ozempic’?

Injectable medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro are changing the way people manage their diabetes. Clinicians are also prescribing these medications off-label for weight loss in people without diabetes. And Wegovy, another injectable medication, is FDA approved for weight management. 

But not everyone wants to use an injectable medication. And some people prefer a more natural approach. So it’s no surprise that people have been looking into berberine, a dietary supplement that’s been called “nature’s Ozempic.” Here’s what the science says about berberine and what it can really do. 

What is berberine?

Berberine is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in a variety of plants, such as Oregon grape and barberry. It has a bright yellow color and can taste bitter. Berberine-containing plants have been used in different parts of the world for centuries to treat different types of health conditions, ranging from digestive disorders to infections. 

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Recently, there has been a growing interest around the role of berberine for treatment of diabetes and high cholesterol. Also, studies are now looking at whether berberine can help with weight loss. But berberine isn’t approved by the FDA to treat any medical conditions. 

What does berberine do and how does it work?

Based on animal and human studies, experts believe berberine acts in different ways in the body. Berberine:

• Activates an enzyme that plays an important role in metabolism

• May affect certain genes related to metabolism, making them turn on or off 

• Might also interact with pathways in the body involved in inflammation

So it makes sense that people are wondering whether it helps with weight loss. 

Does berberine help with weight loss?

There’s some evidence that berberine may help with weight loss, but research in humans isn’t strong enough to say for sure. 

In animal studies, berberine seems to do a few things that can help with weight loss. It can activate brown fat (a type of fat that burns calories), lower sugar production in the liver, and reduce how many carbs the body absorbs. 

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In people, the results are promising, but not conclusive. In one review of studies, people taking berberine for weight loss lost an average of 4.5 lbs. These results are more modest than what other obesity treatments provide. 

Another review of 18 studies found that people who took more than 1 g per day of berberine for 8 weeks or more lost weight. But many of the studies had a high chance of bias. They also used different doses of berberine and treated people with different health conditions. This means that more research is needed for experts to know how berberine might be used for weight loss — who benefits most, what dosage to use, and how long it should be used for.

Is berberine similar to Ozempic?

Berberine is similar to Ozempic (semaglutide) in a few key ways. Both have been studied for their effects on weight loss and blood sugar. Ozempic has strong research showing that it can help regulate blood sugar. Berberine also seems to lower blood sugar, especially in people who have diabetes.  

These effects might be why berberine has been called “nature’s Ozempic.” But berberine and Ozempic aren’t the same. Ozempic works by mimicking a natural hormone, called GLP-1, which makes you feel full. Berberine works by influencing several chemical pathways in your cells. Ozempic has also been studied in large rigorous trials. And it has been approved by the FDA, which means it’s shown to be safe and effective. The same isn’t true for berberine. 

What are other potential health benefits of berberine?

Berberine has also been studied as a treatment for: 

• High cholesterol

• High blood pressure

• Type 2 diabetes

• Infections

• Liver disease

• Skin diseases

• Digestive problems

Even though there have been some promising results, more research is needed to see if berberine works for everyone. Here’s what the research shows so far about how berberine works for different conditions.

High cholesterol

In a small clinical trial, 80 people either took 750 mg of berberine or a placebo every day for 3 months. At the end of the trial, people who took berberine had lower fasting blood sugar and cholesterol levels than the people who took a placebo. 

A larger review of 18 studies found that taking berberine lowered both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Most of these studies were done in China and Hong Kong. So more research is needed to see if other groups of people will show the same effect.

High blood pressure

Studies in animals suggest that berberine may be helpful for lowering blood pressure. But research in humans has shown mixed results, and the studies that exist are mostly low quality. Some pills that combine berberine with other supplements have been shown to lower blood pressure. But it’s hard to know how much of that effect is from berberine alone. 

In short, there’s no good evidence that berberine is helpful for lowering blood pressure. 

