A clinical study on the short-term effect of berberine in comparison to metformin on the metabolic characteristics of women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 22019891 · doi:10.1530/EJE-11-0616
What was done
Eighty-nine Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and insulin resistance were randomized into three treatment groups for 3 months: berberine plus compound cyproterone acetate (CPA; n=31), metformin plus CPA (n=30), or placebo plus CPA (n=28). Clinical characteristics, metabolic parameters, and hormonal markers were measured before and after treatment.
What was found
Compared with metformin plus CPA, berberine plus CPA significantly decreased waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR; P<0.01), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC; P<0.05), while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG; P<0.05). Compared with placebo plus CPA, berberine plus CPA reduced WHR, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), area under the curve of insulin, TC, LDLC, and TG (P<0.05), while raising HDLC and SHBG (P<0.01). Absolute numerical values were not provided in the abstract.
Why it matters
This trial suggests berberine may offer metabolic benefits, particularly for lipid profiles and central adiposity, that match or exceed metformin when combined with cyproterone acetate in women with PCOS.
Limits
The trial had a small sample size (n=89 across three arms) and a short duration of 3 months. All subjects were Chinese women receiving background cyproterone acetate, limiting generalizability and precluding conclusions about berberine monotherapy. Absolute effect estimates and safety data were not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Berberine is more effective than metformin at reducing blood triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.