Berberine Vs. Semaglutide: Is It As Effective For Weight Loss?

With so many gimmicks and false guarantees in ads, discovering an efficient weight reduction remedy or fats loss complement might be tough. One of the common and efficient weight reduction medicines is semaglutide, generally identified for its common model title, Ozempic. Whereas semaglutide medicines like Ozempic have been confirmed efficient for weight reduction and reducing blood sugar, consideration on-line has just lately shifted to berberine, a compound that customers name “nature’s Ozempic.” On this article, we’ll dive into the analysis to interrupt down and examine berberine vs. semaglutide to find out which compound is greatest on your objectives. 

Desk of Contents

• What Is Berberine?
• How Does Berberine Work?
• What Is Semaglutide?
• How Does Semaglutide Work?
• Is Berberine “Nature’s Ozempic”?
• What Is The Greatest Weight Loss Complement?
• FAQs
• Which Is Higher: Berberine Or Semaglutide?

What Is Berberine?

Berberine is a pure compound present in crops that has been used for hundreds of years in Chinese language and Ayurvedic drugs for numerous well being advantages. Berberine is present in crops similar to European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree turmeric. Not like semaglutide, berberine doesn’t belong to a category of remedy however is named an alkaloid. Alkaloids are naturally occurring compounds that include nitrogen, similar to caffeine and nicotine. 

Individuals use berberine to advertise weight reduction, enhance glycemic management, enhance ldl cholesterol administration, enhance digestive well being, and for antimicrobial properties, amongst others. A number of prime complement producers produce berberine merchandise that may be bought over-the-counter and not using a prescription. A few of the prime manufacturers that produce high quality berberine merchandise embrace Thorne Analysis, Life Extension, and Nature’s Method.

How Does Berberine Work?

The first approach berberine promotes weight reduction is thru bettering insulin resistance, which ends up in better glycemic management and, not directly, weight reduction. Berberine has been proven to enhance insulin sensitivity as a result of it could enhance glucose uptake by cells, decreasing blood glucose ranges. 

Barberine additionally prompts the enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is useful for weight reduction. This helps promote weight reduction as a result of a rise in AMPK causes a rise in vitality expenditure, which means you burn extra energy and enhance fats burning. Extra quantities of insulin can result in fats storage, so bettering insulin sensitivity prevents this. Wholesome blood sugar ranges can cut back cravings and cut back urge for food, which is useful when making an attempt to drop extra pounds. Berberine additionally helps gradual gastric emptying and the speed at which carbohydrates break down in our intestine. 

A current research additionally discovered that berberine will increase brown adipose tissue (BAT), which helps enhance fats loss by burning energy at a quicker price. (1) That is also referred to as thermogenesis, the method by which our physique burns energy to provide warmth to raise our physique temperature. This additionally improves your base metabolic price (BMR), so that you burn extra energy at relaxation. 

Maybe essentially the most engaging characteristic of berberine is that it has been proven to stop the storage of fats. Research present that berberine could cause a course of generally known as adipogenesis that may inhibit the differentiation of preadipocytes (immature fats cells) into mature fats cells. In different phrases, berberine can stop the creation of latest fats cells, reducing the physique’s means to retailer fats. (2)

Lastly, berberine has additionally been proven to positively have an effect on intestine well being by altering bacterial physiology and rising the expansion of defending micro organism. Enhancing intestine microbiota performs an necessary consider regulating blood sugar ranges and selling fats loss. The antimicrobial motion additionally helps enhance total intestine and digestion well being. 

What Is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a compound known as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which helps enhance blood sugar ranges by reducing blood glucose. Semaglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone in response to consuming, which triggers insulin manufacturing to decrease blood sugar ranges. In larger doses, semaglutide can trick the mind to cut back urge for food and enhance satiety, serving to you are feeling full longer. Semaglutide is used to assist management glucose ranges in sufferers with sort 2 diabetes and to assist drop extra pounds. 

Three semaglutide remedy manufacturers are FDA-approved: Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy. All three prescribed drugs are produced by Novo Nordisk, a Danish-based pharmaceutical firm that focuses on diabetes medicines. Ozempic and Wegovy are related in dosage and administration as a result of they’re each once-weekly subcutaneous injections. Rybelsus, nonetheless, is exclusive in that it’s the solely oral GLP-1 receptor agonist out there. Though Rybelsus and Ozempic are solely authorized for sort 2 diabetes therapy, they’re generally prescribed off-label for weight reduction.

