By Dr. Linda J. Dobberstein, DC, Board Certified in Clinical Nutrition
Berberine is a plant-derived polyphenol that has become increasingly popular for metabolic health, gut health, and weight management. Recent research confirms the many benefits of berberine supplementation. We are excited to announce the addition of Berberine Ultra™ to the Wellness Resources product line. This new supplement contains advanced absorption berberine phytosome that shows better bioavailability than berberine HCL. Discover berberine and reap the benefits!
What is Berberine?
Berberine is a deep yellow-colored herb naturally found in goldenseal, Oregon grape and other plants. It has been used for centuries in China, India, North America, and other cultures. Berberine works by several mechanisms in the digestive tract and cellular tissues, including naturally enhancing the release of glucagon-like peptide-1 or GLP-1. It is a trusted plant-derived nutrient used historically for healthy blood sugar metabolism and more.
GLP-1
GLP-1 is a hormone produced and secreted by endocrine cells in your small intestine and parts of your brain upon eating food. GLP-1 promotes insulin secretion by your pancreas and blocks glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar when levels are low. These two mechanisms naturally manage sugar in the bloodstream.
GLP-1 also regulates the movement of food down the intestinal tract, inhibits stomach acid secretion, and reduces appetite after eating. It also supports pancreatic beta cell proliferation and supports healthy beta-cell lifespan.
Berberine Enhances the Secretion of GLP-1
Several years ago, the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal published results of a study on berberine and GLP-1 pathways. Scientists gave rats either a high or a low dose of berberine extract for 8 weeks and compared them to control groups.
Results showed an increased release of GLP-1 into the gastrointestinal track for the group that received a high dose of berberine extract. It also showed activation of the MAPK signaling pathway and turned on and off thousands of gene signals involving blood sugar, gastrointestinal health, and cellular metabolism.
Berberine and GLP-1: Microbiome and Gut-Brain Effects
A more recent study further demonstrated berberine’s effect on GLP-1 with blood sugar as well as several markers of intestinal health. Rats were fed a high-fat, high carbohydrate diet to induce poor metabolism and then divided into the control or berberine-supported group.
The group that received the berberine experienced several positive metabolic shifts. Findings included reduced food intake, modulation of insulin sensitivity and fasting blood sugar, and a reduction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, a toxic by-product of bacteria often found in the gut microbiome.
In the intestinal tract, berberine supports goblet cells, tight junctions, and villi length, which aids mucous production, intestinal membrane integrity, and absorption capacity. Berberine also supports healthy diversity of the gut microbiome.
Additional Benefits
Berberine naturally stimulates the release of GLP-1 aiding pancreas, liver, intestinal tract blood sugar metabolism. It also aids mitochondrial function protecting them from oxidative stress.
Furthermore, berberine induced GLP-1 secretion in the intestinal tract supports short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in the colon, which continues the cycle to naturally produce more GLP-1. Short chain fatty acids include compounds such as butyrate, which are beneficial post-biotics. They are closely involved with blood sugar and cholesterol metabolism in the large intestine.
Berberine modulates GLP-1, the gut microbiome, and gut-brain axis, which aids in protecting against the stress of a high-fat diet. Another profound effect of berberine’s enhancement of GLP-1 secretion is its antioxidant protection to mitochondria during metabolism. These are essential functions of maintaining healthy weight and metabolism.
Berberine has been used as a bitter herb for centuries. It has stood the test of time supporting metabolism. As a natural GLP-1 enhancer, berberine affects a plethora of functions you normally don’t think about. Feeling satisfied with a meal, moving food down the digestive tract, insulin and glucose management by the pancreas and digestive tract, protecting and supporting pancreatic beta cells, mitochondrial stress, SCFA production, and gut barrier integrity and functions are positively impacted. Berberine is a winner!
The Berberine Quality Difference
We are excited to introduce Wellness Resources Berberine Ultra! Berberine Ultra™ contains Berbevis® Berberine Phytosome™, a dramatic advancement in berberine supplementation. Containing berberine sourced from Berberis aristata in a phytosome delivery system, this form of berberine solves the problem of poor bioavailability and bio-absorption that characterizes the standard extract.
Berberine Ultra™ features raw Berberis aristata extract, more soluble than pure berberine. This is combined with pea protein, sunflower lecithin, and grape seed extract to create a phospholipid complex with enhanced bioavailability and tolerability. A single 550mg capsule of Berberine Ultra™ shows four times better bioavailability compared to 500mg of Berberine HCL.
Dosage: Take 1 capsule, up to 2 times per day with or without food. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant do not take berberine. It is also not recommended during breastfeeding.
At the time of this writing, the National Library of Medicine/Pub Med Central lists over 23,000 research studies and more than 90 clinical trials that have been completed or are in process studying the widespread positive effects of berberine. This article has looked at a very small fraction of its benefits.
What traditional cultures have cherished for generations we now take to a new level, enhancing berberine’s absorbability and metabolic effects. Welcome to Berberine Ultra™!
