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Nine of the top ten causes of death in the United States in were diseases. Preventable diseases kill hundreds of thousands of people annually and cause years of pain and suffering for hundreds of thousands more. About 10% of Americans have type 2 diabetes, and nearly half of all American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease, according to a report.
Berberine, a golden yellow compound found in several plants, might play a role in preventing or slowing the progression of both heart disease and diabetes, among several other medical conditions. In this guide, we&#;ll investigate the pros and cons of adding berberine to your daily diet, explore the safety and quality measures of different supplements, and provide our top six picks for the best berberine supplement in .
If you&#;re in a hurry, check out our top recommendations below.
Our Top Pick
Double Wood BerberineDouble Wood offers a simple, quality Berberine supplement that contains 500mg of pure berberine HCl.
Double Wood includes a streamlined formula that&#;s soy-, gluten-, and GMO-free. The company's products are third-party tested and made in a GMP-certified facility. Take 20% off your first order when you sign up for the newsletter.
Table of Contents
Not every herbal supplement is created equally, and there can be a lot of misinformation out there. We&#;ve spent over 70 hours researching berberine to gain a thorough understanding of what this supplement is, how it works, and how it can be beneficial. We also took note of who would not be a good candidate for taking berberine. For this guide alone, we read over 50 scientific studies analyzing the efficacy of berberine supplementation and put this information to use when considering our top product recommendations.
Like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy. We&#;ll keep an eye on the latest science and evolving product options for berberine supplements to ensure this guide stays up-to-date.
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions to live healthier lifestyles.
We considered three major criteria when comparing berberine supplements: product safety, efficacy, and cost.
Since supplements aren&#;t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the same way that food and prescription medications are, it&#;s essential that companies do the right thing and are thorough with product testing. We consider product safety and transparent testing to be the highest priority.
While almost all of our top picks had the same effective main ingredient (berberine hydrochloride (HCl)), there were a couple of products that stood out for their potent formulas and addition of elements that may significantly aid with berberine absorption. These products have exciting potential, but we also consider possible downsides to a highly potent supplement &#; if a formula is potentially stronger and not as well studied, research becomes less predictive, and negative side effects could outweigh health benefits. Instead, at this time, we reserve our highest recommendation for a form and dosage that are most supported by current research.
Cost is also an important consideration, but we found that because the price of berberine supplements didn&#;t vary too significantly per milligram (and almost all of our top picks offer savings through subscription programs and free shipping), the other factors at play were more crucial.
Winner: Double Wood
While berberine has many powerful benefits, it also has some drawbacks. It can be rough on the digestive system, and there haven&#;t been many studies on its long-term safety. A berberine supplement that&#;s been through extensive third-party testing will be safer than most. Likewise, we look to ensure it was manufactured in a facility that is compliant with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP or cGMP) and registered with the FDA.
Double Wood makes its GMP-compliant facility status known right off the bat, and the company includes links to both a certificate of analysis and third-party testing results near the top of the berberine supplement&#;s webpage. These results back up the company&#;s ingredient claims on the label, instilling confidence that you&#;re receiving the berberine you seek. This is especially important considering that one study found that 60% of berberine supplements do not meet the 90-110% potency standard of what is printed on their label.39 Double Wood clearly explains how often you should take the supplement to avoid the worst side effects and provides allergen notices, contraindications with other medications, and other safety tips. While other companies in our top picks also perform rigorous testing, we liked Double Wood&#;s easy-to-locate results, combined with its competitive pricing and free shipping.
Winner: Double Wood
We consider the method of administration, effective dosing, and other ingredients that could improve efficacy. An effective supplement should deliver the benefits we want to see without completely undermining safety or affordability. We found that most clinical research has demonstrated that doses of 500-1,500mg of berberine daily provide therapeutic benefits.12 Common side effects of taking too much berberine can include nausea, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation, so we recommend taking a supplement that allows you to safely stay within this dosage range.
Double Wood comes in 500mg capsules, allowing you to easily adjust your dosage if you find yourself experiencing gastrointestinal distress. Clinical research has reliably shown that berberine is extremely difficult for the body to digest. Less than 1% of all berberine that we take orally ends up circulating in our bloodstream.40 And while some other formulas in our top picks, like those from Toniiq and Renue by Science, boast greater potency or absorption, we like that Double Wood allows you to stay consistent with dosing that has been studied the most; there&#;s no guessing how much you are really absorbing from each capsule. Also, the company&#;s certificate of analysis on the webpage is current and demonstrates that its dosage claims are accurate.
Winner: Puritan&#;s Pride
Determining the cost of a supplement requires more than looking at the listed price. Subscription or bulk deals, shipping costs, the number of servings, and the price per serving of a supplement all determine how much you&#;ll pay. We also consider a supplement&#;s customer service policies for things like returns when evaluating a supplement&#;s cost, so you can rest assured knowing you can get your money back in case it doesn&#;t agree with you.
Puritan&#;s Pride has centered its brand on its unique way of getting you low prices, and the company&#;s berberine supplement is no exception. For every bottle you purchase, you&#;ll get two of the same size for free. While it looks like Puritan&#;s Pride charges roughly as much as competitors, slicing this price into thirds reveals excellent savings. You can join its subscription program for an additional 5% off, and the company has one the longest return windows on our list at 90 days. There are tradeoffs that come with the lower price tag, but if you&#;re on a tight budget and don&#;t have a kitchen scale for measuring powders, Puritan&#;s Pride is a solid pick.
To help you break down the differences between our top products, we&#;ve put together a chart mapping all of their most important features. Check it out below.
Special Offer from Double Wood: FREE Shipping On All Orders
Double Wood
Puritan&#;s Pride
PureBulk
Renue By Science
Toniiq
Oregon&#;s Wild Harvest
Nutricost
Thorne
Cost
$20
$36
$23
$50
$24
$21
$27
$38
Number of servings
60
180
100
90
90
30
30
30
Cost per serving
$0.33
$0.20
$0.23
$0.56
$0.27
$0.70
$0.90
$1.27
Dose
500mg
500mg
500mg
150mg
500mg
1,140mg
1,200mg
1,000mg
Active form
Berberine HCl
Berberine HCl
Berberine HCl
Berberine HCl
Berberine HCl
Organic Oregon Grape root
Berberine HCl
Berberine HCl
Vegan?
Shipping
Free on all orders
Free for orders $49+
Free for orders $49+
Free for orders $50+
Free for orders $99+
Free for orders $50+
Free for orders $59+
Free on all orders
Subscription program?
