Berberine
What Huberman said
Huberman calls berberine, a derivative of tree bark, a very potent substance for reducing blood glucose, on par with metformin or glibenclamide. He says that on an empty stomach it gave him brutal headaches and dizziness, but with a very large carbohydrate-containing meal he felt fine on up to 750 mg or a gram. He says he is not necessarily recommending people do this.
Doses, as he worded them
“anywhere from half a gram to 1.5 grams daily”[1]
the typical dose range he describes
“up to 750 milligrams or a gram of berberine”[1]
his own experience, only alongside a very large meal with a lot of carbohydrates
Quoted, not prescribed. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first if you take medication, are pregnant or have a health condition.
Cautions he mentions
- Be very cautious about ingesting berberine on an empty stomach; if you ingest berberine, your blood glucose will plummet.[1]
- On an empty stomach it made him hypoglycemic, with brutal headaches and dizziness.[1]
- He is not necessarily recommending people do this; people should talk to their doctor before adding or subtracting anything.[2]
Safety notes from independent sources
- NCCIH says berberine should not be used in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, or given to infants. It may interact with some medicines, so talk to your doctor first if you take any. Berberine may lower blood glucose, so check especially if you have diabetes. NCCIH: Diabetes and dietary supplements
Where he said it
- 1
“I would say be very cautious about ingesting berberine on an empty stomach,”
Controlling Sugar Cravings & Metabolism with Science-Based Tools
Episode · 01:45:10 · 2022
- 2
“I'm not necessarily recommending people do this, but what I noticed was if I took berberine,”
Dr. David Sinclair: The Biology of Slowing & Reversing Aging
Episode · 00:44:35 · 2021
Related
This page reports what Andrew Huberman has said. It isn’t medical advice and NSDR.co isn’t affiliated with Huberman Lab. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first if you take medication, are pregnant or have a health condition. Safety information