Berberine: what it is and how much people take
Berberine is a substance found in plants such as goldenseal, barberry and Oregon grape. Studies have looked at weight, with inconsistent results; most used more than 1 gram a day for over 8 weeks. It can cause nausea, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea.
General information, not medical advice. Check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking a supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take any medicine, or are under 18.
How much people take
| What studies looked at | Studies have looked at weight, with inconsistent results; most used more than 1 gram a day for over 8 weeks. |
|---|---|
| Official upper limit | None set |
Cautions and interactions
- It can cause nausea, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea.
- It interacts with cyclosporine and may be unsafe in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Dose questions
Quick answers
- What is berberine?
- Berberine is a substance found in plants such as goldenseal, barberry and Oregon grape.
- What has berberine been studied for?
- Studies have looked at weight, with inconsistent results; most used more than 1 gram a day for over 8 weeks.
- Is berberine safe?
- It can cause nausea, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea. It interacts with cyclosporine and may be unsafe in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Sources
- NCCIH (US National Institutes of Health)
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/berberine-and-weight-loss-what-you-need-to-know
Ask Supplement Check yourself
Type a supplement, a dose, or a product name, and get the amounts studies used, any official ceiling and the cautions. Open Supplement Check, free, no sign-up.
In Claude or any app that takes MCP connectors, add https://goodturn-mcp.pages.dev/supplementcheck/mcp and ask: “Is 1500 mg of berberine a day too much?”