Return policy
30 days
90 days
90 days
Unlimited for unopened product
60 days
60 days
60 days
60 days
Berberine is an alkaloid found in the roots, bark, and other structures of many plants, including the Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Indian barberry (Berberis aristata), and European barberry (Berberis vulgaris). It has a long history of therapeutic uses in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine and an equally expansive list of potential benefits within the framework of contemporary medicine.
Berberine has both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It may play a role in defending the body against harmful bacterial overgrowth and even promote growth of beneficial organisms in the gut microbiome, which in turn affects a variety of disease processes.2 While there is still much to uncover in terms of the mechanisms of how exactly berberine works, researchers do know it impacts a host of medical conditions, such as:
A literature review even discussed berberine&#;s potential for antitumor effects against a few types of cancer.13 However, at this time, the most extensive research has revolved around berberine&#;s impacts on diabetes and cholesterol management.
Most of berberine&#;s physiological effects are still under investigation, but let&#;s take a look at some of its most recognized mechanisms of action.
Berberine activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the primary enzyme that monitors and regulates our cellular energy levels. Increasing the amount of AMPK in our bodies gets nutrients where they need to be, effectively controlling our metabolism. This process of AMPK activation is the link to berberine&#;s benefits for diabetic patients, as well as other conditions like obesity and high cholesterol. AMPK is thought to be a tumor suppressor, too, essentially starving cells while they attempt to form cancerous tumors (though after cancer has developed, AMPK can sometimes promote tumor growth instead).14
We know that berberine has long been used as an antimicrobial agent in traditional Chinese medicine. But exactly how this compound is effective hasn&#;t been explored until more recently. A study investigating berberine&#;s antimicrobial properties found that it slows bacterial metabolism, stops them from creating new cell walls and amino acids, and lowers their antioxidant levels.15 Historically, berberine has been used to treat diarrhea from both bacterial infections and noninfectious conditions.16 (Ironically, diarrhea and stomach pain are sometimes side effects when you start taking berberine.) Much of the research on berberine&#;s impact on intestinal and gut microbiome health is still in progress, but studies have backed up the anecdotal evidence that berberine may be a potent anti-diarrheal agent.2
Berberine&#;s anti-inflammatory effects come into play through the modulation of multiple signaling pathways. In this regard, most studies look at berberine&#;s effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but inflammation is also a critical part of conditions like heart disease and diabetes.12 17 Notably, a meta-analysis found significant reductions in CRP (C-reactive protein, a major marker of inflammation) in patients taking berberine.18
One of the few things we can almost conclusively say berberine supports is diabetic care. Specifically, it improves HbA1c levels (an indicator of long-term blood sugar control) and insulin resistance (meaning your cells can use insulin more effectively, leading to less glucose storage and lower blood glucose levels).19 According to a animal study, berberine supplementation can slow the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.20 Some studies also suggest that taking berberine in addition to prescription medication like metformin could result in greater glycemic control, but more definitive research is needed to support this theory.21 It&#;s worth noting that berberine could potentially be a good alternative for those that can&#;t take diabetes medication due to liver, kidney, or heart disease.
Another significant benefit of berberine is its protection against heart disease.22 While we don&#;t know for sure if it can stop heart failure, we do know that it can decrease the likelihood of:
Berberine plays a role in decreasing total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and blood triglycerides while increasing HDL cholesterol.24 25 It also lowers high blood pressure, supporting good heart health from every angle. The positive impacts berberine has on obesity and blood sugar could also work hand-in-hand to help prevent heart disease. And interestingly, berberine appears to have an anti-apoptotic effect on heart cells, which can keep the cells from dying prematurely.
Berberine dosages have not been formally established, but clinical studies use a dose range between 500mg and 2,000mg daily. However, one study found that high cholesterol levels start to improve at 300mg daily.26 Berberine has a relatively short half-life, so most people report seeing success with three 500mg capsules daily (1,500mg total).
Generally speaking, berberine is a safe supplement for healthy adults. There aren&#;t a lot of side effects associated with berberine at the aforementioned doses, but you might experience some stomach upset when getting started. Specifically, berberine can cause:
The more berberine you take, the more likely you are to experience these side effects. Higher doses also mean you might feel stronger side effects for a longer time. If you know you have a sensitive stomach, starting on a low dose of berberine and slowly increasing how much you take over time might make sense. As with any supplement, talk to your doctor before adding berberine to your daily regimen.
There aren&#;t many studies looking at how well berberine works long-term, nor are there many investigating any potential safety hazards associated with taking berberine for years. Some of the longest-running studies looked at berberine as a dietary supplement for colorectal cancer over two years and found only a few adverse reactions, but pay attention to your body.27 Because we don&#;t know what could happen, taking berberine long-term is not typically recommended.
Berberine is an herbal supplement that the FDA doesn&#;t regulate the same way as food and prescription medication. It can&#;t be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases, including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, and everything else that research explores but hasn&#;t confirmed. Always talk to your doctor before trying a new supplement, and don&#;t stop taking prescription medication to try berberine without their approval.
Berberine interacts with several liver enzymes called cytochromes (specifically CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4, all of which come from cytochrome P450). These enzymes break down medications and help our bodies build cholesterol and certain steroids. While berberine isn&#;t the only supplement that interacts with cytochrome P450, it&#;s important to note because it can influence how much of your prescription medication gets absorbed. If your medication has a warning not to eat grapefruit while taking it, you shouldn&#;t take berberine with it either. (This is why it&#;s essential to check with your doctor before starting berberine, as the list of potential cytochrome P450 interactions is quite long.)
Several other medications interact poorly with berberine. These include:
Immunosuppressive medication
Tacrolimus, cyclosporin, and other oral chemotherapy drugs like bosutinib. Some studies have found that berberine has a slight immunosuppressive effect, particularly on T cells, a kind of white blood cell central to immune system functioning.28
Macrolide antibiotics
Azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, and fidaxomicin. Several studies show that berberine can enhance the effects of antibiotics, making it useful for treatment-resistant infections.29 But with its potential to slow T cell development, berberine could also restrict your body&#;s ability to heal itself.
Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors
Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), and avanafil (Stendra). These medications are vasodilators, which increase blood flow and lower blood pressure. You might take them for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, or an enlarged prostate. Berberine also lowers your blood pressure, so combining the two can dangerously lower your blood pressure levels.
If you have diabetes and take insulin, be careful while taking berberine. Since it can lower your insulin resistance, you might need to use less insulin than before to stabilize your blood sugar. Keep an eye out for low or dropping blood sugar levels, as hypoglycemia can be extremely dangerous. It&#;s best to check in with your endocrinologist beforehand if you want to try berberine supplements.
