Tier 2 — strong

Dietary berberine supplementation improves select physiological and psychological responses during exertional heat stress: A pilot study in young adults

Van Arman DA, Saunders JC, Korankyi YO, Heckler EP, Lee BJ, Gillum TL, Kuennen MR
Physiological reports 2026 14(10):e70937

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 42204774
PubMed Central
PMC13240323
DOI
10.14814/phy2.70937
Funding
Reported funding sources: High Point University, Congdon School of Health Sciences.10.13039/100012806. Grant and funder-role details are in the publication.
Competing interests
The publication contains author disclosures. Commercial relationships, employment, funding or other interests should be interpreted from the complete declaration; it is not classified here as conflict-free.

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized placebo-controlled crossover pilot
ModelHuman participants; see population
Sample8 young adults
InterventionBerberine 1.5 g/day or placebo before exercise in heat
Duration7 days per supplementation condition; 1-hour exercise test
EndpointsBody temperature and heart rate; Respiration and calorimetry; Thermal sensation, discomfort and exertion

What the study showed, in plain terms

Berberine produced small differences in body temperature, heart rate and perceived effort during exercise in heat. The authors questioned the practical size of these changes.

Key findings

  • Berberine produced small differences in body temperature, heart rate and perceived effort during exercise in heat. The authors questioned the practical size of these changes.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Eight participants and short exposure; not evidence for preventing heat illness. Read with the published figure-panel correction.

Related papers in the corpus

Tier 4
Correction to "Dietary berberine supplementation improves select physiological and psychological responses during exertional heat stress: A pilot study in young adults"
et al. · Physiological reports · 2026
Tier 4
Berberine signature and cardiometabolic diseases using randomized controlled trial, cohort study and Mendelian randomization
Zhao JV et al. · NPJ cardiovascular health · 2026
Tier 4
The Influence of Berberine on Vascular Function Parameters, Among Them VEGF, in Individuals with MAFLD: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Koperska A et al. · Nutrients · 2025
Tier 2
Preventive Effect of Berberine on Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation
Zhang J et al. · Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology · 2022
Tier 4
Effect of berberine on global modulation of lncRNAs and mRNAs expression profiles in patients with stable coronary heart disease
Han YC et al. · BMC genomics · 2022

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

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