Somebody asked why I take Berberine. I figured it something good to share.

[Bolt_Upright]

Yeah, I need to write down why I take things (I forget why eventually).

So Berberine:

1: It suppresses viruses, including EBV. I think viruses may play some role in PD (I have not been diagnosed with PD. I have RBD and a sore shoulder and some other troubling symptoms): healthunlocked.com/cure-par....

2: Berberine fights funguses and other infections. 3: Berberine normalizes the gut microbiome. 4: Berberine is effective for iron chelation. healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

5: Berberine addresses Blood Brain Barrier Permeability: healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

6: Oral berberine improves brain dopa/dopamine levels to ameliorate Parkinson’s disease by regulating gut microbiota healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

7: Berberine is Anti-parasitic: healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

I think I missed something. If you check out those link there are also cautions about Berberine. I still take 1200 mg a day. swansonvitamins.com/p/swans...

[eschneid]

Thanks for the reminder Dave, those are good reasons to restart it. I think PB was negative about it and wrote about not starting it as it might have made things worse for him. If I get a chance I'll take a look for his post.

[park_bear in reply to eschneid]

You're referring to my advice regarding citicoline.

With regard to berberine, I do not have a link handy but there is evidence that it suppresses the bacteria that metabolize the various forms of choline, including citicoline, and spit out toxic TMA.

I have started taking Berberine 500 mg daily. That seems to have allowed me to restart citicoline without TMA toxicity. I do not recommend citicoline. Having taken a course of citicoline and then stopped, my brain's ability to turn levodopa into dopamine ended up drastically reduced. So now I need to take citicoline in order to maintain my sensitivity to levodopa medication. Hence my advice - if you're not taking it do not start; if you are taking it do not stop. Per the above post, the berberine may also be helping to increase dopamine.

I did find that berberine had a constipating effect, which I was able to counteract by increasing my anti-constipation regimen.

There is adverse evidence from animal studies regarding berberine, which came from injecting mice intraperitoneally and cell culture studies. That is less of a concern with moderate oral use because it is poorly absorbed.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to park_bear]

That citicoline situation sucks. I am happy Berberine can help with that.

I wonder if Berberine being poorly absorbed makes it even better, enabling it to work its magic in the gut?

[park_bear in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Yes, it would.

[eschneid in reply to park_bear]

Sorry PB,

Wrong supplement memory by me, but as always, solid advice that I trust from you. Same with Dave and Art. Thank you guys for all the time consuming research and usable information you continue to provide for many of us here.

Looks like your guys' range for Berberine is 500 mg--1500 mg. Seems like 500 mg is a reasonable place to start

[park_bear in reply to eschneid]

No harm done and no apology needed

Thanks for the kind words!

[eschneid in reply to park_bear]

Felt that way from day one, feel good.....

[JayPwP in reply to park_bear]

Which Berberine brand do you take?

[park_bear in reply to JayPwP]

Solaray.

[EduGator]

Thanks for always keeping things easy to understand for the rest of us. I am grateful for your explanations, and research behind the discussion points.

[Boscoejean]

I am not sure if this is applicable:

"Berberine and sanguinarine are traditionally used alkaloids with multispectrum pharmacodynamic properties. On the basis of extensive literature survey, berberine, and sanguinarine have been reported to cause toxicity in different living system. In molecular structure of berberine and sanguinarine, both contains a positive moiety which interacts with a number of nucleophilic and anionic moieties of many biomolecules that distort their structure and further resulted in to altered function of biomolecules. Instead of antitumor activity of berberine, it has potential to treat diabetes mellitus. They have been implicated in the occurrence of dropsy. The toxicity of pure compound is greater than the toxicity of plant extract or plant extract fractions. The sub-acute concentrations of berberine lead to altered liver function, gastric troubles, hepato and hematotoxicity, hemorrhagic inflammatory consequences, damage to immune cells and induced apoptosis."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

[park_bear in reply to Boscoejean]

Berberine is poorly absorbed: mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/1/124

From the data provided it appears that, at most, 2% is absorbed In humans.