Berberine is particularly unsafe for pregnant and lactating individuals. Babies and fetuses that ingest berberine are more likely to have jaundice &#; a condition in which the liver doesn&#;t function as expected, leading to a buildup of bilirubin and jaundice&#;s hallmark yellow skin. This could lead to jaundice-induced brain damage called kernicterus, a rare disorder in which bilirubin is deposited in the brain, leading to vision and hearing loss which may be permanent. Likewise, children under 18 should not take berberine supplements.
Best overall
Vegan formula
Soy-, gluten-, and GMO-free
Provides third-party test results and certificate of analysis
Manufactured in a GMP-certified facility
Free shipping on all orders
Subscribe & save up to 15%
Only a 30-day return window
Website suggested use instructions don&#;t match product label
Double Wood creates a simple and high-quality berberine supplement. There isn&#;t much to it, but there doesn&#;t have to be. Double Wood combines the best traits of a successful supplement &#; a relatively low cost, transparent testing and safety measures, and a dose high enough to make a difference in small enough capsules to provide flexibility.
Each capsule contains 500mg of pure berberine HCl, and on its website, Double Wood encourages you to take anywhere from 2-4 capsules daily, each three hours apart with food. Following these instructions, you might find that a bottle lasts anywhere from two weeks to one month since there are 60 capsules in every bottle.
However, the product label on the bottle states to simply take one 500mg capsule daily. This discrepancy is confusing, and while 500mg of berberine may be enough for some, most research studies use doses closer to what the Double Wood website suggests. It&#;s also a little misleading when it comes to how many servings are actually present in a bottle of Double Wood berberine. Despite this, the company&#;s pricing is still competitive per serving. If you think you&#;ll need closer to 1,500mg of berberine daily, we&#;d recommend purchasing the Double Pack, which ships two bottles of berberine at a slightly reduced price.
One of the biggest reasons that Double Wood stands out as our top pick for berberine supplements is its commitment to transparency. You won&#;t have to look far to find out that it was made in GMP-compliant facilities in the U.S., and its allergen notice is prominently displayed. The company also links directly to a current certificate of analysis and independent third-party testing results on the webpage, revealing that its berberine capsules contain exactly what is claimed on the label. Currently, each capsule contains berberine, hypromellose (veggie capsule), and silicon dioxide (a common anti-caking agent). This is slightly different from the previous formula, which included berberine with just microcrystalline cellulose. If one of your goals is avoiding additives, and you have a kitchen scale handy, PureBulk might be a better fit for you.
Double Wood sells its berberine capsules at several different price points depending on the number of bottles you&#;re ordering and whether or not you&#;re joining the subscription program. Double and triple packs have a bigger discount up front, but you&#;ll save less per order when joining the subscription program (10% as opposed to 15% for a single bottle). Ultimately, you do still save a significant amount by bundling or subscribing &#; or both. We&#;ve put together a quick chart to help you figure out how much you&#;ll pay.
Cost (one time)Cost (subscription)One bottle$19.95$16.96Double pack$34.95$31.46Triple pack$49.95$44.96Subscriptions are all processed through the third-party service Recharge. You can choose how frequently you&#;d like to have a new bottle delivered:
All orders ship for free from Double Wood and generally arrive within five to seven business days. If you aren&#;t happy with your berberine supplement, you can get a refund even if you&#;ve already opened the bottle. After placing the order, you&#;ll have 30 days to initiate a refund, and you&#;ll need to ship the bottle back whether or not you&#;ve opened it. Despite the company&#;s free shipping policy, you will need to pay for return shipping yourself. Double Wood will still accept refunds after the 30 days are up but won&#;t guarantee it; after 30 days, Double Wood will provide refunds only at its discretion. While this return policy isn&#;t as long as some of our other top picks &#; like Puritan&#;s Pride or PureBulk, which offer 90-day policies &#; we appreciate that Double Wood will accept a return even if the product has been opened.
Best budget pick
All supplements are &#;buy one, get two free&#;
500mg dose per capsule
Made in GMP-certified facilities
Subscribe and save 5%
No way to order just one bottle
Lower degree of transparency
Small amounts of additives (magnesium stearate and silica)
Each bottle of Puritan&#;s Pride&#;s Berberine contains 60 capsules of 500mg berberine sourced from Indian barberry. However, because you get bottles in sets of three for every order, Puritan&#;s Pride&#;s berberine capsules allow for much more flexibility in your dosing schedule. You can take anywhere from 500mg to 2,000mg daily without worrying about whether or not you&#;ll run out in less than a month.
Puritan&#;s Pride also offers berberine mixed with several other ingredients (such as turmeric and black pepper, cinnamon, and silymarin), so you can pick a combination that&#;ll support your specific health goals if you&#;re focused on decreasing inflammation, increasing metabolism, or supporting liver health.30 However, we think that pure berberine capsules are best for most people.
We confirmed that Puritan&#;s Pride berberine supplements are vegan-friendly, and a small amount of vegetable magnesium stearate and silica are included, which are common fillers. This won&#;t hurt your health, but if you&#;re looking for a completely clean supplement, this one might not quite fit the bill.
All Puritan&#;s Pride supplements are manufactured in GMP-certified facilities and tested multiple times throughout their creation. However, the company doesn't specify whether the supplements are tested in-house or by independent third parties and doesn&#;t provide any test results. This is somewhat disappointing; transparency is key when looking for a health supplement since they aren&#;t closely regulated by the FDA. If safety is essential in your decision-making process, you may wish to consider another option on our list, such as Double Wood or Toniiq, which provide testing results right on their product websites.
Puritan&#;s Pride uses one of the most unusual pricing strategies in the field. Every single order &#; no matter what it is you&#;re getting &#; comes in sets of three bottles. The company has increased its prices by a few dollars since our last review, but thanks to its bulk deals, these supplements are still our top budget pick. The chart below lays out exactly how much you&#;ll pay in different circumstances.
Cost one-timeCost per bottle (one-time)Cost with subscriptionCost per bottle (subscription)Buy 1, get 2 free$36.49$12.16$34.67$11.56Buy 2, get 4 free$72.98$12.16$69.33$11.56Joining the subscription program saves you only 5%, but it does unlock free shipping for orders of $30 or more. Otherwise, you can get free shipping when purchasing $49 or more of Puritan&#;s Pride products. If you don&#;t quite meet that $49 requirement, you&#;ll be charged $4.95, and some U.S. states and territories are subject to an additional $5.99 surcharge.
