Berberine vs Dihydroberberine

Berberine and dihydroberberberine are two nearly affiliated factory alkaloids that have been used medicinally for thousands of times. More lately, they've gained fashionability as natural supplements purported to have a variety of health benefits. But what exactly are berberine and dihydroberberberine? And what is the difference between the two? Let's take a near look.

What's Berberine?

Berberine bulk powder is an isoquinoline alkaloid set up in a number of shops including goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape, and Chinese goldthread. It has a long history of use in traditional Chinese drug as well as Ayurvedic drug. Berberine has antimicrobial,anti-inflammatory, and vulnerable- enhancing goods. It’s also been shown to help regulate blood sugar situations and ameliorate heart health. Some of the main uses and benefits of berberine include

• Treating diarrhea and gastroenteritis due to its antimicrobial parcels.

• Lowering blood sugar situations in those with diabetes. Berberine works also to metformin, cranking AMPK which reduces glucose product in the liver.

• perfecting lipid metabolism and reducing LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

• Lowering blood pressure.

• Reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

• Exhibiting anti-cancer properties against certain cancer cell lines.

• Improving gut health and treating SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) when used alongside antibiotics.

• Enhancing immunity – berberine activates white blood cells and interleukin-6.

• Potentially slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

So in summary, berberine is a plant compound with a variety of pharmacological activities and health benefits. It's gained a reputation as a potent natural supplement for issues like high blood sugar, high cholesterol, gut problems, and inflammation.

What is Dihydroberberine?

Dihydroberberine (dhBER) is a derivative of berberine that is naturally created in the body when berberine is metabolized. So it’s not found directly in plants. After berberine is ingested, the body converts a portion of it into dihydroberberine to increase its bioavailability and lengthen the time it remains active in the body.

Essentially, dihydroberberine is the main metabolite of berberine that’s responsible for many of its physiological effects. Studies indicate that dhBER is significantly more bioavailable than berberine. It also has higher gut permeability, meaning more of it is absorbed through the intestinal lining and into circulation.

In animal and cell studies, dihydroberberine has been shown to mimic many of the benefits and mechanisms of berberine:

• Lowering blood sugar and increasing insulin sensitivity.

• Improving lipid profiles and reducing fat storage.

• Activating AMPK, a master regulator of metabolism.

• Exhibiting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.

• Having anticancer effects against certain cell lines.

So in summary, dihydroberberine is the active metabolite of berberine with enhanced bioavailability and therapeutic effects. Supplements containing dhBER aim to amplify the benefits of berberine.

Difference Between Berberine and Dihydroberberine

Now that we understand what each one is, what are the main differences between berberine and dihydroberberine?

• Source: Berberine is found naturally in plants while dhBER is a derivative created in the body.

• Bioavailability: DHBER is more bioavailable than berberine, meaning a greater proportion enters circulation to elicite effects.

• Absorption: Dihydroberberine appears to be more readily absorbed across the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.

• Concentration: DHBER is typically found in lower concentrations than berberine in plants. Supplemental forms swap this to provide higher, more effective doses.

• Half-life: Dihydroberberine has a longer half-life compared to berberine. It stays active in the body for a more extended period.

• Effects: Research indicates dhBER mirrors many of berberine’s beneficial mechanisms and effects, often to an enhanced degree.

So in summary, dihydroberberine shares many of the therapeutic properties of berberine but with improved bioavailability, absorption, and potency. For this reason, some berberine supplements also contain dhBER to boost the effects.

Additional Benefits of Berberine

Aside from the benefits already mentioned, here are some more ways that berberine may improve health according to the scientific literature:

• Supports brain function: berberine extract powder appears to cross the blood-brain barrier. It might inhibit the formation of amyloid-beta plaques implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Berberine may also protect neurons and improve memory in animal studies.

• Supports heart health: Berberine helps regulate blood pressure and blood lipids. It also reduces chronic inflammation linked to heart disease development. These benefits may lower risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

• Supports eye health: Berberine demonstrates protective effects on retinal neurons and visual function in rodent models of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. This could help slow the progression of these eye conditions.

• Has antidepressant effects: Berberine has been found to reduce depressive behaviors in rodent studies, potentially by modulating neurotransmitters and hormones related to mood. However, more research is needed.

• Anti-aging properties: berberine powder bulk activates enzymes called sirtuins which are involved in the aging process. This might help counteract cellular aging. Berberine also scavenges free radicals and reduces oxidative stress linked to aging.

• Supports joint health: Through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cartilage-protecting effects, berberine may help support joint health and aid arthritis symptoms.

So berberine appears to have systemic effects throughout the body, supporting nearly every aspect of health from head to toe. Much more research is still needed to confirm many of these benefits in humans though.

Why Don’t Doctors Prescribe Berberine?

Despite the many purported benefits of berberine, it's not commonly recommended by conventional doctors. There are a few reasons for this:

• Lack of awareness: Many doctors are simply unaware of berberine as it’s an herbal supplement without a pharmaceutical company promoting its use. There's less motivation for profit.

