Metformin, berberine, bitter melon

[cbgjr]

Here's an interesting question (I think) for the more technical members of this group.

the three items listed on the title, have shown some evidence of anticancer activity, if not in real life conditions, at least in vitro experiments. these compounds come from very different sources, yet they do have in common that they reduce blood sugar levels.

for these substances, could there be a link between their effect on lowering blood sugar and/or insulin levels and their anticancer properties? that is, could there be a simpler explanation other than the proposed chemical mechanisms usually cited when these compounds have been the subjects of various studies?

just some food for thought...

[kaptank]

Yes. We have had data available for decades that metformin has an effect on PCa from diabetics who used it. We still don't know how. I think careful control of blood sugar/insulin should be part of the general regime of someone with PCa. My local doc had no problem with that and happily prescribed metformin (simple, cheap, new use for an old molecule). Supplements or naturals can do the same, main thing is to get a regular check and deal with it if necessary.

[pjoshea13]

The common link is that all three are AMPK activators.

-Patrick

[BigRich in reply to pjoshea13]

I read hat berberine increases testosterone!

Rich

[MrEd44]

Bitter melon is a common table vegetable consumed in asia. It seems it would do no harm. In the lab it has also shown to have an anti cancer effect on pancreatic cancer. Supposed to help lower blood sugar, as does metformin and berberine.

[j-o-h-n]

Bitter melon? You talking about my ex-wife? She definitely was melancholy... Head like a bittermelon and face like a collie.

Good Luck and Good Health

j-o-h-n Monday 10/15/2018 2:30 PM EDT

[petercraig2]

Connection between all three may be Warbug Effect.

Cancer cells are an anerobic and a yeast based metabolism which feed on sugars.

aqua-angels.com/wp-content/...

Not sure why there hasn't been more clinical research on this unique aspect of cancer.

Peter

[cbgjr in reply to petercraig2]

interesting, thank you

[Trecento]

Dr Tom Seyfried strongly advocates that cancer is a metabolic disease; book, papers interviews online. For some reason (I wonder what!), there seems a perverse reluctance to progress good pre-clinical evidence to formal trials. Also the Cancer Oncology Clinic in UK cites his work in support of using metformin as one drug in their four-drug strategy to treat a diverse number of cancers which have been unresponsive to standard approaches.

[Ralph1966]

The daily dosage of Metformin and Berberine are also important.

What I read is that Metformin should be 1000 mg X 2 daily.

Berberine dosage is 500 mg X 3 daily.

Did anyone using them together because of the synergistic effect? If so papers saying results shown drop of PSA in 4-6 week.

Most of diabetic people like me use the 500 mg of metformin X 2, and when I increased it to 500 mg X 3 I had some discomfort mixed of fatigue with irregular heart beats.

Anyone using 1000 mg X 2 without problems? Any improved PSA results?