Type 2 diabetes

Berberine may help lower blood sugar and hemoglobin A1C levels in people who have Type 2 diabetes. In one study, people who took 1 g of berberine per day for 3 months lowered their fasting blood sugar by 20%.

A large review of 46 studies found that berberine can be helpful for managing blood sugar when it’s used alone or in combination with other diabetes medication. Researchers concluded that there’s strong evidence that berberine can be helpful in the treatment of diabetes. 

Infections

Laboratory studies have evaluated berberine’s effects against bacteria, fungi, and viruses:

• One study showed that berberine inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. 

• Berberine may also have anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent viruses like the flu from causing disease. 

• A third lab study showed that berberine can work against Candida, a fungus that causes yeast infections.

Lab studies are promising. But there aren’t any studies in humans looking at berberine and infections. So there’s no good evidence that berberine can help people fight off infections. 

Liver disease

There’s some evidence that berberine can help improve liver function in people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A study looking at over 800 people with this condition found that taking berberine led to better liver function tests. Berberine seems to help liver function by directly affecting the liver, and also through its effect on cholesterol and weight. Lowering your weight and cholesterol can reverse fatty liver disease. 

Overall there’s good research that berberine may be helpful for fatty liver disease.

Skin conditions

Studies in animals have found that berberine decreases inflammation and interferes with the pathways that cause irritation and itching in atopic dermatitis. Mice studies also suggest berberine may be helpful for treating psoriasis. 

While some feel that berberine might be a good way to treat skin infections in people with eczema, there are no clinical trials testing the effect of berberine on the skin. So there isn’t good evidence that berberine can help treat skin conditions in people. 

Digestive problems

Taking berberine may also help keep a person’s gut healthy. Lab studies and animal studies suggest that berberine increases the amount of good bacteria in a person’s gut while decreasing the amount of bad bacteria. 

There’s limited research in humans looking at the microbiome. One study looked at people who were recently diagnosed with diabetes. Those who took berberine were more likely to develop helpful changes in their gut microbiome. Still, more clinical trials are needed to develop a better understanding of how berberine affects digestion. 

While there’s limited research that shows promise, more studies are needed to understand berberine’s effect on digestion. 

Berberine side effects

Since berberine is a dietary supplement, the FDA doesn’t regulate berberine-containing products. So the actual amount of berberine in any given supplement may be higher or lower than what the label says. This makes it hard to know what side effects to expect.

The most commonly reported berberine side effects include: 

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Bloating and gas

• Upset stomach 

While side effects may be mild, some people should avoid berberine since it affects metabolism and can interact with certain medications. We discuss this in greater detail next.

Medication interactions

Berberine can interact with prescription medications. Before taking berberine, talk with a healthcare professional if you take medications to treat:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Mood disorders 

• Seasonal allergies

• Erectile dysfunction

• Pulmonary hypertension

• Blood clots

• Sleep disorders, including insomnia

If you have a weakened immune system or an organ transplant, don’t take berberine without talking with a healthcare professional. Berberine can interact with immunosuppressive medications. 

Berberine can help some treatments work better, as mentioned above. But it can stop others from working. So, if you have one of these conditions, talk with a healthcare professional before adding berberine to your treatment plan. They may need to switch your medications. 

Berberine dosage recommendations

There aren’t official guidelines for the correct dosage of berberine. But most studies on berberine used anywhere from 500 mg to 1,500 mg per day. A common dosage of berberine is to take 500 mg by mouth 3 times per day. Some experts recommend taking it before meals. 

Is berberine safe?

Berberine is considered safe for most people at dosages up to 1,500 mg per day. Berberine might not be safe for some adults, including people who have liver or kidney problems. You should also avoid berberine if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Written by:

Cherilyn Davis, MD

Cherilyn Davis, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician in New York City. She has held local and national roles at the American Medical Women’s Association including board member of the physician division and physician chair of social media.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician in a variety of clinical settings. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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