Dr. Eric Berg DC · 2026-08-13 · Eric Berg (host), Steve, Fur
The Dr. Berg Show LIVE - August 13, 2026
34 research-tied claims examined: 2 contradicted 6 overstated 3 context 19 supported 4 unverified
6 Overstated
Glutamate from consumed meats helps heal the digestive tract lining.
"And all that uh glutamate from the meats that you're eating will actually that alone will help heal the gut." (said at 0:15:25)
The speaker's claim that glutamate consumed from meat alone will help heal the digestive tract lining overstates the existing evidence. While glutamate is a major oxidative energy source for intestinal epithelial cells and preclinical models (such as cell cultures and animal models) show that amino acid mixtures containing glutamate, glutamine, or methionine can support mucosal repair and intestinal barrier integrity, human clinical evidence demonstrating that dietary glutamate from meat directly heals the gut lining is lacking.
- partial: Mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel diseases: is there a place for nutritional supplemen… (Inflammatory bowel diseases 2015) · cited 45x in the literature
"Few clinical studies have evaluated the needs for specific macronutrients and micronutrients and their effects on intestinal MH, most data having been obtained from animal and cell studies. These data suggest that supplementation with specific amino acids including arginine, glutamine, glutamate, threonine, methionine, serine, proline, and the amino acid-derived compounds, polyamines can favorably influence MH." (abstract, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - context: Physiological Effects of Dietary Amino Acids on Gut Health and Functions of Swine. (Frontiers in veterinary science 2019) · cited 144x in the literature
"Dietary amino acids are the major fuel of the small intestinal mucosa. Particularly, glutamate, glutamine, and aspartate are the major oxidative fuel of the intestine." (abstract, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)
Benfotiamine, typically taken with alpha-lipoic acid, treats burning feet and peripheral neuropathy.
"But a really good remedy for burning feet is benfotiamine. Benfotiamine, which is a type of B vitamin, usually comes with alpha-lipoic acid, and it just handles burning feet and peripheral neuropathy pretty quick." (said at 0:27:52)
Benfotiamine (a lipid-soluble thiamine derivative) and alpha-lipoic acid have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses primarily for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. While small-to-moderate clinical trials show modest symptom score improvements (such as reductions in pain or paresthesias) after several weeks to months of treatment, the evidence base remains limited, and systematic reviews indicate insufficient evidence to establish benfotiamine as a definitive cure across generalized neuropathies. Claiming that benfotiamine paired with alpha-lipoic acid "just handles burning feet and peripheral neuropathy pretty quick" overstates the magnitude, speed of onset, and certainty of their therapeutic effects.
- partial: Benfotiamine in diabetic polyneuropathy (BENDIP): results of a randomised, double blind, p… (Experimental and clinical endocrinology & diabetes : official journal, German Society of Endocrinology [and] German Diabetes Association 2008) · cited 192x in the literature
"After 6 weeks of treatment, the primary outcome parameter NSS (Neuropathy Symptom Score) differed significantly between the treatment groups (p=0.033) in the PP (per protocol) population. In the ITT (intention to treat) population, the improvement of NSS was slightly above significance (p=0.055)." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - partial: Vitamin B for treating peripheral neuropathy. (The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2008) · cited 117x in the literature
"There are only limited data in randomised trials testing the efficacy of vitamin B for treating peripheral neuropathy and the evidence is insufficient to determine whether vitamin B is beneficial or harmful. One small trial in alcoholic peripheral neuropathy reported slightly greater improvement in vibration perception threshold with oral benfotiamine for eight weeks than placebo." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - partial: Effects of Oral Alpha-Lipoic Acid Treatment on Diabetic Polyneuropathy: A Meta-Analysis an… (Nutrients 2023) · cited 52x in the literature
"ALA treatment had favorable effects on DSPN by reducing sensory symptoms, and it resulted in a dose-dependent response relative to the placebo for TSS and the global satisfaction score. The use of ALA to prevent neurological symptoms should be further researched." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)
Zinc L-carnosine is an effective treatment or supportive supplement for chronic gastritis.
"Is zinc L-carnosine the best um way to support chronic gastritis? HOST: Yes." (said at 0:11:00)
Zinc L-carnosine (polaprezinc) is supported by clinical trials and a meta-analysis as an effective mucosal protective adjuvant when combined with standard antibiotic triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis, significantly improving eradication rates and dyspeptic symptoms. However, claiming it is "the best" way to treat or support chronic gastritis overstates the published evidence. Primary management depends on addressing the underlying cause (such as H. pylori eradication or acid suppression), and head-to-head comparative trials proving zinc L-carnosine is superior to other mucosal protective agents or supportive options are absent.
