Photo Illustration by Lecia Landis for Verywell Health; Getty Images The supplement berberine is being touted as a natural alternative to Ozempic , a prescription medication used to stabilize blood sugar and aid in weight loss for people with type 2 diabetes.
Social media users claim berberine can lower blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and even promote weight loss. Some even say it could be a viable option for people who can’t access Ozempic or Wegovy. Is berberine really an effective weight loss supplement? Is Berberine Really ‘Nature’s Ozempic’?
Berberine is a natural compound called an alkaloid that’s extracted from a variety of plants, including goldenseal, European barberry, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree turmeric. However, it does not have the same effect as Ozempic, said Lisa Kroon, PharmD , chair of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy in the School of Pharmacy at the University of California in San Francisco.
“It’s absolutely not nature’s Ozempic and does not work like Ozempic, which is a GLP-1 inhibitor,” Kroon said. “Manufacturers of these supplements are just kind of creating a hype to try to be appealing for people looking for a magic potion to help them lose weight.”1
Ozempic, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar is high, lowering glucose levels. GLP-1 medications also help slow gastric emptying, which can reduce appetite and lead to weight loss.
“Berberine doesn’t work anything like that; it is a completely different mechanism," Kroon said. Berberine activates an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which can help regulate glucose metabolism, improve insulin sensitivity, and impact blood sugar levels.2
While the drugstore supplement has recently increased in popularity due to social media, it’s been used for centuries, especially in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, said Mir B Ali, MD , a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast.
In fact, providers may recommend berberine for people with diabetes to help lower their blood sugar and cholesterol.1“It has also been shown to have some antimicrobial effects so it can affect the normal intestinal bacteria,” Ali said. Can Berberine Help With Weight Loss? […]
Berberine Is Being Called ‘Nature’s Ozempic’—Does It Really Work for Weight Loss?