You can try Puritan&#;s Pride&#;s berberine supplement risk-free. Puritan&#;s Pride offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, meaning that you can try it and return it as long as it&#;s within three months of purchase. That said, you can&#;t have tried all three (or six) bottles; if you opt for a return, Puritan&#;s Pride will only offer a full refund if just one bottle has been opened. However, you&#;ll need to include them all in a return package when you send the product back.
If you&#;re curious about what the rest of Puritan&#;s Pride catalog holds, check out our full review.
Best powder
No additives
Strong scientific evidence directly on the webpage
Tested by independent third parties
Certificate of analysis available upon request
Made in GMP-certified facilities
Multiple sizes and forms
Easy to personalize dosage
Vegan-friendly
Military, teacher, and first responder discounts
Free shipping on orders over $49
Generous 90-day return policy
Save 10% at checkout with code INNERBODY
Number of servings per size isn&#;t obvious on label
Difficult to dose without extra equipment
No subscription program
Taking a supplement capsule (or three) every day isn&#;t for everyone. For those who dislike swallowing pills or who want to avoid additives, PureBulk offers an additive-free Berberine HCl powder that makes it easy to consume berberine in the way that you prefer. Also, you might know that you love berberine and want to buy it in bulk without paying hand over fist. This is where PureBulk excels: you can buy its Berberine HCl powder (made exclusively from Phellodendron amurense bark) in six different sizes, from 25g all the way up to 1kg.
There are downsides to this approach. You&#;ll have to do the math to figure out how many servings are in each bag of powder, but PureBulk recommends you take 500mg daily. You&#;ll also need to have a kitchen scale or an extremely accurate scoop at the ready to ensure you&#;re taking a consistent amount every time. This can be inconvenient and requires you to use caution in order to avoid unwanted side effects from taking too much. However, because it&#;s a powder, you can personalize your dose to exactly the right amount that works for you.
All PureBulk products are made in GMP-certified facilities and are independently tested by a qualified third-party laboratory. If you want to read the test results, PureBulk provides a link for you to request a copy of the certificate of analysis.
PureBulk offers its berberine supplement in ten sizes and three forms, so you can get as much &#; or as little &#; as you need. These include:
We noticed that PureBulk has increased its prices in all sizes since our last review, with a change of just a dollar or two in the smaller quantities but more significant changes in the larger quantities (like $297 vs. $270 for the 1 kg option). PureBulk also offers a true bulk option of 15kg for $2,244.55. This berberine powder comes in a large drum and is best suited for situations where you&#;re sharing your berberine with many other people. (15kg will likely start to lose its efficacy before you can finish it yourself.)
Because the company sells its berberine powder in such large quantities, PureBulk doesn&#;t offer any subscription programs. And while PureBulk can accept PayPal as a payment method for many of its items, if you&#;re buying berberine, you&#;ll have to use a debit or credit card.
If you&#;re in the military, a teacher, or a first responder, PureBulk offers a 15% discount. You&#;ll need to verify your identity through VerifyPass, a third-party platform, and upon approval, you&#;ll get a one-time discount code valid for 24 hours. You&#;ll need to repeat this process to get another code each time you shop with PureBulk.
PureBulk offers free shipping on orders over $49 going to the United States unless your order contains a bulk tub (20kg or 25kg) or a heavy parcel (3kg or more per individual item or 10kg total) going to Alaska or Hawaii. Otherwise, shipping costs vary depending on where you live and how much you&#;re purchasing.
If you decide berberine isn&#;t right for you (or find out you don&#;t have a kitchen scale as you thought), you have 90 days from when it first shipped to return your powder or capsules to PureBulk. This is one of the most generous return policies we&#;ve found among our top berberine picks, alongside Puritan&#;s Pride and Renue By Science. However, be aware that for a full refund, the berberine must be returned unopened, and you&#;ll need to pay for return shipping. The company does consider refunds for opened products; in that case, it will issue a refund equal to the cost of the smallest size it offers in that particular product. Returns for bulk orders are not accepted.
Most potent
Liposomal form means the body may absorb significantly more
Allergen-free, non-GMO, vegan-friendly
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Berberine Hydrochloride Exporter.
Triple-tested with certificates of analysis posted on webpage
Made in cGMP- and ISO-certified facilities
Free shipping to the U.S. on orders over $50
Subscribe and save 5%
Take 10% off with code INNERBODY
Potentially much higher absorption rate creates less studied (and more unpredictable) effective dosage
Expensive compared to alternatives
Known mostly for its excellent NAD+ supplements, Renue By Science steps out of its usual arena with LIPO Berberine. This supplement adds sunflower lecithin as a liposomal barrier &#; two phospholipid layers arranged in a sphere &#; to a traditional berberine supplement. Because the human body uses phospholipid bilayers to create our cells, it notices, bonds to, and processes the liposomal supplement much faster and more effectively than if it just went through your digestive system.
This liposomal technology is particularly important for a berberine supplement. Less than 1% of any given oral berberine supplement gets put to use in the body, but a animal study showed that liposomal berberine is stored, absorbed, and used 16 times more than berberine on its own, meaning that there could indeed be more of it to help you for longer.1 31 In theory, your body will get more use out of this berberine supplement than alternatives, although more (human) clinical studies are needed to back this claim up.
The dose you'll find in each serving of LIPO Berberine is considerably less than competitors. Each capsule (equivalent to one serving) only contains 150mg of berberine. You can triple the dose (to 450mg) and still only need to order one bottle a month since there are 90 capsules per bottle. Still, the increased absorption from its liposomal format means it&#;s harder to pin down exactly how much of it you&#;re getting and using.
When you consider the results of the animal study mentioned above, there&#;s a chance you are absorbing a significant amount more berberine than in another supplement. If you assume that the animal study accurately predicts the greater absorption rate in humans, then a 150mg dose of LIPO Berberine might be equivalent to something like 2,500mg of traditionally formulated berberine HCl, which is a high dose. While there is potential for taking fewer capsules per day due to the increased absorption, there&#;s no way to divide that 150mg dose into something smaller. This brings up the concern of possible negative GI side effects. If you would rather take a supplement with a higher berberine content and less of a guess as to how much you are absorbing, an option like Double Wood or Puritan&#;s Pride (both have 500mg capsules) might be a better fit.
Renue By Science is transparent with its testing and quality assurance. The company includes a copy of the certificate of analysis directly on the webpage. Without having to ask, you can see exactly how an independent third party scored LIPO Berberine &#; and, interestingly, the batch at the time of writing contained 167mg per capsule, 17mg more than is listed on the label.
