Tier 2 — strong

Effect of Berberine on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Mechanistic Randomized Controlled Trial

Zhao JV, Yeung WF, Chan YH, Vackova D, Leung JYY, Ip DKM, Zhao J, Ho WK, Tse HF, Schooling CM
Nutrients 2021 13(8):2550

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 34444711
PubMed Central
PMC8401658
DOI
10.3390/nu13082550
Trial registry
View on ClinicalTrials.gov Registered trial — results not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Funding
Indexed support: Health and Medical Research Fund. See the publication for grant details.
Competing interests
A complete competing-interest declaration was not available in the accessible source; no absence of conflicts is inferred.

Study snapshot

DesignDouble-blind placebo-controlled mechanistic randomized trial
ModelHuman participants; see population
Sample84 men randomized; 80 completed
InterventionBerberine 500 mg twice/day versus placebo
Duration12 weeks
EndpointsTotal and LDL cholesterol; Triglycerides and apolipoproteins; Metabolic and vascular biomarkers

What the study showed, in plain terms

Berberine lowered total cholesterol in this trial of men, while triglycerides, blood pressure and body-size measures did not differ from placebo. Testosterone was not lowered.

Key findings

  • Berberine lowered total cholesterol in this trial of men, while triglycerides, blood pressure and body-size measures did not differ from placebo. Testosterone was not lowered.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Small sample and surrogate outcomes; avoid assuming that findings in women and men are identical.

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology