Best Berberine Supplements to Support Healthy Weight Loss
iStock
The products featured in this article have been independently reviewed. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we may earn commission at no cost to you, the reader. Sports Illustrated editorial staff are not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more here.
Have you heard all the recent hype about “nature’s Ozempic?”
Berberine is a natural dietary supplement that may help reduce blood sugar levels and high cholesterol, while also helping you shed extra pounds. It can be found in several plants, including barberry, goldenseal and tree turmeric. For many centuries, it’s been used as an herbal remedy for digestive problems(though overconsumption can also cause digestive upset like nausea), but it’s recently gained attention for its effects on blood sugar balance and weight control.
To help you choose the best berberine supplements, we’ve interviewed three registered dietitians with expertise in weight loss, blood sugar management and herbal supplements. They’ve also provided information on who should use berberine, what you can expect when you take it and the potential side effects or safety concerns.
Here are our favorite berberine supplements of 2024 to support healthy and sustainable weight loss.
This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.
Our Picks for Best Berberine:
- Best Overall Berberine Supplement: Utzy Naturals Berbercol
- Best High-Dose Berberine Supplement: Sunergetic Berberine
- Best Berberine Supplement on Amazon: Toniiq Berberine
- Best Berberine Supplement for Blood Sugar: Integrative Therapeutics Berberine
- Best Berberine Supplement for Cholesterol: Thorne Berberine
- Best Natural Berberine Supplement: Double Wood Berberine
- Best Berberine Supplement for Weight Loss: Luma Nutrition Berberine
Best Overall Berberine Supplement: Utzy Naturals Berbercol
Utzy Naturals
Key features & specs
- Dosage: 2 capsules
- Berberine per serving: 600 milligrams
- Certifications: Third-party tested
- Subscription: Subscribe and save 15% (30, 45 and 60 day delivery options)
- Best for: Adults looking for weight loss and heart health support
- Price per serving: $1.72 (one-time purchase), $1.46 (with subscription)
Utzy Naturals Berbercol is a blend of two patented ingredients: HimaBerb and Bergamonte.
HimaBerb is a berberine extract that has 600 milligrams of berberine per serving. In humans, studies show that berberine can help lower your lipid levels and lower your insulin resistance. In other words, daily berberine can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing your LDL cholesterol "bad cholesterol" levels and lower your risk of diabetes by reducing your insulin resistance.
The effective dose of berberine ranges from 500 milligrams per day to 1,500 milligrams per day—with some studies even using doses as low as 300 milligrams. With such a wide range of effective doses, it’s best to consult with your doctor about dosing before starting a berberine supplement.
The second active ingredient in Berbercol is Bergamonte. Bergamonte is a bergamot citrus extract that studies show can reduce your LDL, increase your HDL (“good” cholesterol) and reduce triglycerides—all of which lower your risk of heart disease. There is also growing evidence that bergamot extract can help fight obesity and diabetes resulting from metabolic syndrome.
Bergamonte provides 500 milligrams of bergamot extract to Berbercol, which is in line with the effective dose of 500-600 milligrams daily.
What we like:
- Effective doses of berberine and bergamot extracts
- Non-GMO, gluten-free, common allergen-free and soy-free ingredients
- Third-party tested for purity, potency, heavy metals, pesticides and microbials
What to consider:
- Premium pricing
- Lower dose of berberine per serving than other supplements
Best High-Dose Berberine Supplement: Sunergetic Berberine
Sunergetic
Key features & specs
- Dosage: 2 capsules
- Berberine per serving: 1,200 milligrams
- Certifications: Third-party tested by Intertek Labs
- Subscription: Amazon Subscribe & Save-eligible (5-10%, depending on how many subscriptions you have)
- Best for: People who want a high dose of berberine per serving
- Price per serving: $0.35
If you're looking to get more of the benefits of berberine without swallowing more capsules, Sunergetic Berberine might be the supplement for you. Each two-capsule serving contains a total of 1,200 milligrams of berberine, so you get more per serving than many other supplements.
Why is dosage important? Smaller amounts per day could be effective for reducing cholesterol, for example, but other benefits may require a higher dose. Some research has found the most effective dose for blood sugar management is 1,000 milligrams of berberine per day. In addition to quantity, Sunergetic touts the quality of the berberine in this supplement. It's sourced from berberis aristata, known as Indian barberry or tree turmeric.
Sunergetic Berberine is third-party tested by Intertek Laboratories for heavy metals like lead and mercury, and for yeasts, molds, e. coli and salmonella. Sunergetic has an average 4.3/5-star rating on Amazon, with more than 6,700 reviews. Many reviews mention positive results, while others say the capsules caused digestive discomfort.
What we like:
- Provides a sizable dosage of berberine per serving
- Sourced from the root and bark of berberis aristata
- 365-day money-back guarantee
What to consider:
- Claims to be GMO-free, but it isn't certified
Best Berberine Supplement on Amazon: Toniiq Berberine
Amazon
Key features & specs
- Dosage: 1 capsule
- Berberine per serving: 500 milligrams
- Certifications: N/A
- Subscription: Amazon Subscribe & Save eligible (10-15%, depending on how many subscriptions you have)
- Best for: Adults who want to lose weight or who want to improve their blood sugar levels
- Price per serving: $0.28
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, ordering berberine on Amazon is one of the easiest and quickest ways to access this supplement. This berberine from Toniiq is Prime-eligible and is also Subscribe and Save eligible.
In human studies, berberine has been shown effective at doses of 300-1,000 or more milligrams per day. At 500 milligrams per serving, Toniiq Berberine contains a moderate dose of pure berberine extract that may be most helpful for cholesterol management and digestive health.
Reviewers say it’s been helpful for healthy blood sugar levels and food cravings, but some say that it causes stomach upset.
You can take one capsule up to three times daily.
What we like:
- Amazon Prime-eligible
- High dose of berberine when taken three times daily
- Mostly positive reviews
What to consider:
- May cause digestive issues
- Contains processed additives
Best Berberine Supplement for Blood Sugar: Integrative Therapeutics Berberine
Integrative Therapeutics
Key features & specs
- Dosage: 1 capsule
- Berberine per serving: 500 milligrams
- Certifications: Gluten-free, vegan
- Subscription: Amazon Subscribe & Save-eligible (5-10%, depending on how many subscriptions you have)
- Best for: People who want to improve their blood sugar levels and people who want to improve their cholesterol levels
- Price per serving: $0.53
Integrative Therapeutics offers this berberine for metabolic support, specifically to help improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It’s gluten-free and vegan, and free of artificial additives, wheat, corn, soy and dairy.
Research shows that 1,000 milligrams of berberine per day may be the most helpful dose of berberine for blood sugar control. And, according to Integrative Therapeutics, you can take one capsule up to two or three times daily—which would provide this effective dose.
It’s also highly rated by customers on Amazon, although—like other berberine products—it can cause digestive upsets. This one is also fairly expensive.
What we like:
- Free of artificial ingredients
- Highly rated by customers
- May be helpful for blood sugar and cholesterol levels
What to consider:
- May cause digestive issues
- Expensive
Best Berberine Supplement for Cholesterol: Thorne Berberine
Thorne
Key features & specs
- Dosage: 2 capsules
- Berberine per serving: 1,000 milligrams
- Certifications: Gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free
- Subscription: Amazon Subscribe & Save-eligible (5-10%, depending on how many subscriptions you have)
- Best for: People who want to improve their cholesterol and people who want to improve their blood sugar levels
- Price per serving: $1.20
Thorne Research is a reputable, well-known supplement brand. Their high dose berberine—offering 1,000 milligrams per serving compared to the standard 500 milligrams per serving—may be helpful for improving cholesterol levels. According to a 2021 study in The Journal of Integrative Medicine, 1,000 milligrams of berberine per day helped reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Berberine may help lower blood pressure, too—making it a good choice for heart health.
Although this is one of the more expensive options, it’s received rave reviews from customers. One reviewer says taking each capsule separately with a large meal helps to reduce digestive issues.
According to Thorne, you should take one or two capsules twice daily.
What we like:
- Reputable brand
- High-dose of berberine
- Highly rated by customers
What to consider:
- More expensive than other options
Best Natural Berberine Supplement: Double Wood Berberine
Double Wood Supplements
Key features & specs
- Dosage: 1 capsule
- Berberine per serving: 500 milligrams
- Subscription: 15% savings when subscribing directly through Double Wood Supplements
- Best for: People on a budget, people who want to lose weight and those who follow a gluten-free or vegan diet
- Price per serving: $0.28
Berberine may be very helpful for weight loss by improving blood glucose levels, reducing appetite and increasing insulin sensitivity. In people with overweight, obesity or type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance (when the body “ignores” the hormone insulin) can make it difficult to lose weight and manage blood sugar. This supplement from Double Wood contains 500 milligrams per capsule, but with approval from your doctor, you should be able to safely take up to four capsules per day. Several studies have shown that effective doses for berberine are between 600-2,000 milligrams daily.
It’s also very inexpensive compared to other berberine supplements while offering a comparable dose of berberine per serving. Most reviewers are very satisfied with the product, too—although it can cause digestive problems.
The recommended dose for this supplement is one capsule per day unless otherwise advised by your healthcare provider.
Related: How to Suppress Appetite: What Is Healthy and What Is Not?
What we like:
- Inexpensive
- GMO-free, gluten-free and vegan
- Highly rated by customers
What to consider:
- May cause gastrointestinal problems
Best Berberine Supplement for Weight Loss: Luma Nutrition Berberine
Amazon
Key features & specs
- Dosage: 2 capsules
- Berberine per serving: 1,200 milligrams
- Subscription: Amazon Subscribe & Save-eligible (10-15%, depending on how many subscriptions you have)
- Best for: People who want high-dose berberine and people who want to lose weight
- Price per serving: $0.99
This berberine supplement from Luma Nutrition is unique because it features a higher dose than most other berberine supplements on the market: 1,200 milligrams per serving. Most berberine supplements contain about 500 milligrams per serving, although doses of 1,000 milligrams or greater appear to be most effective for blood sugar management—which may be one of the key benefits of berberine that leads to weight loss.
Reviewers rate this product very highly, saying that it has helped with a variety of health concerns. However, note that it does contain some fillers and additives.
You should take two capsules once per day, preferably 20-30 minutes before a meal.
Related Post: The 13 Best Supplements for Weight Loss
What we like:
- High dose of berberine
- Highly rated by customers
- Eligible for up to 15% savings with a subscription
What to consider:
- Contains fillers and additives
What Is Berberine?
“Berberine is an alkaloid compound present in several plants, including tree turmeric, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape and European barberry (berberis),” says Catherine Karnatz, MPH, RD, dietitian and creator of Nutrition Education RD.
“For centuries,” she continues, “berberine has been used as a natural remedy in Chinese medicine to ease digestive issues. More recently, berberine pills and powder supplements have gained massive popularity in the U.S. due to numerous news outlets covering its health benefits and declaring it to be ‘nature's Ozempic.’"
However, adds Melissa Groves, RDN, LD, “While recently berberine has gained popularity for its supposed weight loss benefits, there’s not much evidence to support using it for weight loss.” Still, existing research in humans shows that it may help with other factors related to weight management, like blood sugar and cholesterol.
Benefits of Berberine Supplements
Berberine may be most well known for its potential as a weight loss aid, but it has several other benefits with more research from clinical studies to back them up. Currently, most of the direct weight loss benefits of berberine have been noted in animal studies.
“Studies show berberine can lower blood sugar, insulin and cholesterol, and act as an antimicrobial,” says Groves.
Karnatz adds that berberine may also improve high blood pressure.
This combination of improving blood sugar levels, blood lipid levels (cholesterol) and blood pressure mean that berberine has powerful effects on metabolic health.
However, many people are interested in berberine for its potential weight loss benefits. Improving your metabolic health using berberine could help you lose weight, but there isn’t a lot of research showing a direct impact of berberine on weight.
One of the most promising potential anti-obesity mechanisms of berberine is its effects on insulin—a hormone that regulates fat storage and blood sugar control. By reducing blood sugar levels and improving insulin resistance, berberine may indirectly reduce your appetite and food cravings. This can make it easier to lose weight.
Berberine Side Effects
Common side effects of berberine include digestive distress, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and gas, says Karnatz. Groves adds that it may also cause headaches and changes to liver enzymes.
“Long term use of berberine may block the absorption of iron and vitamin B12,” adds Karnatz. In some rare cases—for instance, in people with a condition called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency—berberine could cause anemia.
Both Groves and Karnatz urge caution with this supplement because it’s not safe for pregnancy or breastfeeding. Additionally, it has potential interactions with several other medications.
“Berberine shouldn’t be taken with oral chemo drugs, sulfonylureas or immunosuppressants,” says Kelsey Kunik, RDN, dietitian and owner of Graciously Nourished.
Because of these potential risks, it’s advisable to consult your healthcare provider before you start using berberine—especially if you have type 2 diabetes.
How to Choose the Best Berberine for You
Groves and Karnatz agree that the most important thing to look for in a berberine supplement is third-party testing. “Since berberine is a nutritional supplement,” explains Karnatz, “it doesn’t require the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) stamp of approval before being sold to consumers.”
Third-party testing, however, helps ensure that the product contents match the label, and that the supplement is pure and free of contaminants. Many brands employ third-party testing labs. When shopping, you can usually find more information about third-party testing on the brand’s “Quality” page or in the FAQs on their website.
Next, you’ll want to consider dose. Most berberine supplements contain 500 milligrams per serving, but this can vary from brand to brand. Some contain up to 1,200 milligrams per serving. Choose the dose that best aligns with the health benefits you want.
Finally, you may also want to consider price and quality. Berberine supplements are available at a range of price points. However, higher dose options may be more expensive. Additionally, organic or non-GMO options may be more expensive than others.
What to Avoid in a Berberine Supplement
When choosing a berberine supplement or any dietary supplement, you may want to avoid products that contain fillers or artificial ingredients.
It may be helpful to stick with options that are non-GMO, since these products are typically high-quality and less likely to contain industrial, highly-processed additives.
Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Berberine Supplements
When choosing the berberine supplements to include on our list, we heavily weighed the expert input from Groves, Karnatz and Kunik. We also considered what the most up-to-date research says about recommended dosage, opting to include mostly options that provide 500 to 1,000 milligrams per serving.
Additionally, we included berberine supplements at a variety of price points, so there is a suitable option for a variety of budgets. Finally, we considered some of the key benefits of berberine, and chose supplements that may be particularly helpful for each of these uses.
Berberine Supplements FAQs
Does berberine mimic metformin?
“Metformin and berberine help glucose enter the cells, muscles and liver more easily to reduce the amount of sugar in the bloodstream,” says Kunik. She adds that studies show berberine may help lower glucose levels as effectively as metformin.
What vitamins should not be taken with berberine?
Berberine shouldn’t be taken with probiotics or CBD. “It can kill probiotics,” explains Groves, “so those should be taken separately." She adds that berberine used in combination with CBD can cause heart rhythm abnormalities, so these two shouldn’t be taken together.
How long does it take to see results from berberine?
“Most studies on berberine for blood sugar management found significant benefits within three months,” says Kunik.
What is the most effective form of berberine?
There are various forms of berberine found in supplements—such as berberine HCl, berberine sulfate, berberine citrate and berberine phosphate. However, Groves says, researchers are still experimenting with these to determine which offers the best bioavailability.
Can berberine reverse fatty liver?
“There is research that berberine can help improve fatty liver,” explains Groves. It does this by inhibiting fat storage and improving glucose metabolism. “However,” she cautions, “be aware that berberine can also raise liver enzymes in some people, or with long term use.”
Related Post: Fatty15 Review: A Certified Sports Nutrition Coach’s Take on This New Fatty Acid Supplement
Takeaway: Is a Berberine Supplement Worth It?
Berberine is a powerful supplement that may help with blood sugar levels, cardiovascular health and even weight management. However, many of the weight loss claims are exaggerated and don’t line up with current research. Still, you may want to consider adding this supplement to your routine to improve your metabolic health and overall wellness. If you have any health conditions or are taking any prescription medications, you should talk with your doctor before you start using berberine.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
