How long does it take for Berberine to lower Blood Sugar?

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How long does it take for Berberine to lower blood sugar?

Studies show that it takes about 2 weeks for berberine to lower blood sugar levels significantly. 

In this study, the researcher compared the efficiency of berberine to the usual diabetes medication.

The researchers found that berberine produced a similar hypoglycemic effect to that of diabetic medication when used alone, and when berberine was used in combination with Metformin, the blood sugar level decreased within 1 week. For this study patients took 500 mg of berberine three times a day. 

Some other studies included a dose of berberine ranging from 600-2700 mg daily, which resulted in a 12-20% decrease in blood glucose levels.

In the video below, Dr. Ergin talks about Berberine’s benefits and if it helps control blood sugar:

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Is Berberine useful for treating high blood pressure?

Berberine is useful for treating high blood pressure because through various cellular mechanisms it causes vasodilation, and maintains the vascular functions in the body, helping to reduce blood pressure. 

A study carried out on hypertensive patients shows that the berberine supplementation significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to the placebo group. In another study, berberine moderately reduced blood pressure compared to the drug Metformin, however, the reduction was significant. 

A study performed on rats, demonstrates that berberine could slow down the start of hypertension and when developed could decrease its severity. The study also shows that berberine can help treat hypertension-induced renal damage. 


What is the dosage of Berberine for cholesterol?

A review of articles shows that a dosage of 500 mg of berberine twice daily was used for cholesterol. In this review several articles were analyzed, the analysis shows a 500 mg dosage twice a day, with or without other agents, significantly reduced levels of cholesterol in patients suffering from hyperlipidemia. 

Along with cholesterol, berberine is shown to decrease levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and fats in the blood. 

In most cases, berberine is found to be used along with other nutraceuticals, only a few reported using berberine alone. 


Is Berberine a blood thinner?

Berberine is a blood thinner because it inhibits the key blood-clotting enzyme thrombin. A study performed in a lab identified berberine as a potential anti-coagulant. It demonstrated that berberine competes with thrombin for binding with the same interaction site, as well it inhibits platelet aggregation in the blood clotting process. The study further points out that berberine could be a safe and effective inhibitor of thrombin. 

Another study performed in rats showed that after administration of berberine, it significantly increased the blood clotting time and other parameters associated with it. 

Berberine could potentiate the effect of other blood-thinning agents, so a physician should be consulted before consumption of berberine. 


Is Berberine useful for heart arrhythmia?

Berberine is useful for heart arrhythmia because it regulates the ion channels in the heart and reduces the incidence of premature ventricular beats. A study performed on rats in the year 1989 first established the antiarrhythmic effects of berberine. Another study performed in 2012 described its mechanism of action. 

A dose of 10 mg/kg in rats proved effective in protecting the heart against arrhythmia by regulating ion channels. 

A review suggests that berberine could be effective against the hearts’ upper and lower chamber arrhythmia due to its ability to inhibit potassium and calcium flow.  

Researchers recommend exercising caution while consuming berberine because it may expose the user to unforeseen heart conditions. 

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Sources

This article makes use of information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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