Tier 2 — strong

Sex-Specific Lipid, Apolipoprotein B, and Lipoprotein(a) Responses to Berberine Based on 2 Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials

Zhao JV, Chen B, Chan YH, Zhang J, Xia Y, Blais JE, Chen H, Tomlinson B, Ip DKM
JACC. Asia 2026 6(10 Pt 1):2204-2216

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 42470424
PubMed Central
PMC13654383
DOI
10.1016/j.jacasi.2026.06.011
Funding
Supported by the Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Fund, projects 15162621 and 21222191.
Competing interests
The authors reported no relationships relevant to the paper to disclose.

Study snapshot

DesignNew randomized women’s trial with companion analysis of an earlier men’s trial
ModelHuman participants; see population
Sample100 women newly randomized; stored samples from 84 men in an earlier trial
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

This new women’s trial and comparison with an earlier men’s trial found lipid and apoB reductions, with larger estimated responses in women. Testosterone responses differed by sex.

Key findings

  • This new women’s trial and comparison with an earlier men’s trial found lipid and apoB reductions, with larger estimated responses in women. Testosterone responses differed by sex.

What this study can and cannot tell us

The male cohort is shared with PMID 34444711. Biomarker effects and cross-trial sex comparisons do not establish fewer cardiovascular events.

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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