Renue By Science only sells LIPO Berberine in one size and form: a bottle of 90 capsules for $49.95. The company doesn't offer any bundle deals but has added a subscription program since our last review. You can save 5% if you subscribe and can choose to have your product delivered every one, two, or three months.
If you order more than $50 &#; by adding literally anything else from the catalog alongside one bottle of LIPO Berberine &#; you&#;ll unlock free USPS First Class shipping to the United States. Renue also offers free shipping to the United Kingdom and Australia (orders over $89), as well as most other countries (orders over $250). If you don&#;t want to add anything else to your purchase, there&#;s a flat shipping charge:
Renue By Science will not ship to Mexico, Spain, Russia, Ukraine, or the United Arab Emirates, but it will send its products to any other country.
The website is not clear on the company&#;s return policy but states that it guarantees 100% customer satisfaction. After reaching out to the company&#;s customer support, we were told that there is no defined return window and that any unopened product can be returned for a refund. We suggest contacting the customer support team via or live chat if you have questions regarding your purchase. But given the uncertainty about the greater absorption of liposomal berberine, you won&#;t know how it makes you feel until you try it.
Runner-up for best overall
A study found that 60% of tested berberine supplements failed to meet the potency standards of 90-110% of what is claimed on the label.39 Toniiq uses an extraction process that aims to ensure a highly purified product. Toniiq&#;s Berberine 97% is produced from Himalayan Berberis aristata root (Indian barberry). Each serving contains a scientifically supported dose of 500mg, and the company claims it is an 82:1 concentrated product, promising to deliver more of the berberine that you are seeking. Something to consider is whether or not such a highly concentrated product would be more likely to cause some of the undesirable GI side effects of berberine. If you know you are sensitive to berberine, you may want to keep that in mind when considering your options. The uncertainty here is partly why Toniiq didn&#;t become our overall top pick for most people.
One downside is that while the berberine is thoughtfully sourced for purity, the capsules themselves do contain some additives (microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide). While none of these additives are unusual, there are other options out there if you are seeking a 100% berberine, additive-free product, such as the PureBulk Berberine HCl Powder.
We like that Toniiq products are made in a cGMP- and NSF- certified lab and that the company is transparent about its testing protocols. It utilizes a randomized third-party testing program and has a certificate of analysis for every lot produced. The berberine certificate of analysis is available and easy to find on the product page, and the company is willing to share third-party lab results upon request.
Toniiq&#;s Berberine 97% comes in just one size option, a 90-capsule bottle for $24, which is one of the more affordable options among our top picks. (Our top budget pick, Puritan&#;s Pride, is $0.20 per serving versus Toniiq&#;s $0.27 per serving.) A serving size is one 500mg capsule, but the suggested use is one capsule up to three times a day. This means one bottle can last you anywhere from one to three months, depending on your preferred dosing schedule.
Toniiq offers a subscribe and save program that allows you to save 15%. You can choose between 30-, 60-, or 90-day delivery. The company also offers a 60-day money-back guarantee &#; refund requests are limited to three individual products and must be after two weeks of use. Toniiq doesn't require you to ship the product back if you decide it&#;s not going to work for you; instead, it asks that you pass it on to someone else who might benefit from using it.
The biggest downside with Toniiq (and the chief reason why it is only the runner-up for best overall berberine supplement) is its shipping policy. The company only offers free shipping for purchases over $99, which is pretty steep. So unless you are stocking up on multiple supplements or several bottles of berberine, you will be absorbing the shipping cost. We found that orders are shipped via USPS, DHL, or UPS, depending on your location, and the cost is not a flat rate. Our reviewer&#;s shipping cost was $13, so it&#;s definitely something to consider when exploring your berberine options.
Best organic
Vegan, non-GMO formula
Tested in-house for quality and purity
Bottled in-house according to USDA standards
Subscribe and save 15%
No berberine content listed (yet)
Three capsules per serving
Oregon grape root is one of the best plant sources of berberine. It&#;s widely used in oral and topical formulas, addressing everything from an upset stomach to irritation-related rashes. Oregon&#;s Wild Harvest bundled Oregon grape root into a capsule to capitalize on the plant&#;s berberine content, providing you with a supplement made exclusively from natural sources.
Each plant-sourced capsule contains 1,140mg of organic Oregon grape root and nothing else. You&#;ll need to take three capsules daily for one serving, and there are 30 servings (90 capsules) per container.
The biggest downside of this supplement is that there&#;s no listed berberine content. Similar plants like barberry and goldenseal have anywhere from 0.5% to 13% berberine, putting the estimated berberine range per serving between 5mg and 150mg. This is a wide range and also a relatively low dosage, but you may find that other antioxidants and phytochemicals in the Oregon grape root make up the difference. Oregon&#;s Wild Harvest is aware of this flaw and has said that the company is actively working on testing and measuring the berberine content per serving. If you would prefer to know exactly how much berberine you are consuming in a clean formula, our other top pick that doesn&#;t contain additives (PureBulk) might be a better option for you.
Oregon&#;s Wild Harvest performs every step of the manufacturing process in-house, from growing the herbs and packaging to testing and shipping. While it does not appear that the company uses third-party quality testing, it does verify quality and potency on every batch and processes its herbs in facilities compliant with USDA standards.
These Organic Oregon Grape Capsules are sold in one size, containing 90 capsules (30 servings). You can purchase it as a one-time order or join the company&#;s subscription program to save 15% on every order. For each bottle, you&#;ll pay the following prices:
With the subscription program, you can choose exactly when you want your new bottle delivered and how often. You can also skip refills and cancel the subscription altogether with little hassle. You can choose your delivery frequency to be every 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 13, or 26 weeks, depending on your needs.
Free shipping kicks in when you spend $50 or more. If you&#;re just looking for one (or two) bottles of Organic Oregon Grape Capsules, you&#;ll be charged depending on how much you order and where it&#;s shipping. On average, expect to pay about $6 in shipping (slightly less if you live on the West Coast and slightly more if you live on the East Coast).
If you aren&#;t happy with your order, you can return it for a refund or exchange it within 60 days of purchase. But the amount you&#;ll get back (or in credit) depends on the quantity you return unopened; if you want a full refund, send your supplements back unopened in the original container.
Highest dose per capsule
Non-GMO, vegan-friendly
Made in a GMP-certified facility
Third-party tested
Free shipping on orders over $59 to the U.S.