How Does Semaglutide Work?

Semaglutide mimics the actions of GLP-1 glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), the hormone launched in response to consuming. First, the pancreas releases insulin, which helps to control blood sugar ranges and break down fats for vitality. A rise in insulin causes a lower in blood sugar ranges, which helps stabilize blood sugar ranges in sufferers with diabetes. It additionally helps promote weight reduction as a result of it helps glucose enter cells for use for vitality.

Semaglutide additionally causes a discount in glucagon, a hormone that helps stop glucose from coming into the bloodstream. Glucagon causes blood sugar ranges to rise, so reducing it additional helps to stabilize blood sugar ranges. 

Semaglutide additionally helps gradual gastric emptying, or the speed at which meals leaves the abdomen. This causes vitamins to be absorbed slower, additional serving to to manage blood sugar ranges and enhance satiety. In larger doses, semaglutide triggers the mind to suppress urge for food and enhance satiety. (3) Semaglutide will increase insulin ranges, decreases glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and reduces urge for food to stabilize blood sugar ranges and induce weight reduction. 

Is Berberine “Natures Ozempic”?

There was tons of misinformation spreading on social media, notably Tik-Tok, the place folks generally confer with berberine as “nature’s Ozempic.” Berberine lowers blood sugar and will exhibit weight reduction properties, however it’s NOT nature’s Ozempic. On this part, we’ll break down the variations in semaglutide vs. berberine. 

Distinction Between Berberine and Ozempic

Whereas berberine reveals a number of properties much like semaglutide, there are key variations. On this part, we’ll examine the variations between berberine and Ozempic. The primary main distinction is that berberine is a naturally occurring alkaloid, whereas Ozempic is an artificial model of semaglutide created in a lab. Due to this fact, berberine is taken into account a pure complement, whereas Ozempic is assessed as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Ozempic and semaglutide are used solely for bettering glycemic management in sufferers with sort 2 diabetes mellitus and continual weight administration in obese or overweight sufferers.

However, Berberine has a variety of makes use of courting again to the traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese language individuals who used it for numerous illnesses and circumstances. Immediately, berberine is usually used to enhance blood sugar ranges, drop extra pounds and ldl cholesterol administration, and enhance the digestive system. Ozempic and different semaglutide medicines require a prescription, whereas berberine is on the market over-the-counter. The precise mechanism of motion in berberine is unclear, however it seems to have an effect on metabolic pathways, whereas Ozempic mimics the actions of the GLP-1 hormone. So, whereas there are some similarities in the way in which they assault weight reduction, there are a number of vital variations in berberine vs. Ozempic.

Advantages of Berberine

Berberine has a number of well being advantages, many much like that of Ozempic and semaglutide. Beneath are the primary well being advantages of berberine:

• Enhance blood sugar management: As we talked about, one of many main actions of berberine is bettering insulin resistance, which helps stabilize blood sugar ranges. Glucose is ready to enter the cells extra effectively and, subsequently, cut back blood glucose ranges.
• Ldl cholesterol administration: One of many prime advantages of berberine is its means to assist decrease LDL (unhealthy) ldl cholesterol and enhance our total lipid profile. A assessment of research on berberine confirmed that it led to will increase in HDL (good) ldl cholesterol and led to decreases in whole ldl cholesterol, LDL (unhealthy) ldl cholesterol, and blood triglycerides (fat). (3)
• Scale back physique weight: We’ll dive into this deeper, however the main motive persons are turning to berberine is for weight reduction. In a single 12-week research, overweight individuals got 500 mg of berberine orally 3 times a day. After the twelve weeks, there was a median weight lack of 5 lbs and a big discount in blood lipid ranges, which measures the quantity of fat and ldl cholesterol within the blood. (4) 
• Enhance digestive well being: Research present that berberine has a optimistic impact on the immune cells of the digestive system and impacts the expression of a number of intestinal immune components. In different phrases, it promotes wholesome intestine micro organism that enhance digestion and might help defend the intestine lining. (5)
• Antimicrobial: An extension of bettering digestive well being, berberine has antimicrobial properties that may assist struggle numerous micro organism, fungi, and parasites. 
• Anti-Inflammatory: Research present that berberine has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. It might assist struggle oxidative stress, which is essential to assist struggle continual illnesses and extreme well being circumstances. (6) 

Dangers Of Berberine

Total, berberine supplementation is comparatively secure and has a small threat of adverse negative effects. The principle dangers of berberine are related to gastrointestinal points. Since berberine impacts the intestine, it could trigger numerous abdomen points, together with constipation, cramping, diarrhea, and fuel. Since berberine lowers blood glucose ranges, there’s additionally a threat for hypoglycemia. There are additionally potential dangers to the liver and kidney, together with uncommon instances of liver toxicity. Most individuals will expertise minor negative effects that solely final just a few days. Contact your healthcare supplier instantly if you happen to discover extreme negative effects or well being points. 

