Berberine is a current superstar in botanical medicine research and should supplant curcumin as the most important commercially available plant-based dietary supplement. The research on berberine is mind blowing for a number of reasons. First, it reflects a pharmacological complexity and effectiveness in dealing with many modern health issues that is unequaled. A recent review by Dr. Francesco Di Pierro on the benefits of berberine on the gut microbiome highlights that much of its actions in improving health, including promoting weight loss, lowering blood lipids and blood pressure, and improving blood sugar control are mediated not only by direct effects, but also through berberine’s influence on the gut microbiome.
Berberine, an age-old natural medicine, is becoming the prototype of an entirely new way of improving health via influencing the microbiome.
Background Data:
Berberine is a yellow alkaloid found in goldenseal root, barberry bark, Oregon grape root, and coptis (goldthread) root. Dr. Michael Murray wrote a newsletter back in 2015 titled “Berberine: An Ancient Remedy for Modern Humans,” berberine is poised to be one of the biggest influences in the natural product industry. The reason is obvious, berberine has been shown to:
Exert significant beneficial effects on digestive health and the microbiome.
Produce results in clinical trials in improving type 2 diabetes on par or better than conventional drugs including metformin.
Improve blood lipid levels better than statins.
Lower blood pressure in many subjects as well as any class of anti-hypertensive medication.
Improve liver function and promote anti-obesity effects.
Produce very encouraging experimental data in a wide range of modern health issues including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and others.
New Data:
The data presented by Dr. Di Pierro is quite convincing that berberine’s health benefits in weight loss, insulin resistance, and inflammation may largely be the result of modulating the gut microbiota. One of the easy links to this line of thought is that berberine has a very low oral bioavailability. The gut absorption rate of berberine is about 9% and systemic oral bioavailability is only about 1% of an administered dosage. So, with such a bevy of double-blind studies showing clinical effects, how is it working if it is not being absorbed? Via the microbiome.
One of the big changes seen with berberine supplementation on the microbiome is that it increases the quantity in the gut of the beneficial bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila. This bacterium plays a critical role in gut health because it works closely with intestinal cells to create the mucin layer that protects the intestinal lining from damage. This bacterium is a key factor responsible for mucin thickness in the adult gut. A thinning or absent mucin layer is associated with increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) and inflammation. Akkermansia muciniphila colonization in the gut is inversely associated with obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and low-grade chronic inflammation. In other words, when the levels and activity of this bacteria are low, these disorders seem to take root. The assumption is that these disorders are associated with altered gut barrier function due to reduced mucin protection, which leads to the absorption of many gut-derived toxins that trigger a cascade of different systems that promote chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.
Berberine would help reverse this situation by promoting the growth of Akkermansia muciniphila leading to an improved intestinal barrier, reduced circulating levels of gut-derived toxins, and a significant reduction in inflammation.
Berberine also increases the levels of Bifidobacterium, which also promotes intestinal health, reduces absorption of gut-derived toxins, and reduces gut and systemic inflammation.
Dr. Di Pierro concludes his review by pointing out that we are discovering a new way of thinking about drugs and botanicals which interact with the microbiota before they affect the human metabolism.
A little ponderous to read, but my consistent referral to this alkaloid is due to yet more personal experiences when berberine is recommended to my clients, friends, and family. To your health!!
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