On the expensive side
Contains additives
Nutricost has an extensive catalog and a history of well-performing supplements. The company&#;s Berberine Capsules continue this trend, offering 600mg of Indian-barberry-derived berberine in every capsule. The serving size is two capsules, giving you a dose of mg of berberine. However, when the cost is broken down, at $0.90 per mg serving, Nutricost is not quite as cost-effective as some of our top picks. For example, Toniiq Berberine 97% is $0.27 per one 500mg serving, and some quick math tells us that a mg dose (equivalent to Nutricost) would be just $0.65.
This berberine supplement also includes silica, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose, so if you&#;re looking for a completely clean supplement, you may want to look elsewhere. However, these ingredients are relatively common in supplements, so it&#;s not anything alarming; instead, it just means there&#;s a little more than just berberine inside.
Nutricost&#;s supplements are all manufactured in a GMP-certified facility and are tested for purity, potency, and quality by a third party, although the certificates are not readily available, unlike some of our other top picks.
Nutricost berberine was formerly our top pick for most potent due to its 600mg-per-capsule dosing. However, Nutricost is eclipsed by Renue by Science, thanks to its liposomal formula and subsequently more robust absorption. If a person absorbs one percent of Nutricost&#;s 600mg dose, that&#;s 6mg absorbed. But if clinical research is a valid indicator and the liposomal berberine from Renue by Science does indeed absorb at a rate 16 times higher than average berberine absorption, then the smaller 150mg dose from Renue by Science would result in absorption of 24mg of berberine (four times the amount you get from a dose of Nutricost). Nutricost also fell down the ranks due to its pricing per dosage and apparent change in return policy from a 90-day to a 60-day time window.
Like its other supplements, Nutricost keeps its berberine purchasing options simple and streamlined; the company only offers one size bottle containing 30 servings for $26.95. Since our last review, Nutricost has added a subscribe and save option, allowing you to save 15%. The subscription is run through Recharge, a third-party service that allows you to choose exactly when you want your new bottle delivered and how often. You can also skip refills and cancel the subscription altogether with little hassle. All subscriptions automatically refill once a month, but it&#;s easy to space it out (or push deliveries closer together) depending on your needs.
You can get free shipping in the U.S. if you order $59 or more worth of Nutricost products. Otherwise, standard shipping costs $7; prices vary for international orders. And if you aren&#;t happy with your berberine capsules, reach out to Nutricost to get your refund started. You can get your money back (minus the cost of shipping and handling) within 60 days of purchase.
1,000mg of berberine in every serving
Gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free
Manufactured in NSF and cGMP-certified facilities
Tested four times in-house
Free shipping within the contiguous U.S.
Subscribe and save up to 20%
Testing results transparency is lacking
On the expensive side
Thorne&#;s Berberine (formerly known as Berberine-500) is a clinically refined, potent berberine supplement. One serving of Thorne&#;s berberine is two capsules containing a total of 1,000mg of berberine from Indian barberry extract. Each bottle holds 60 capsules (30 servings). This provides flexibility while ensuring you&#;ll have enough berberine to get you through the month. That said, if you anticipate needing more than 1,000mg daily, you may want to order more than one bottle at a time or join Thorne&#;s subscription program.
Thorne also offers a second berberine supplement for those who need less than 1,000mg per serving. Berberine-200 (formerly Berbercap) offers 60 capsules of a 200mg dose with the same high quality at a slightly lower price ($25). However, it is worth noting that Berberine-200 contains slightly different ingredients, including leucine, and would not be appropriate for vegans.
Though not labeled as such, the 500mg berberine supplement option has no additional animal-based ingredients (just a hypromellose capsule and calcium laurate), making it vegan-friendly. It&#;s also gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free. Thorne uses NSF and cGMP-certified facilities to manufacture its berberine supplements. Thorne was the first supplement manufacturer from the United States to earn an A rating from Australia&#;s Therapeutic Goods Administration, which is well known for having some of the highest standards in the world. All Thorne supplements are rigorously tested in-house four times at various stages of manufacturing, although test results are not readily available on the product website.
One bottle of Thorne&#;s Berberine Capsules costs $38 if you purchase it once. This breaks down into a steep $1.27 per serving, even though you are getting 1,000mg per dose. In comparison, our top budget pick, Puritan&#;s Pride, is only $0.20 per 500mg serving, which equates to $0.40 per 1,000mg. However, you can unlock savings by joining Thorne&#;s subscription program. You&#;ll save 10% on each item and 20% on subscription orders containing three or more products. However, those subscription savings only kick in after your first order. We&#;ve put together a chart below to clarify how much you&#;ll pay.
First orderSecond order and beyondOne-time purchase$38$38Subscription (1-2 items, per bottle)$38$34.20Subscription (3+ items, per bottle)$38$30.40You can set up your subscription to send you a new bottle every:
Thorne offers free shipping to all orders within the contiguous United States. Orders shipping to Alaska or Hawaii and international orders can expect a steep variable shipping fee. And if you aren&#;t satisfied with your berberine capsules for any reason, you can return them within 60 days of purchase for a full refund.
In addition to its impacts on diabetes and its antimicrobial properties, some of berberine&#;s greatest assets lie in its effects on heart health and inflammation. But despite its far-reaching potential health benefits, taking a berberine supplement may not be right for everyone. We&#;ve laid out some alternative options to berberine if you are seeking out a different answer for these issues.
There is much research supporting berberine&#;s positive impacts on heart health, but luckily, there are several other options out there, too, if berberine isn&#;t right for you. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, are known to lower triglyceride levels, and are easy-to-find supplements. You can also consume omega-3s in foods like fish and nuts; a healthy diet is one of the best things you can do for your heart health. Check out our guides on fish oil and krill oil if an omega-3 supplement sounds like something you might be interested in.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring enzyme and another popular supplement that can help prevent heart failure with long-term therapy.42 CoQ10 is also sometimes used to treat side effects from statins (which can lower the amount of CoQ10 the body makes). Folic acid is another supplement you can take that has strong evidence for heart benefits. This B vitamin helps to break down homocysteine, a known risk factor for heart disease.
Inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases. Berberine appears to have benefits for many health conditions, like heart disease and obesity, and some believe that its anti-inflammatory effects are responsible. However, if you can&#;t tolerate berberine or are looking for another solution, there are many other options out there for you.
Similar to heart disease, one of the fastest and easiest ways to fight inflammation is through your diet. Refined carbohydrates, sodas, margarine, and red meat are known to be more inflammatory foods. Adding foods like berries, avocado, green tea, and fish to your diet can be a great first step. You can also supplement your diet with turmeric, ginger, fish oil, and vitamin D &#; all of which are proven anti-inflammatories that are easy to find.
