Nutrition Made Simple! - Can Berberine shrink PLAQUE in your Arteries? | Fact-checked
Berberine, a compound found in several plants, is sold as a supplement and is popular for its purported health benefits, including reducing artery plaque. A 2022 study involving 21 patients showed a 3% reduction in plaque score after taking 1 gram of berberine daily for four months. However, the study lacked randomization and a control group, making the results less conclusive. Other studies, including randomized trials and meta-analyses, suggest berberine can reduce artery wall thickness and unstable plaques, and improve biomarkers like cholesterol and blood pressure. Despite promising results, berberine is not widely recommended due to the lack of large-scale outcome trials that demonstrate a reduction in cardiovascular events. The supplement industry often bypasses these trials as they can market directly to consumers without meeting the stringent evidence standards required for pharmaceuticals. Consumers should be cautious about supplement dosages, as they can vary significantly from what's advertised. Choosing third-party tested brands is advisable.
Key Points:
- Berberine may reduce artery plaque but lacks large-scale study confirmation.
- A 2022 study showed a 3% plaque reduction in a small group, but lacked controls.
- Randomized trials suggest berberine improves cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Supplements are marketed without needing large outcome trials unlike pharmaceuticals.
- Consumers should choose third-party tested supplements for accurate dosages.
Details:
1. 🔍 Introduction to Berberine: A Herbal Supplement
- Berberine is a compound found in several plants and is popular as a supplement, especially in China.
- There are claims on social media that berberine can reduce plaque in arteries.
- A 2022 study, mostly conducted on mice, highlighted berberine's potential health benefits, including cardiovascular health and metabolic regulation.
- The study reported a significant reduction in cholesterol levels and improved glucose metabolism in the mice subjects.
- Berberine has been traditionally used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Despite promising results in animal studies, more human clinical trials are needed to confirm these benefits.
2. 🧪 Berberine in Cardiovascular Studies: Promising Yet Preliminary
- The study involved 21 patients receiving 1 gram of berberine daily for four months, focusing on carotid artery plaque using ultrasound metrics.
- Three ultrasound metrics were measured: artery wall thickness, average plaque length, and plaque score (sum of plaque thickness).
- No significant changes were observed in artery wall thickness or plaque length, while the plaque score reduced by 3% post-treatment.
- Patient-specific results showed 57% had a reduction in plaque score, 14% showed no change, and 28% experienced an increase.
- A separate group of 12 patients with cardiovascular disease receiving standard treatment without berberine showed no significant changes in any ultrasound metrics after four months.
- Importantly, the study lacks randomization, a control group, and statistical adjustment, highlighting its preliminary nature.
3. 📊 Evidence from Larger Trials and Meta-Analyses
- Earlier studies on berberine faced challenges such as small sample sizes and lack of randomization, highlighting the need for larger, more rigorous trials.
- Subsequent randomized trials and meta-analyses demonstrate that berberine significantly reduces artery wall thickness, especially in carotid arteries, and decreases unstable plaques, suggesting cardiovascular benefits.
- In various trials, berberine has been found effective in lowering cholesterol, fasting glucose, triglycerides, blood pressure, and body weight, with daily doses ranging from 0.3 to 1.8 grams, typically around 1 gram.
4. 🚫 Understanding Berberine's Side Effects and Usage
4.1. Berberine's Side Effects
4.2. Berberine Usage Recommendations
5. 💊 Supplements vs. Pharmaceuticals: A Battle of Evidence
- Pharmaceutical companies are required to conduct large, long-term outcomes trials, often involving thousands of participants, to obtain FDA clearance and meet prescription standards. This rigorous process ensures that the medications have proven benefits and are safe for public use.
- Supplements like berberine, despite being part of a multi-billion dollar industry, do not undergo the same level of scrutiny. They are sold directly to consumers without needing to prove their efficacy through outcomes trials, as there is no regulatory requirement similar to that for pharmaceuticals.
- The supplement industry's marketing can claim benefits, such as being 'heart-healthy,' without evidence of reducing events like heart attacks. This occurs because the general public often does not distinguish between the types of evidence required for supplements versus pharmaceuticals.
- The lack of stringent evidence requirements for supplements can lead to consumer misunderstandings about their actual health benefits compared to pharmaceuticals, which are mandated to demonstrate tangible health outcomes through rigorous trials.