Does berberine supplementation improve glycemic control and inflammatory biomarkers in individuals with metabolic disorders?
Berberine HCl 500 mg, a meta-analysis (Clin Ther 2023, PMID 38016844) — berberine supplementation significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (ES: -0.77 and -0.65), hemoglobin A1C (ES: -0.57), HOMA-IR (ES: -1.04 and -0.71), insulin (ES: -1.00 and -0.63), IL-6 (ES: -1.23), TNF-α (ES: -1.04), and CRP (ES: -0.62 and -1.70). The abstract for Berberine HCl 500 mg states no limitations.
Source: Clin Ther 2023, PMID 38016844 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: medium
Clin Ther · 2023 · PMID 38016844 · DOI 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.10.019
Berberine supplementation may help improve blood sugar control and reduce inflammation in adults with metabolic disorders.
The question
Does berberine supplementation improve glycemic control and inflammatory biomarkers in individuals with metabolic disorders?
What they tested
The study aimed to clarify inconsistent findings from previous meta-analyses regarding berberine's effects on glycemic parameters and inflammatory markers.
How they did it
This umbrella meta-analysis systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar for relevant meta-analyses published up to April 2023.
What they found
Berberine supplementation significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (ES: -0.77 and -0.65), hemoglobin A1C (ES: -0.57), HOMA-IR (ES: -1.04 and -0.71), insulin (ES: -1.00 and -0.63), IL-6 (ES: -1.23), TNF-α (ES: -1.04), and CRP (ES: -0.62 and -1.70).
| FBG | -0.77 | |
|---|---|---|
| HbA1C | -0.57 | |
| HOMA-IR | -1.04 | |
| Insulin | -1 | |
| IL-6 | -1.23 | |
| TNF-α | -1.04 | |
| CRP | -1.7 |
Berberine supplementation showed negative effect sizes, indicating reductions in all measured glycemic and inflammatory markers. For markers with multiple effect sizes, the most negative value was chosen for visualization.
What it means
Berberine supplementation appears effective in improving glycemic parameters and inflammatory markers in adults.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the umbrella meta-analysis itself.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Title | The Effect of Berberine Supplementation on Glycemic Control and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Metabolic Disorders: An Umbrella Meta-analysis |
|---|---|
| Journal | Clin Ther |
| Year | 2023 |
| PMID | 38016844 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.10.019 ↗ |
| Topic | Metabolic health, glucose & body composition |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
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Berberine HCl 500 mg (AMPK)
In randomized trials and their meta-analyses in type 2 diabetes, berberine has produced significant reductions in fasting glucose (about 0.8 mmol/L), HbA1c (about 0.6–0.9%), total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and one pilot trial found 0.5 g three times daily lowered HbA1c from 9.5% to 7.5% over three months…
Berberine is a naturally occurring isoquinoline (benzylisoquinoline) alkaloid found in plants such as…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Does berberine supplementation improve glycemic control and inflammatory biomarkers in individuals with metabolic disorders? [Plain-English summary of Clin Ther 2023, PMID 38016844, DOI 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.10.019]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x5.html@misc{magellan_x5,
title = {Does berberine supplementation improve glycemic control and inflammatory biomarkers in individuals with metabolic disorders?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/x5.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 38016844; DOI 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.10.019; Clin Ther 2023. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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