Berberine affects weight in roundabout ways. It improves insulin resistance, which leads to weight loss over time as your body lets go of its unnecessary energy stores. It might also improve the functioning of two hunger and fat-storage hormones, adiponectin and leptin, and stop fat cells from growing in the first place.
A small study found that people with metabolic syndrome who took 900mg of berberine for three months lost an average of two inches off their waist size.32 Another study found that 1,500mg of berberine daily caused obese individuals to lose an average of five pounds over 12 weeks.33 So while more research is needed, berberine appears to be effective for weight loss.
No matter how you do it, weight loss can&#;t target individual body parts. However, excess abdominal fat is associated with insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. Suppose your body stores its extra fat in your abdomen because of insulin resistance (and not diet or exercise). In that case, berberine could effectively reduce your belly fat faster than eating healthy and exercising alone.
We don&#;t yet know enough about berberine to determine whether or not it&#;s more effective than prescription medications for diabetes management, like metformin. One study from found that giving berberine to newly diagnosed diabetics lowered their blood sugar and regulated their insulin metabolism almost identically to metformin.34 A meta-analysis of 27 clinical trials found similar results but stated that larger, more controlled studies are needed to confirm their findings.3
There haven&#;t been many studies investigating berberine&#;s effects on sex hormones. Insulin resistance can raise women&#;s testosterone levels, so improving insulin resistance can naturally drop your testosterone levels into a healthier range.35 If you&#;re a woman looking to improve your estrogen levels, berberine may still do that. A recent study showed that berberine regulated estrogen, testosterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH) in rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).36 While much more research is needed, these results on hormone regulation are promising.
While berberine interacts with some of the same liver enzymes as alcohol, berberine might actually make it slightly safer for you to have an occasional drink or two. Berberine (particularly in the HCl form used in most supplements) appears to have protective effects on the liver, regulating inflammation and minimizing harm.37 That said, this study was performed on rats, not humans. Check with your doctor about drinking alcohol while taking berberine, especially if you have a history of liver disease.
Berberine is notorious for its lack of absorption, and only a fraction of a percent of the berberine we ingest circulates through the bloodstream. Scientists and clinical researchers aren&#;t entirely sure why our bodies are so bad at absorbing berberine, but it&#;s thought that the way our intestines and liver break it down is at play.40
However, some prebiotics and lipids (such as the sunflower lecithin in LIPO Berberine) can improve how much berberine we absorb.38 Always take berberine during the day with food &#; not only can it quash any potential gastrointestinal side effects, but it can also keep it moving through your digestive system, ensuring that as much gets absorbed as possible.
Our team of registered dietitians reviews and evaluates every single supplement we recommend according to our dietary supplement methodology . From there, a registered dietitian on our Medical Expert Board reviews each article for scientific accuracy. Always speak with a healthcare professional before adding a supplement to your routine to ensure that the supplement is appropriate for your individual needs and which dosage to take.
What Registered Dietitians Want You to Know
One of the experts we interviewed has used our top pick for berberine for weight loss to help patients manage weight, in addition to personalized nutrition and lifestyle changes. It also has ingredients besides berberine that may help promote weight loss.
Berberine started being called &#;nature&#;s Ozempic&#; on social media since some people found success with losing weight and controlling cravings, says Dr. Alexandra Sowa, MD, MA , obesity medicine physician and founder of SoWell Health. However, she explains that &#;it&#;s not medically or scientifically accurate. While both berberine and GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic help blood sugar levels and can help with weight loss, there is no comparison in their efficacy. You&#;re not going to see the same weight loss results from berberine as you would from a GLP-1 drug , so really, this is a misleading way to talk about berberine.&#;
We spoke with several registered dietitians and an obesity medicine physician , who shared the berberine supplement brands they recommend to their patients for specific conditions. To develop our recommended picks, we fact-checked all expert recommendations by examining current clinical research.
Berberine supplements can sometimes be called &#;nature&#;s Ozempic &#; because they promote weight loss and improve blood sugar control, similar to semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy ), a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) prescription medication. Berberine does not lead to the same improvements in weight loss and blood sugar control as GLP-1 medications, but preliminary research shows that berberine supplements can lower blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides, and hemoglobin A1c .
What Registered Dietitians Want You to Know
Best for Blood Sugar Control
Thorne Berberine 1,000 mg
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$40
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$40
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$40
Pros
Contains highly absorbable berberine
Extensive in-house testing
Free of gluten, dairy, and soy
Cons
Not suitable for those with peanut, pea, or legume allergy
May interact with medications that lower blood sugar
Key Specs
Serving size: 2 capsules | Dose: 450 mg berberine HCl & 550 mg berberine phytosome | Third-Party Tested: No but strong in-house testing
Why We Recommend It
Several dietitians we spoke with highly recommended Thorne Berberine Dual Action because they have seen improvements in blood sugar control with their patients who have diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS, and/or insulin resistance. Thorne makes two different berberine supplements, but we chose the Dual Action Formula because it contains two forms of berberine: 450 mg of berberine HCl and 550 mg of berberine phytosome.
Berberine helps improve the body&#;s response to insulin and lower blood sugar by activating AMPK, an enzyme that regulates metabolism, says Walker. Berberine also inhibits the liver from producing glucose. A study found significant improvements in menstrual regularity and ovarian health and reductions in acne and hirsutism in women with PCOS who took berberine phytosome (90 days, two doses daily of 550 mg), says Walker.
Pace also recommends Thorne Berberine for her patients with PCOS, type 2 diabetes, or those with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease but emphasizes the importance of using it under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional.
Registered dietitian Melissa Mitri, MS, RD, says Thorne is a trusted and reputable supplement brand recommended by healthcare experts. While Thorne Berberine is not third-party tested, the company conducts thorough in-house testing to ensure safety, quality, and potency. For added peace of mind, Thorne also shares fact sheets on each ingredient and details on its manufacturing process.
Keep In Mind
Berberine can interact with blood-sugar-lowering medications, like metformin, so speak with your healthcare provider before taking it. Two capsules of Thorne Berberine Dual Action is 1,000 mg of total berberine, more than what is found in other supplements, but still within the range that&#;s considered safe. Thorne Berberine Dual Action also contains pea protein, so do not take this supplement if you have a nut or legume allergy.