- supports: Polaprezinc combined with clarithromycin-based triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori-asso… (PloS one 2017) · cited 30x in the literature
"It appears that standard dose polaprezinc combined with triple therapy can significantly improve the H. pylori eradication rate, without an increase in toxicity." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - context: Efficacy and Safety of Polaprezinc-Based Therapy versus the Standard Triple Therapy for He… (Nutrients 2022) · cited 7x in the literature
"PZN, when added to the triple therapy, yielded a better effect concerning the eradication rates of H. pylori with no difference in adverse event rates, and thus can be considered a valuable adjuvant for the management of H. pylori." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - partial: Improvement in Chronic Atrophic Gastritis After Treatment with Zinc L-Carnosine. (The American journal of case reports 2025) · cited 1x in the literature
"These case reports suggest that zinc L-carnosine can improve both dyspeptic symptoms and histologic features of CAG, thereby potentially reducing progression to gastric cancer." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)
Magnesium glycinate is the gold standard formulation for magnesium absorption.
"The gold standard for magnesium absorption is the glycinate version" (said at 0:49:32)
The claim that magnesium glycinate (bisglycinate) is the 'gold standard' for magnesium absorption is overstated. While organic forms of magnesium (such as glycinate, citrate, and malate) generally demonstrate superior bioavailability compared to poorly soluble inorganic salts like magnesium oxide, clinical and preclinical studies comparing organic formulations do not establish magnesium glycinate as uniquely superior or the definitive gold standard. In comparative crossover clinical trials, organic formulations like magnesium citrate or microencapsulated/sucrosomial magnesium frequently show comparable or even superior plasma absorption and red blood cell concentrations compared to magnesium bisglycinate.
Insulin dysfunction is behind 34 different diseases.
"Insulin dysfunction is behind 34 different diseases. It's very common." (said at 0:55:18)
The claim that insulin dysfunction is common and linked to a wide array of health conditions is well supported, but quantifying this precisely as '34 different diseases' overstates the scientific consensus. Review evidence confirms that insulin resistance is highly prevalent globally (15.5% to >61%) and contributes significantly to numerous conditions across body systems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, steatotic liver disease, neuropsychiatric disorders, and various cancers. However, medical research does not establish or recognize a fixed tally of 34 distinct diseases driven by insulin dysfunction.
- partial: Insulin Resistance: Current State of Knowledge and Clinical Implications-Toward a Better D… (Nutrients 2026)
"Insulin resistance (IR) represents one of the most pressing problems in contemporary public health. Its estimated global prevalence ranges from approximately 15.5% to over 61%, depending on the population studied, the diagnostic criteria applied, and the method used for its assessment. Despite the scale of the problem, IR remains underrecognized and lacks formal definition as a distinct disease entity... during which it makes a significant contribution to the development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly NAFLD), and has been increasingly linked to cellular senescence, certain cancers, neuropsychiatric disorders, and other metabolic conditions." (abstract, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)
Scientific research shows that selenium supplementation is beneficial for autoimmune conditions.
"and selenium as well, because that's also been shown to help autoimmune." (said at 0:47:30)
The claim that selenium supplementation has been proven to help autoimmune conditions is overstated. While randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses in conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis show that selenium supplementation can reduce surrogate markers such as thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab), Cochrane reviews and systematic overviews indicate that evidence of meaningful clinical benefit (such as quality of life, thyroid hormone requirements, or disease remission) remains inconclusive or supported by low-certainty evidence. Similarly, in rheumatoid arthritis, trials have reported reductions in subjective pain scores without statistically significant improvements in key inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR) or objective measures of joint swelling.
- contradicts: Selenium supplementation for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. (The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2013) · cited 74x in the literature
"Results of these four studies show that evidence to support or refute the efficacy of selenium supplementation in people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis is incomplete." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - partial: The Effects of Selenium Supplementation in the Treatment of Autoimmune Thyroiditis: An Ove… (Nutrients 2023) · cited 24x in the literature
"Although selenium supplementation might reduce TPO-Ab levels at 3 and 6 months and Tg-Ab levels at 3 and 6 months in the non-LT4-treated population, this was based on a low certainty of evidence." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi) - partial: Effect of selenium supplementation on inflammatory markers and joint symptoms in patients … (Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) 2025) · cited 4x in the literature
"Meta-analysis revealed that selenium supplementation has beneficial effects on joint pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, further clinical trials are needed to elucidate its effects on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels, morning stiffness, and joint swelling in rheumatoid arthritis patients." (abstract, conclusions, passage verified)
pubmedfull study (doi)
Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.