This formula was designed to support a healthy glucose, cholesterol metabolism.
Berberine also suppresses neuroinflammatory responses through activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (Lu DY, et al., 2010).
Berberine significantly down-regulates cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in microglia cells. COX-2 are inflammatory promoting enzymes. Microglia cells are located throughout the brain and spinal cord.
It is important to keep inflammation low especially in the brain since inflammation is one of the risk factors for memory loss.
Research suggests that berberine provides benefits for Alzheimer's disease by limiting the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (Cai Z, et al., 2016).
The research referred to below was conducted with participants who had type 2 diabetes. This does not mean that you have to have type 2 diabetes to take this formula.
It’s very important to have a healthy glucose metabolism and keep the blood glucose low. You want to take this formula and keep your glucose metabolism healthy.
Healthy glucose metabolism is important to keep your cardiovascular system healthy.
The Berberine GCS contains berberine, a natural plant derivative.
In this study, the participants with type 2 diabetes were randomized to take either berberine or metformin (a diabetic medication) for 3 months (Yin J, et.al., 2008).
The effect of berberine was found to be similar to metformin.
A significant decrease in hemoglobin A1c from 9.5% to 7.5% was found when taking berberine. Hemoglobin A1c is a measurement of long term glucose control.
Fasting blood glucose was reduced with 34.9%, postprandial blood glucose with 43.9%, and plasma triglycerides with 21.2%. Postprandial glucose is the blood glucose measured after a meal.
The insulin resistance index was reduced by 44.7%.
Another study that included 116 patients also with type 2 diabetes showed similar results (Zhang Y, et.al., 2008).
Compared to the placebo group, the treatment group which took berberine daily for 3 months, showed a reduction in fasting blood glucose of 20% and a postprandial glucose decrease of 25.8%.
HbA1c decreased from 7.5%to 6.6%. Triglycerides decreased by 35.9%, and cholesterol with 18.1%. LDL (low-density lipoprotein), the so-called bad cholesterol was reduced with 21.1%.
Berberine did not only reduce blood glucose, but berberine also showed impressive improvements for cardiovascular risk factors.
Another benefit of taking berberine is that it has been found to reduce the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.
Patients with the metabolic syndrome treated with berberine for 3 months showed a decrease in their BMI (body mass index) from 31.5 to 27.4 in this study (Yang J, et.al., 2012).
The same research also showed that berberine decreased leptin levels from 8.01 to 5.12 μg/L.
Leptin is a hormone that suppresses food intake and induces weight loss. Obese patients are usually leptin-resistant.
A review of 10 studies showed that both BMI and waist circumference decreased in participants taking berberine (Xiong P, et.al.,2020).
References:
J Clin, Treatment of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia with the natural plant alkaloid berberine, Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Jul;93(7):2559-65.
Lu DY, Tang CH, Chen YH, Wei IH. Berberine suppresses neuroinflammatory responses through AMP-activated protein kinase activation in BV-2 microglia. J Cell Biochem. 2010 Jun 1;110(3):697-705.
Xiong P, Niu L, Talaei S, Kord-Varkaneh H, Clark CCT, Găman MA, Rahmani J, Dorosti M, Mousavi SM, Zarezadeh M, Taghizade-Bilondi H, Zhang J.The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity indices: A dose- response meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020 May;39:101113.
Yin J, Xing H, Ye J.Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Metabolism. 2008 May;57(5):712-7. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013.
PMID: 18442638
Yang J, Yin J, Gao H, Xu L, Wang Y, Xu L, Li M.Berberine improves insulin sensitivity by inhibiting fat store and adjusting adipokines profile in human preadipocytes and metabolic syndrome patients.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:363845
Zhiyou Cai, Chuanling Wang, Wenming Yang, Role of berberine in Alzheimer's disease, Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016 Oct 3;12:2509-2520.
Zhang Y, Li X, Zou D, Liu W, Yang J, Zhu N, Huo L, Wang M, Hong J, Wu P, Ren G, Ning G.Treatment of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia with the natural plant alkaloid berberine.