• Lack of large-scale trials: Nearly all of the studies on berberine have been small animal studies or human trials with a couple dozen subjects. Larger, higher-quality clinical trials are still needed.

• Unregulated industry: Due to minimal regulation of supplements, the quality control and accuracy of berberine products are questionable. Potency and contamination are concerns.

• Interactions: Berberine may interact with medications by affecting liver enzymes that metabolize them. Doctors tend to avoid supplements with potential interactions.

• Slow adoption: Many doctors are hesitant to prescribe new natural products until there is long-term proof of efficacy and safety. Adoption is slow.

So in essence, more rigorous research and higher-quality berberine supplements may increase acceptance and prescription by doctors in the future. But currently, most prefer to recommend tried-and-true pharmaceutical drugs over this herbal extract.

What is the Best Form of Berberine to Take?

When choosing a berberine supplement, there are a few key things to look for:

• Berberine hydrochloride: This salt form is better absorbed than raw berberine. Look for supplements listing "berberine HCL" on the label.

• High purity: Opt for brands that test for contaminants and disclose their quality control standards. At least 95% purity is recommended.

• Dihydroberberine content: Some formulas add dhBER to enhance efficacy. A ratio of 1:1 berberine to dhBER is ideal.

• Delayed-release capsules: These capsules protect berberine from stomach acid for better absorption in the intestines.

• 500 mg, 2-3 times daily: This is the typical therapeutic dosage used in studies. Splitting the dose boosts absorption.

• Carefully reviewed brands: Look for brands with many positive reviews and third-party testing. Beware of fake reviews.

So in summary, berberine HCL in a delayed-release capsule, with added dhBER, from a reputable quality brand provides the most benefit. Work up to the full dosage slowly to minimize stomach upset.

What Type of Berberine is Best for Absorption?

Due to berberine bark powder's poor solubility in water and absorption in the body, only a small fraction of orally administered berberine is actually utilized. Specialized delivery methods can boost absorption:

• Nanoparticles: Encasing berberine in lipid nanoparticles greatly enhances solubility and absorption compared to regular berberine.

• Liposomal: Liposomal berberine uses phospholipids to form vesicles that shepherd berberine through membranes. Absorption increases 5-10 times.

• Amphoteric: Chemical modification creates amphoteric berberine, which carries a positive and negative charge. This doubles bioavailability compared to standard berberine.

• Cyclodextrin complex: Berberine is trapped inside a central cyclodextrin cavity to become more water-soluble. Absorption is enhanced.

• Dihydroberberine: As mentioned, dhBER has higher bioavailability than berberine due to its non-polar structure which crosses cell membranes easier.

So in summary, specialized berberine formulations using nanoparticles, liposomes, or cyclodextrin complexes can significantly boost absorption. Seek supplements implementing one of these technologies.

Is Berberine Bad for Kidneys?

When taken orally at appropriate doses, berberine appears to be well-tolerated by most people and is likely safe for both liver and kidney function. However, there are some concerns with high-dose, long-term usage:

In animal studies utilizing injections rather than oral doses, very high amounts of berberine were linked to potential kidney damage.

Berberine may raise levels of the enzyme creatinine, which is a marker of kidney function. But this doesn't necessarily indicate impairment.

Berberine is metabolized in the liver and could theoretically cause toxicity when taken in excess. But human trials have not confirmed liver issues.

Berberine inhibits certain CYP enzymes in the liver which metabolize medications. This can increase drug levels in a manner similar to grapefruit juice.

Those already with liver or kidney impairment may need to exercise more caution with berberine dosage and duration.

So in summary, berberine is likely safe for healthy kidneys and livers when used at appropriate oral doses. Those with pre-existing organ damage should discuss with a doctor before use. Monitoring liver enzymes during treatment is also sensible. More research is still needed on the long-term safety of berberine supplementation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, berberine and dihydroberberine are promising natural compounds with a variety of potential health and metabolism benefits. Berberine in particular has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine systems. Modern research is now catching up and beginning to confirm many of its purported effects.

However, larger-scale and higher-quality human clinical trials are still needed to elucidate berberine's efficacy and safety profile. While preliminary research is encouraging, the body of evidence remains in its early stages, especially in Western science. Consult with a knowledgeable practitioner when using berberine supplements to ensure proper oversight and dosing.

With further study, berberine and dihydroberberine may one day play a larger role in conventional medicine. But for now, those looking to experiment with natural supplements can consider berberine as an generally safe and potentially effective option. Just be sure to procure high-quality product and work with an integrative provider to guide usage and monitor effects.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4710091/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2410097/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4357101/

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2016/4298425/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26046282/

ABOUT AUTHOR

Celine Xu is a botanist with over 15 years of experience researching and developing plant extracts for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. She leads an R&D team focused on identification, cultivation and extraction of medicinal plants. Celine Xu earned a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from UC Berkeley and has authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals about the health benefits of specific phytochemicals. She frequently speaks at industry conferences about new developments in plant extract research. Celine Xu is dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of how targeted plant compounds can be used to improve human health.