(NaturalHealth365)  Scientists warn that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the presence of excess fat in the livers of people with no history of alcohol abuse, currently affects close to 30 percent of the world’s adult population, with rates climbing steadily.  While NAFLD is often mild, in some cases, it can progress to devastating outcomes such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.  Clearly, there’s an urgent need for safe, effective therapies to prevent, alleviate, and reverse this potentially dangerous condition.  A natural compound known as berberine might help fill the bill.

Berberine has been a staple of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.  A new systematic review in the Journal of Translational Medicine reveals that berberine can help normalize blood sugar, promote weight loss, and prevent the accumulation of fat – a winning “trifecta” of health benefits that may help put NAFLD on the run.

Researchers say berberine “shows promise as an adjunct therapy for NAFLD”

Berberine – a bright yellow alkaloid derived from barberry plants – has long been advised in traditional Chinese medicine as a natural intervention to balance blood sugar.  To explore its effects on NAFLD, researchers evaluated randomized, controlled studies performed between 2010 and 2022 involving over 800 NAFLD patients.

They concluded that berberine can “safely and effectively” improve lipid profiles, lower liver enzymes, lower body weight, and increase insulin sensitivity in patients with NAFLD, leading them to acknowledge its “significant therapeutic potential for NAFLD.”  While more research is needed, these encouraging results suggest that berberine may be used to address not only NAFLD but also obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Berberine is a potent lipid-lowering compound

Berberine works through multiple pathways to promote health and combat disease.  Research has shown that it alleviates the oxidative stress and inflammation that contribute to fatty liver disease while also helping to activate AMPK, an enzyme that regulates metabolism.

In addition, it enhances mitochondrial function, decreases insulin resistance, and helps the body break down sugars more quickly and easily.  The authors of the new review pointed out that berberine significantly lowers blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes – in some studies, by as much as 20 percent.

But that isn’t all.  This versatile compound also benefits the cardiovascular system by helping to prevent the development of cholesterol-laden plaque in arteries.

Support heart and gut health

In an earlier review published in Phytomedicine, researchers found that berberine can improve cholesterol by lowering LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol.  They cited a study in which berberine lowered triglycerides (fats in the blood) by an eye-popping 23 percent – and dropped total cholesterol by 12.2 percent.

As if that weren’t impressive enough, berberine has been shown to reduce levels of C-reactive protein and apolipoprotein B, which are believed to be risk factors for heart disease.  Last but not least, berberine supports a healthy gut microbiome by enhancing populations of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

Is berberine really “nature’s Ozempic?”

Some fans of berberine have likened its effects to that of Ozempic, the popular weight loss drug.  Ozempic, or semaglutide, belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 agonists.  It stimulates the release of insulin and is normally prescribed for improving blood sugar and lowering the risk of heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes.  Although semaglutide is not approved by the FDA for weight loss, millions of people use it for this purpose.  However, side effects of this medication can include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Incidentally, studies have linked these weight loss drugs to thyroid tumors.  And the cost can be prohibitive.  According to a recent review conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, weight loss from Ozempic depends on the dosage and the length of time the patients took the drug, with obese patients losing an average of 3.7 percent of their body weight after one year.

So, how does berberine stack up against Ozempic?  Studies have supported this natural compound’s ability to enhance the oxidation of liver fat and interfere with the growth of fat cells.

Multiple clinical trials have shown it can cause small but significant weight loss.  For example, one older 12-week study showed that 500 mg of berberine three times a day caused about 5 pounds of weight loss while lowering the percent of body fat – including deposits of harmful abdominal fat.

Offering an excellent safety profile – and an entire menu of health benefits – berberine appears to have remarkable potential for supporting balanced blood sugar, easing NAFLD, promoting healthy weight, and enhancing overall well-being.

Sources for this article include:

Biomedcentral.com
Verywellfit.com
Healthline.com
Sciencedirect.com
Verywellhealth.com
Healthline.com
JAMAnetwork.com