Berberine is a naturally occurring compound found in several plants such as barberry, goldenseal, and Oregon grape and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. In the human body, berberine functions primarily as a metabolic regulator, influencing various cellular processes. Research has showcased its potential use in improving insulin sensitivity, reducing glucose production in the liver, and lowering cholesterol levels. Berberine activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a critical enzyme in regulating metabolism and energy homeostasis and this activation helps in managing metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.

There have been a number of systematic reviews and meta analyses that have examined Berberine and its effects on metabolic health, Firstly, two systematic reviews examined the effects of Berberine on Glucose control in type 2 diabetic patients. Both these studies concluded that supplementation with Berberine was associated with reductions in fasting plasma glucose, postprandial plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in addition to increasing insulin sensitivity, all of which are indicative of improved diabetes status. The results of these studies is the reason why many experts consider Berberine to be gram-for-gram as effective as prescription medication Metformin.

Additionally, Berberine was found to significantly reduce total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) known as bad cholesterol while slightly increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol known as good cholesterol. Lastly, two more meta analyses papers examined the effects of Berberine on obesity and inflammatory biomarkers all of which were significantly improved.