Berberine, an ally against diabetes and metabolic syndrome

This time we want to share with you a day that we think is very special and important, we are talking about World Diabetes Day. And to commemorate it, Dr. Hernán Sosa wanted to make a post that deals with berberine, an ally against diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
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This time we want to share with you a day that we think is very special and important, we are talking about World Diabetes Day.
And to commemorate it, Dr. Hernán Sosa wanted to make a post that deals with berberine, an ally against diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

Every November 14, since 1991, this day has been celebrated around the world, with the aim of raising awareness among the population around the globe about the alarming increase in the incidence of this disease.
The theme of World Diabetes Day 2021 is “Access to Diabetes Care”.
This date was promoted by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), who chose this day because it was the anniversary of the birth of Sir Frederick Banting, who together with Charles Best, discovered insulin in 1922.

Diabetes is part of the UN’s 2030 Agenda and is part of goal number 3, which focuses on Health and Well-being. Since 1980, the number of people with diabetes in the world has almost quadrupled. An estimated 425 million adults had diabetes in 2017, up from 108 million in 1980. (https://www.un.org/es/observances/diabetes-day)

Berberine for blood sugar control

Berberine has been shown to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism in vitro and in vivo.
Two pilot studies were conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of berberine in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In Study A, 36 adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned to treatment with berberine (500 mg 3 times daily) or metformin in a 3-month trial.
The hypoglycemic effect of berberine was similar to that of metformin.
Significant decreases in glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (9.5%), fasting glycemia, postprandial glycemia, and plasma triglycerides were observed in the berberine group.

Berberine helps control blood sugar

In Study B, 48 adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus received berberine-supplemented therapy in a 3-month trial.
Berberine worked by reducing fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose from one week until the end of the trial.
Hemoglobin A1c decreased by 8.1%.
Fasting plasma insulin and the homeostasis model assessment of the insulin resistance index were reduced by 28.1% and 44.7%, respectively.
Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also significantly reduced. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013

How does berberine work?

Oxidative stress and inflammation have been shown to be central in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.
Berberine is a natural compound that is isolated from plants such as Berberis aristata (Indian barberry) and Berberis vulgaris, and has multiple pharmacological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions, which contributes in part to its effectiveness against diabetes mellitus.

Berberine, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

One analysis studied the upregulation activities and glucose-lowering activity of the insulin receptor (InsR) of berberine in humans.
The results showed that berberine increased the expression of insulin receptor messenger proteins and RNA in a variety of human cell lines, including EMFs, HCT-116, SW1990, HT1080, 293T, and human liver cells infected with the hepatitis B virus.

Consequently, insulin-stimulated phosphorylations in the receptor subunit β and Akt increased after berberine treatment in the cultured cell groups.
In the clinical study, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, and insulin were also significantly reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The efficacy in lowering hemoglobin A1c and fasting glucose markers was similar to those of metformin and rosiglitazone. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2009.07.029

Berberine and metabolic syndrome

Berberine is a phytochemical component extracted from the Barberry plant (Berberis aristata), which has been shown in several studies to have the ability to reduce hypertension, cholesterol and blood glucose.

Efficacy of Berberine in the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia, Diabetes, and Hypertension

A recent meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of Berberine supplementation on plasma lipid concentration in the adult population.
As a result, supplementation significantly decreased the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, while changes in HDL high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not modified. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23512497/

Other studies conducted with Berberine extracts as a single therapy have resulted in an improvement in cases of hypercholesterolemia.
The administered dose was 500 mg of dry extract.
Other studies also showed improvement in lowering cholesterol levels when Berberine was given along with statins. https://www.nature.com/articles/nm1135

On the other hand, several clinical studies have reported results on the efficacy of Berberine in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, diabetes and hypertension.
The beneficial effect has been confirmed when Berberine is used as an adjuvant to hypotensive drugs. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25498346/

Powerful antioxidant: Vitamin E

There is considerable evidence that hyperglycemia causes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which ultimately leads to increased oxidative stress in our body.
In the absence of an appropriate compensatory response by endogenous antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, catalase, glutathione, and superoxide dismutase, oxidative stress dominates, resulting in the activation of stress-sensitive intracellular signaling pathways.
One of the main consequences is the generation of genetic products that cause cell damage and are ultimately responsible for the late complications of diabetes.

Vitamin E from the diet and that consumed in supplements is absorbed and delivered to the liver, but of the various antioxidants with vitamin E activity, only α-tocopherol is preferentially recognized by the α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) and is transferred to plasma.
The liver is the primary regulator of the body’s vitamin E levels, as it not only controls α-tocopherol concentrations, but also appears to be the primary site of vitamin E metabolism and excretion.

Active Berberine contains vitamin E in its formula

α-tocopherol acts as a peroxyl radical scavenger that protects polyunsaturated fatty acids in membranes and lipoproteins.
Although specific pathways and specific molecular targets have been sought in a variety of studies, the most likely explanation for why humans require vitamin E is that it is a fat-soluble antioxidant. https://doi.org/10.1159/000343106

Conclusion

For decades, diabetes, and especially type 2 diabetes, has become a public health problem, threatening the population around the world.

Data from numerous studies agree on the continuous growth of their incidence and prevalence rates, which entails high human, social and economic costs that are unacceptable.
Diabetes, due to its organic consequences, has become one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease, blindness, non-traumatic amputations of lower limbs, kidney failure and death.

Aware of this, at Salengei we have added benefits to a supplement that already contained berberine and to which we have added vitamin E: Active Berberine.

This modification has been possible by contrasting the numerous studies to which we have access and which show that berberine and vitamin E are very favorable nutrients when it comes to preventing and slowing down the deleterious effects of diabetes.

Of course, a large part of non-infectious diseases, including diabetes, is multifactorial and can be attributed in part to an ageing population and lifestyle changes related to increased urbanisation with sedentary behaviour and unhealthy eating profiles leading to increased obesity.

From Salengei we invite you to read a little more about this supplement and remember that we are attentive to your queries through any of the communication channels.

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