Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial (study A) combined with an open-label uncontrolled study (study B)
PubMed 18442638 · doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013
What was done
In study A, 36 adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized to receive berberine or metformin (0.5 g 3 times daily) for 3 months. In study B, 48 adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes were treated with supplemental berberine for 3 months.
What was found
In study A, berberine reduced hemoglobin A1c from 9.5% +/- 0.5% to 7.5% +/- 0.4% (P < .01), fasting blood glucose from 10.6 +/- 0.9 to 6.9 +/- 0.5 mmol/L (P < .01), postprandial blood glucose from 19.8 +/- 1.7 to 11.1 +/- 0.9 mmol/L (P < .01), and triglycerides from 1.13 +/- 0.13 to 0.89 +/- 0.03 mmol/L (P < .05), with effects similar to metformin. In study B, HbA1c decreased from 8.1% +/- 0.2% to 7.3% +/- 0.3% (P < .001), fasting insulin fell by 28.1% (P < .001), and HOMA-IR decreased by 44.7% (P < .001). Transient gastrointestinal adverse effects occurred in 20 patients (34.5%).
Why it matters
This pilot trial provides early clinical evidence that berberine lowers blood glucose and improves lipid profiles with potency comparable to metformin in type 2 diabetes.
Limits
Small sample size (36 in the randomized trial, 48 in the open-label add-on study), short 3-month follow-up, lack of a control group in study B, and no assessment of long-term microvascular or macrovascular outcomes.
Cited by
- supports Berberine mimics the metabolic effects of metformin, and taking 1,500 mg daily divided into three 500 mg doses right before meals blunts postprandial blood glucose spikes.