From the study you link to, about 15 times the intraperitoneal dose is required for a lethal oral dose in mice, which would indicate about 6% is absorbed.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Boscoejean]

Yes, I read and posted on this. What I don't get is why they tested Berberine with sanguinarine when sanguinarine by itself is (I think) toxic. So of course the combination would be toxic. Seems they could have just as easily said apples and sanguinarine are toxic.

I have no medical training and maybe I misread the article, but that was my takeaway.

[park_bear in reply to Bolt_Upright]

It is a review article. and they listed the toxic effects of each compound separately.

[chartist]

I have taken 1500 mg of berberine for 2.5 to 3 years with a short break in there once to test something else. In addition to what you mentioned, Berberine can improve insulin sensitivity while reducing insulin resistance and should be a first line product for diabetes because it does much of what Metformin does, but has a much better safety profile than Metformin. The two are synergistic for diabetes.

Berberine is also heart protective which is very import for people with PD as they are at significantly higher risk for cardiovascular disease as well as insulin resistance. The anti inflammatory and potent antioxidant effects are very useful methods of action.

Berberine has a multitude of positive health effects which include improving gut microbiome function via modulation of the gut microbiome. Berberine also has anticancer effects and has shown synergy with some forms of chemotherapy.

In some people berberine also helps with gout. Berberine helps with stroke recovery via its multiple methods of action.

The list of potential health benefits from berberine is very extensive and berberine is a supplement I often recommend to friends and family.

Art

[Bolt_Upright in reply to chartist]

Thanks Art! Yes, helping with insulin resistance was the one I forgot. And then you added more! Good job you!

[gregorio]

what make do you use, there are many on Amazon and vary a lot in price

[Bolt_Upright in reply to gregorio]

Swanson. Cheap. I can't vouch for the quality, but it is what I take: swansonvitamins.com/p/swans...

[RonB1]

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/235...

[Bolt_Upright in reply to RonB1]

Here is the complete paper if you want to read it: Neurotoxic effects of berberine on long-term L -DOPA administration in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat model of Parkinson’s disease 2013 sci-hub.st/10.1007/s12272-0...

[RonB1 in reply to Bolt_Upright]

But you take it anyway?

[Bolt_Upright in reply to RonB1]

I have a HS degree and no medical training.

1: The study was on a rat. I am not (literally) a rat.

2: The rats don't really have PD.

3: The study is over 10 years old.

4: I have not been diagnosed with PD, but something is wrong with me (RBD for now). So the choice is not between having good health or taking Berberine. Yes, I am taking a risk with the Berberine.

I am not trying to convince anyone to take Berberine. Good luck and may God bless you.

[RonB1 in reply to Bolt_Upright]

I like your logic. Hopefully it fends off whatever ails you.

[Ella_Watson]

I take berberine for my type 2 diabetes, as my doctor recommended. It has significantly helped control my blood sugar levels and It helps lower blood sugar by making insulin work better and helping cells absorb glucose, reducing overall blood sugar levels. I take 500 mg three times a day. This dosage has noticeably improved my condition and fits well with my overall treatment plan. Berberine has been a valuable addition to managing my diabetes.

Also berberine helps with weight loss and prevents weight gain, important for managing diabetes because extra weight can worsen insulin resistance. Furthermore, berberine improves my gut health by balancing gut bacteria, which positively affects metabolism and my overall health. Along with a balanced diet and regular exercise, berberine helps me keep my blood sugar levels stable, reducing the risk of complications. My doctor keeps track of my progress to ensure this supplement is safe and effective for me. He suggested me this brand

aobnutrition.ie/products/be...

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Ella_Watson]

Great info! I take Swanson as it is cheap! I don't know if Swanson is available outside of America. swansonvitamins.com/p/swans...

[brownevelyn in reply to Ella_Watson]

I am also using these berberine capsules, but I'm taking them for weight loss. I'm glad to hear that berberine is also helpful in controlling blood sugar level. Thank you so much for the information.