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5 Surprising Benefits Of Berberine HCL

Berberine HCL is a supplement on the rise, with numerous scientific studies showing it can benefit the body in an impressive range of ways. However, as it has not quite broken into the mainstream yet, many people don’t know what it is, so they are missing out on enjoying these benefits themselves.

That is why we have produced the following article on 5 surprising benefits of berberine HCL. We will cover what it is, how it works, and what benefits it offers in great detail, to ensure that you have all the information you could possibly need to make an informed decision on whether or not you want to include berberine in your supplement regimen.

Table of Contents

What Is Berberine HCL & How Does It Work?

Berberine is an alkaloid found in many plants, especially those native to Asia. It has long been used in a huge range of traditional medicines, both in the region and, more recently, worldwide, due to the incredible variety of health benefits linked to it.

In recent years, its use has started becoming more popular in supplements too, as more and more clinical trials have proven its purported benefits to be true. However, when used in supplement form, berberine is generally included as berberine HCL (hydrochloride), which is a salt form of berberine created by combining it with hydrochloric acid.

Among the health benefits linked to berberine HCL supplementation are the ability to regulate blood sugar levels, prevent or treat diabetes, lower high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, enhance your heart health and functions, and even combat depression, mood swings, and certain menopause symptoms.

Most studies suggest that berberine HCL is both safe and useful when consumed in daily dosages up to 2,000 mg per day, with the optimal dose to consume in a single serving agreed to be around 500 mg.

5 Surprising Benefits Of Berberine HCL

Produces Antioxidant & Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Berberine HCL possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This results in berberine supplementation suppressing NF-κB, which controls the production of various pro-inflammatory molecules. By calming NF-κB, berberine prevents inflammation at the source and even reduces chronic inflammation that has already taken hold.

It then also activates AMPK, which is often referred to as a metabolic master switch. This AMPK activation improves your cellular energy balance and reduces the stress, including oxidative stress, that triggers inflammation, protecting the body from damage. Some research even suggests that activating AMPK supports healthy aging and helps you look and feel younger for longer (1).

For more tips on healthy aging, check out the article we published here.

Improves Heart Health & Functions

The reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation that berberine provides also benefits the heart and blood vessels. This is because inflammation and oxidation lead to cardiovascular issues like atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries), damaged heart tissue and blood vessel walls, and accelerated arterial plaque buildup. This isn’t the only way in which berberine supplementation benefits the cardiovascular system, though.

Berberine lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels by increasing LDL receptor activity in the liver, which helps clear cholesterol from the blood, reduces triglycerides, which are linked to heart disease and fatty liver disease, and raises HDL (“good”) cholesterol. This creates a cholesterol and lipid balance that is beneficial for the heart.

It also enhances nitric oxide (NO) production, which keeps the blood vessels healthy and flexible. This promotes healthy circulation and improved endothelial function, and helps prevent the stiffening and narrowing of arteries. It even has mild anti-arrhythmic effects. This helps to regulate your heartbeat and rhythm, improving heart muscle contractions, mitochondrial energy efficiency, and overall heart health.

The final way in which berberine supplementation benefits the heart is by lowering blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, both of which damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease (2).

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Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

The AMPK activation we touched on earlier also raises the uptake of glucose into cells, particularly in the muscles, and enhances insulin sensitivity and insulin receptor expression and activity. This all makes the cells respond better to insulin and shifts your metabolism toward burning energy instead of storing it, all of which prevents blood sugar levels from rising and lowers insulin resistance, which is a core problem in type 2 diabetes.

Berberine also suppresses the liver’s production of new glucose (gluconeogenesis), which directly lowers fasting blood sugar levels. It then also alters the gut bacteria in ways that boost metabolism and reduce the endotoxins that drive insulin resistance, while inhibiting certain digestive enzymes and slowing carbohydrate breakdown and absorption, so glucose enters the bloodstream more gradually after meals, preventing blood sugar spikes (3).

Promotes Gut Health

As we saw in the last section, berberine balances the gut microbiome and bacteria levels. It does this by reducing harmful bacteria and aiding growth of beneficial species, leading to a healthier microbial balance that boosts digestion and metabolism and reduces gut-driven inflammation. This also produces antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiparasitic effects that combat issues like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and gut infections.

The anti-inflammatory benefits of berberine supplementation we’ve repeatedly seen also benefit the gut by protecting the gut lining from damage and improving symptoms in inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

It then also strengthens tight junction proteins in the gut lining, improving intestinal barrier integrity, reducing endotoxin leakage (LPS), and combating or preventing leaky gut syndrome, which can otherwise trigger systemic inflammation and insulin resistance. It even stimulates bile secretion and metabolism, which improves fat and sugar digestion and supports the liver–gut axis (4).

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Enhances Weight Management & Metabolism

We have seen throughout this article that berberine supplementation activates AMPK, regulates blood sugar levels, optimises lipid metabolism, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and supports the gut. All of these benefits have one thing in common: they boost your metabolism. This means your body will begin utilising the food you consume much more effectively, while also improving your ability to manage your weight (5).