Berberine vs. Semaglutide for weight reduction

Whereas there have not been research that examine the 2 compounds face to face, primarily based on particular person research, it’s clear that semaglutide is way more practical for weight reduction. Referring to the research from above, customers solely misplaced a median of 5 lbs over 12 weeks on 1,500 mg of berberine day by day. (4) Comparatively, a separate research confirmed a median weight lack of 14.7 lbs after 12 weeks of semaglutide injections. (7) Evaluating these research, semaglutide customers misplaced practically 10 lbs extra on common in solely 12 weeks. This exhibits that whereas berberine could also be efficient for minor weight reduction, it’s no comparability to semaglutide. 

Berberine vs Semaglutide: Dosage And Administration

Most consultants suggest a dosage between 500-1,500 mg of berberine orally day by day. The most typical dosing protocol is 1,500 mg day by day, divided into three 500 mg doses. Berberine needs to be taken roughly half-hour previous to consuming. Specialists suggest taking berberine for not than six months in a row. Ideally, it needs to be cycled for eight weeks, adopted by two to 4 weeks off. The overwhelming majority of berberine dietary supplements are available in oral capsules, though it’s also out there as a powder. 

Semaglutide is on the market as a once-weekly injection (Ozempic and Wegovy) or a day by day pill (Rybelsus). Injectable variations might be taken with or with out meals at any time, so long as it’s the similar day of the week. Ozemic and Wegovy customers begin with 0.25 mg for the primary 4 weeks, adopted by 0.5 mg for not less than 4 weeks, earlier than rising to 1 mg. Customers can enhance the dose as wanted, and if the negative effects are manageable, as much as a most dose of two mg on Ozempic or 2.4 mg on Wegovy. 

Semaglutide tablets have a a lot stricter dosing protocol, requiring customers to take a day by day pill instantly upon waking, 30-60 minutes earlier than consuming. Rybelsus is available in 3 mg for the primary 4 weeks earlier than rising to 7 mg. The utmost dosage for Rybelsus is 14 mg. Semaglutide medicines have been confirmed secure for long-term use, with research displaying success after two years. 

Semaglutide vs Berberine Negative effects

Semaglutide widespread negative effects:

• Injection website reactions
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Belly ache
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

Semaglutide uncommon negative effects:

• Bleeding
• Burning feeling within the chest
• Pancreatitis
• Hypoglycemia
• Loss/change of style

Some individuals who ought to keep away from taking semaglutide embrace these with the next:

• Thyroid points or thyroid most cancers
• Gastrointestinal issues
• A historical past of pancreatitis
• Kidney or liver points
• Heart problems or points
• Ladies who’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning on turning into pregnant

Berberine widespread negative effects:

• Gastrointestinal discomfort
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Bloating 

Berberine uncommon negative effects:

• Allergic reactions
• Liver toxicity
• Hypoglycemia
• Kidney points
• Cardiac arrhythmias

Individuals that ought to keep away from berberine embrace:

• If you happen to take cyclosporine
• Ldl cholesterol remedy
• Coronary heart remedy
• Diabetes remedy
• Kids
• Ladies who’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning on turning into pregnant

Berberine vs Semaglutide Price

Berberine is over-the-counter, so it may be bought and not using a prescription. A few of the hottest berberine dietary supplements embrace Thorne Berberine (1,000 mg) for $38 for a one-month provide and Nootropics Depot Berberine Phytosome (550 mg) for $34. 

Based mostly on costs from 2023, the typical price of Ozempic is roughly $916 or larger for a month-to-month provide with out insurance coverage. With insurance coverage and financial savings playing cards, you could find Ozempic for round $25 a month in the US.

What’s the greatest weight reduction complement?

