Review Article

Update on the Benefits and Mechanisms of Action of the Bioactive Vegetal Alkaloid Berberine on Lipid Metabolism and Homeostasis

Table 2

Effect of BBR on blood lipid profiles in humans.

SubjectTreatmentDose, frequency, timeEffectsReference

Anovulatory Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndromeBBR,   (69 normal weight and 29 overweight/obese)1.2 g/d, thrice daily, 4 monthsT-C (−17%), LDL-C (−12%), and TAG (−37%)[36]

Hyperlipidemic subjectsBBR-containing ,   (15/15, M/F); Placebo,   (3/6, M/F)0.2 g/d, once daily, 12 wkNon-HDL-C (−15%), LDL-C (−19%)[37]

Moderately hypercholesterolemic subjectsAP-1,   (18/33, M/F); 
Placebo,   (14/37, M/F)
500 mg/d, once a day, 12 wkTC (−5%), LDL-C (−7.8%)[38]

Patients with type-2 diabetesBBR,   (17/20, M/F); compared to baseline0.9 g/d, thrice daily, 3 monthsT-C (−11%), LDL-C (−16%), TAG (−21%)[39]

Hypercholesterolemic patientsBBR,   (35/28, M/F); Placebo,   (17/11, M/F)1 g/d, twice daily, 3 monthsT-C (−29%), LDL-C (−25%), TAG (−35%)[7]

Hypercholesterolemic patientsBBR, ; compared to baseline (no sex ratio provided)1 g/d, twice daily, 2 monthsTC (−21.8%), LDL-C (−23.8%), TAG (−22.1%)[40]

Patients with type-2 diabetesBBR, ; compared to baseline (no sex ratio provided)1.5 g/d, thrice daily, 13 wkTC (−13%), TAG (−21%)[41]

Patients with type-2 diabetesBBR,   (27/23, M/F); compared to baseline1 g/d, twice daily, 2 monthsTAG (−18%).[42]

Patients with type-2 diabetes and dyslipidemiaBBR,   (30/28, M/F); Placebo,   (31/21, M/F)1 g/d, twice daily, 3 monthsT-C (−18%), LDL-C (−21%), TAG (−36%)[43]

Caucasians with low cardiovascular riskBBR, (35/36, M/F); Placebo, (35/35, M/F)1 g/d, twice daily, 3 monthsT-C (−11.6%), LDL-C (−16.4%), TAG (−21.2%), HDL-C (+9.1%)[44]

Dyslipidemic patientsAP-, (416/518, M/F); Placebo,   (384/434, M/F)500 mg/d, once daily, 16 wkT-C (−10%), LDL-C (−13%), TAG (−7%), HDL-C (+8%)[45]

Patients with metabolic syndromeBBR, ; Placebo,   (no sex ratio provided)1.5 g/d, thrice daily, for 3 monthsTAG (−42%)[46]

Patients on hormone-therapy after breast cancerAP-1, ; compared to baseline500 mg/d, once daily, 3 monthsT-C (−15%), LDL-C (−19%), TAG (−37%)[47]

Hypercholesterolemic subjectsAP-1,   (62/90, M/F); compared to baseline500 mg/d, once daily, 6 monthsTC (−24%), LDL-C (−32%), non-HDL-C (−30%), TAG (−20%)[48]

Moderate dyslipidemic subjectsBBR, (8/12, M/F); AP-1, (8/12, M/F)500 mg/d, once daily, 4 wkT-C (−16%), LDL-C (−20%), TAG (−22%), HDL-C (+7%); AP-1 and BBR did not differ[49]

Patients with type-2 diabetes,   (17/5, M/F); compared to baseline500 mg/d, once daily, 90 dT-C (−21%), LDL-C (−19%), TAG (−44%)[50]

Obese CaucasiansBBR, , compared to baseline (no sex ratio provided)1.5 g/d, thrice daily, 12 wkT-C (−12%), TAG (−23%)[25]

Patients with metabolic syndromeAP-1, (20/9, M/F); Placebo, (18/12, M/F)500 mg/d, once daily, 18 wkT-C (−15%), LDL-C (−23%)[51]

Menopausal women with moderate dyslipidemiaBBR + Isoflavones, ; compared to baselineIsoflavones and BBR combination, 12 wkT-C (−14%), LDL-C (−12%), TAG (−19%)[52]

Elderly (>75 yr) hypercholesterolemic patientsAP-1, (21/19, M/F); Placebo, (20/20, M/F)500 mg/d, once daily, 12 monthsT-C (−20%), LDL-C (−31%)[53]

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistanceBBR. ; compared to baseline1.5 g/d, thrice daily, 3 monthsT-C (−17%), LDL-C (−14%), TAG (−17%), HDL-C (+12%)[54]

Hypercholesterolemic patientsAP-1, (13/12, M/F); Placebo, (13/12, M/F)500 mg/d, once daily, 6 wkT-C (−17%), LDL-C (−23%)[55]

-1: 1 tablet contains red yeast rice extract 200 mg (equivalent to 3 mg monacolins), policosanol 10 mg, BBR 500 mg, folic acid 0.2 mg, CoQ10 2 mg, and astaxanthin 0.5 mg. #Each tablet contains 558 mg of B. aristata extract titered as 85% of BBR and 105 mg of S. marianum extract titered as >60% of flavonol lignans. -containing nutraceutical: BBR 200 mg, monacolin K 3 mg, chitosan 10 mg, and CoQ10 10 mg.