CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ozempic and other weight loss medications are hyped up all over social media. Oprah even opened up about her journey with weight loss medications in a TV special.
However, there's far less social media talk about another type of supplement called Berberine. It's been dubbed "nature's Ozempic," but does it really work? And are there any side effects?
OUR SOURCES:
WHAT WE FOUND:
According to the Mayo Clinic, Berberine is a substance known as an alkaloid, and it's found in a variety of plants. Those plants are traditionally used in medicines in Native American and Chinese practices.
People on TikTok claim they have lost weight and lowered their cholesterol, and some are even using Berberine for things like Polycystic ovary syndrome.
So, how does it work? The Mayo Clinic said it's considered anti-microbial and may alter the bacteria in your gut. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer substance.
"What the data tells us when we put them all together is that you can get some modest weight loss from it, like half a point off your BMI or 5% of your body weight, which is substantially less than what we see from Semaglutide," Kohli said.
According to two studies in the National Library of Medicine, Berberine may also help reduce weight. However, they say more in-depth studies need to be conducted. The studies noted some side effects, including:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Vomiting
Kohli said Berberine can also react with many medications, so it's important to talk to your doctor before you take the supplement.
"So there is a huge lack of data on the safety of this type of supplement," Kohli said.
Berberine is sold as a dietary supplement in the United States, and the FDA does not evaluate dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness.
If you try it, the Mayo Clinic suggests taking 1.5 grams of Berberine every day for six months or less. The six-month limit is due to a lack of longer-term data.
Meghan Bragg: Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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