If semaglutide and berberine do not appear best for you, loads of dietary dietary supplements assist with weight reduction. Other than berberine, a number of pure weight reduction merchandise have been confirmed secure and efficient. A few of the greatest pure weight reduction dietary supplements embrace B nutritional vitamins, vitamin D, chromium picolinate, inexperienced tea extract, and pink pepper extract. Whereas you should buy all of those pure merchandise on their very own, in addition they make fats burner dietary supplements that include a mix of components. One pure different is PhenQ, a product that comprises high-quality, all-natural, fat-burning components. For a complete listing and breakdown of different prime selections, take a look at our article 8 Best Supplements For Fat Loss. 

FAQs

On this part, we’ll reply a few of the commonest questions associated to berberine vs. semaglutide. 

Can you’re taking Ozempic and Berberine collectively?

Taking Ozempic and berberine collectively will not be advisable as a result of it could enhance the chance of negative effects, particularly abdomen discomfort. 

Who shouldn’t take berberine?

Ladies who’re pregnant, planning on turning into pregnant, or breastfeeding, kids, and individuals who use sure medicines, together with these with diabetes, coronary heart illness, ldl cholesterol, or blood stress remedy. 

What time of day ought to I take berberine?

Berberine is supposed to be taken 3 times a day, thirty minutes earlier than meals. 

How lengthy does Berberine take to work?

There’s restricted analysis, however most customers expertise weight reduction after just a few weeks to a couple months. 

How lengthy can you’re taking Berberine?

It isn’t meant to be taken long-term. It needs to be used for a most of six months. Ideally, it is best to cycle it with eight weeks on, adopted by two to 4 weeks off. 

Which is healthier: Berberine Or Semaglutide?

In relation to bettering insulin resistance and shedding physique weight, there isn’t any doubt that semaglutide is more practical. Nevertheless, it is necessary to contemplate that semaglutide is a strong artificial remedy that requires a prescription, whereas berberine is a naturally occurring compound that may be bought over-the-counter. Each compounds enhance urge for food management and insulin sensitivity, which helps enhance blood sugar management and not directly contribute to weight reduction. Additionally they each gradual gastric emptying, though semaglutide does it rather more effectively. Semaglutide leads to extra vital weight reduction and higher glycemic management than berberine. If you’re in search of a pure different to semaglutide, berberine might not produce the identical outcomes, however it may be efficient on a smaller scale. Finally, you could decide how a lot weight you are attempting to lose and whether or not you wish to use a pure compound or a prescription drug. 

To check semaglutide to different common weight-loss medicines, take a look at our articles Liraglutide vs. Semaglutide: Uses, Differences, And Results and Semaglutide vs. Phentermine: Which Is The Better Weight Drug? 

References

1. Ilyas, Zahra, et al. “The Impact of Berberine on Weight Loss in Order to Stop Weight problems: A Systematic Assessment.” Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, vol. 127, July 2020, p. 110137, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110137. Accessed 24 Mar. 2021.
2. Wang, Can, et al. “Berberine Inhibits Adipocyte Differentiation, Proliferation and Adiposity via Down-Regulating Galectin-3.” Scientific Reviews, vol. 9, no. 1, 16 Sept. 2019, p. 13415, www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-50103-5#:~:text=The%20excessive%20differentiation%20or%20proliferation, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50103-5. 
3. Ju, Jianqing, et al. “Efficacy and Security of Berberine for Dyslipidaemias: A Systematic Assessment and Meta-Evaluation of Randomized Scientific Trials.” Phytomedicine, vol. 50, Nov. 2018, pp. 25–34, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.212.
4. Hu, Yueshan, et al. “Lipid-Reducing Impact of Berberine in Human Topics and Rats.” Phytomedicine, vol. 19, no. 10, July 2012, pp. 861–867, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2012.05.009. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.
5. Zhang, Lichao, et al. “Results of Berberine on the Gastrointestinal Microbiota.” Frontiers in Mobile and An infection Microbiology, vol. 10, 19 Feb. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7933196/, https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2020.588517.
6. Li, Zheng, et al. “Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Actions of Berberine within the Therapy of Diabetes Mellitus.” Proof-Based mostly Complementary and Various Drugs, vol. 2014, 2014, pp. 1–12, https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/289264. 
7. Ghusn, Wissam, et al. “Weight Loss Outcomes Related to Semaglutide Therapy for Sufferers with Obese or Weight problems.” JAMA Community Open, vol. 5, no. 9, 19 Sept. 2022, p. e2231982, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2796491?resultClick=1, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.31982.