Best Budget
Swanson Supplement
Amazon
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$20
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$21
Pros
Third-party tested
Budget-friendly
Non-GMO, free of dairy, nuts
Cons
May need to take 2&#;3 capsules per day for the ideal dose
Key Specs
Serving size: 1 capsule | Dose: 400 mg berberine HCl | Third-Party Tested: Yes
Why We Recommend It
Swanson Berberine is a third-party certified, budget-friendly berberine supplement that delivers 400 mg of berberine HCl per capsule. Swanson has rigid standards for their supplements' quality, potency, and purity, making this supplement a no-brainer choice.
Berberine has become popular because of weight loss claims, but it&#;s mostly been studied for its effect on metabolic health, says Sowa. &#;It actually helps address the underlying metabolic reason many people struggle with their weight: insulin resistance,&#; she says. Signs of insulin resistance include &#;excess fat around the waist, PCOS, fatigue, high blood pressure or cholesterol, difficulty losing weight, fatigue, and cravings for carbs and sugar,&#; says Dr. Sowa, &#;and berberine can help with all of these.&#;
Berberine helps stabilize blood sugar, especially after meals, which translates into less fat storage, decreased hunger, and healthier levels of insulin, triglycerides, and glucose, says Dr. Sowa.
Keep In Mind
One capsule of Swanson Berberine has 400 mg of berberine HCl, which is lower than the dose shown in most clinical studies to aid weight loss and cardiovascular health. Taking two to three capsules per day, ideally before meals, for a total of 800&#;1,200 mg berberine daily may yield optimal results. Always check with a provider to determine the best dose for you.
Best Enhanced Absorption
Theralogix Berberine
Amazon
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$74
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Pros
NSF certified
Contains highly absorbable berberine phytosome
Made with grape seed extract to reduce GI side effects
Cons
Expensive
Key Specs
Serving size: 1 capsule | Dose: 550 mg berberine phytosome | Third-Party Tested: Yes, NSF Contents Certified
Why We Recommend It
Theralogix Berberine Enhanced Absorption is the only NSF Contents Certified berberine supplement, meaning it&#;s third-party tested and certified for accuracy and purity. One capsule delivers 550 mg of berberine phytosome, which has up to 10-fold absorption compared to pure berberine.
In a study of 130 Pakistani women with PCOS, supplementing with 550 mg of berberine phytosome for 90 days helped menstruation return in 70% of these women and also improved other PCOS symptoms like acne.
Theralogix Berberine Enhanced Absorption can help support healthy blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and body composition. Because berberine can cause stomach upset in some people, Theralogix Berberine Enhanced Absorption is formulated with grape seed extract to improve tolerance and reduce GI distress. One capsule daily is recommended, but taking up to 1,500 mg per day is safe for up to six months.
Keep In Mind
This is more expensive than other berberine supplements that contain the same form and dose. Do not take this supplement if you are allergic to peas, sunflower, or grape seed.
Best for Cholesterol
Integrative Therapeutics Berberine
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$32
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$32
Pros
Contains dose clinically studied for cholesterol
Dietitian recommended
Free of gluten, soy, and dairy
Cons
Could interact with statins
Key Specs
Serving size: 1 capsule | Dose: 500 mg berberine HCl | Third-Party Tested: No
Why We Recommend It
Integrative Therapeutics Berberine was highly recommended by registered dietitian Kaytee Hadley, MS, RDN, IFMCP, to improve cholesterol and high blood sugar. It contains 500 mg of berberine HCl, the type and dose of berberine shown in studies to reduce total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Research suggests that berberine combined with lifestyle changes was more effective than lifestyle changes alone in lowering total and LDL (&#;bad&#;) cholesterol and raising HDL (&#;good&#;) cholesterol. Berberine combined with lipid-lowering medications was also more effective than medication alone in reducing cholesterol.
While 500 mg is typically the dose studied, one review found that 1,000 mg per day of berberine was the optimal dose for lowering total cholesterol and triglycerides. With 500 mg per capsule of Integrative Therapeutics Berberine, the dosage can easily be adjusted for each individual without taking more than a few pills at a time, says Hadley.
Integrative Therapeutics rigorously tests all its supplements to ensure quality, safety, and purity. Integrative Therapeutics Berberine is vegan and contains no gluten, soy, or dairy.
Keep In Mind
Berberine supplements can interact with statins, medications used to lower cholesterol, as well as blood pressure medications, so consult a healthcare professional before taking it with medication.
Best for Weight Loss
Pure Encapsulations Metabolic Xtra
Amazon
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$53
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$53
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Pros
Contains chromium to aid weight loss
Rigorous in-house testing
Vegan, non-GMO, and free of soy, gluten, and dairy
Cons
Lower dose of berberine compared to other brands
Not budget-friendly
Key Specs
Serving size: 1 capsule | Dose: 350 mg berberine HCl, 200 mcg chromium, 100 mg alpha lipoic acid, 20 mg resveratrol | Third-Party Tested: No
Why We Recommend It
Registered dietitian Julia Pace, RDN, recommends Pure Encapsulations Metabolic Xtra to help manage weight, promote healthy blood sugar, and enhance heart health. She has seen significant improvements in her patients&#; blood sugar levels when they combine this berberine supplement with personalized nutrition and lifestyle recommendations. There is not enough evidence to date to recommend berberine for weight loss, but the research is promising. Berberine has been shown to reduce blood sugar, weight, body mass index, and waist circumference, but more high-quality studies are needed.
Pure Encapsulations Metabolic Xtra contains 350 mg berberine HCl, 200 mcg chromium polynicotinate, 100 mg alpha lipoic acid, and 20 mg resveratrol. Chromium is a naturally occurring mineral that can enhance insulin sensitivity, says Dr. Sowa. Because it helps regulate blood sugar, chromium may help burn fat while preserving lean muscle mass.
Pure Encapsulations prioritizes science-backed ingredients and conducts rigorous testing to ensure purity, potency, and high-quality supplements. Pure Encapsulations Metabolic Xtra is vegan, non-GMO, dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free. It is recommended that you take one capsule 1&#;3 times per day with meals.
Keep In Mind
The 350 mg dose of berberine in Pure Encapsulations Metabolic Xtra is a little lower than that in other berberine supplements. Pure Encapsulations makes another pure berberine supplement, Pure Encapsulations UltraSorb, that contains 550 mg of berberine phytosome.
According to Dr. Sowa, taking 500 mg of berberine three times a day, for a total of 1,500 mg/day has yielded the most dramatic weight loss results in clinical research, but taking that much can cause abdominal upset. So she recommends 900 mg/day as a starting point and spreading it out before meals. This equates to about three capsules of Pure Encapsulations Metabolic Xtra.
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