TikTok has recently been buzzing with posts suggesting Berberine may be a natural alternative to Ozempic weight loss injections, but some remain sceptical. Videos with the hashtag '#Berberine' have been viewed more than 84million times on the video sharing platform, with many sharing 'weight loss advice' and the 'benefits' of taking the substance.
Berberine is a bitter tasting compound found in plants like barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, Californian poppies and tree turmeric. The substance is usually found in the roots, rhizomes, stems and bark and is classified as part of traditional Chinese medicine.
Some claim that berberine helps promote weight loss, regulate blood sugar and protect against several chronic conditions. But the actual evidence to support this is minimal.
Talking to Dazed Digital, Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, said: "There is only one clinical trial which has examined whether berberine has an effect on weight loss and this was a very small study with seven participants and was poorly controlled.
"In this study there was no evidence that it contributed to weight loss. Some participants even gained weight whilst taking berberine supplements."
There is also the issue of what is contained inside berberine capsules. One 2017 study surveyed 15 different Berberine products sold in the US and found that only six of these contained at least 90 per cent Berberine, despite some being specifically labelled as high quality.
Does berberine work like Ozempic?
Berberine does not work in the same way as Ozempic and should not be dubbed 'nature's Ozempic' or a dupe of the medicine. Semaglutide, which sold under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).
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This targets the area of the brain responsible for regulating appetite, meaning you are less hungry and therefore eat less food. There is no evidence of berberine doing this, but it may improve your metabolism.
Side effects of taking berberine include:
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Excess gas
- Stomach Upset
- Headache
- Digestion issues
While their is little evidence for berberine contributing to weight loss, semaglutide injections have proved very effective in medical trials. About a third of people who take Ozempic for weight loss lose at least 10 per cent of their body weight.
