Berberine and Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level

Research synthesisHigh evidenceModerate effect8 studies · 7 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 8 studies, 7 reported beneficial effects of berberine on reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. The most commonly tested dose was 500–1200 mg/day, and effects were typically observed in clinical populations with metabolic conditions (e.g., MASLD, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia) over a median study duration of 84 days (12 weeks).

Effective dose range: 500–1200 mg/day
Studied populations: Adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, or obesity

Caveats: Available evidence is overwhelmingly positive — clinical literature in this area is subject to publication bias (null-result studies are less likely to be published or indexed). The only study reporting a neutral finding (2021 RCT) had a small sample size (n=84), and effect sizes varied across studies (small to moderate). Most trials lasted 12 weeks or longer, so shorter use may not produce the same effect.

Generated Jun 15, 2026

Doses used in studies

mg/day: 1,000–1,200 (median 1,100, IQR 1,050–1,150) — 2 studies
g/day: 1 (median 1, IQR 1–1) — 1 study

Time to effect

Median: 2.8 months · IQR 2.8 months–4.4 months · Range 2.8 months–6 months — Reported in 3 of 8 studies

Safety in these studies

Overall tolerabilityNo significant difference
Regarding safety, no significant difference was observed between berberine and placebo.
from: Efficacy and safety of berberine on the components of metabolic syndrome: a systematic rev
Overall tolerabilityReported
The incidence of adverse events was similar between study arms.
from: Berberine and Adiposity in Diabetes-Free Individuals With Obesity and MASLD: A Randomized
Overall tolerabilityReported
No serious adverse event was reported.
from: Effect of Berberine on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Mechanistic Randomized Contr
Overall tolerabilityReported
The included studies showed substantial heterogeneity in reported outcomes, which primarily focused on hepatic health, body weight, adverse events, glycemic control, blood lipids, and body composition.
from: Evaluating Bioactive-Substance-Based Interventions for Adults with MASLD: Results from a S

8 of 8 papersPopulation:

Evaluating Bioactive-Substance-Based Interventions for Adults with MASLD: Results from a Systematic Scoping Review.
- 2025-01-26
- Systematic Review · n = 4,572
- Nutrients 17(3)
- - Deepa Handu
  - Kim Stote
  - Tami Piemonte
- PubMed: 39940310
- DOI: 10.3390/nu17030453
6 Insights on
- Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
The included studies showed substantial heterogeneity in reported outcomes, which primarily focused on hepatic health, body weight, adverse events, glycemic control, blood lipids, and body composition.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Effect of Berberine on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Mechanistic Randomized Controlled Trial.
- 2021-07-26
- RCT · n = 84
- Nutrients 13(8)
- - Jie V Zhao
  - Wai-Fung Yeung
  - Yap-Hang Chan
  - Dana Vackova
  - June Y Y Leung
  - Dennis K M Ip
  - Jiaxi Zhao
  - Wai-Kwan Ho
  - Hung-Fat Tse
  - Catherine Mary Schooling
- PubMed: 34444711
- DOI: 10.3390/nu13082550
9 Insights on
- Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
berberine lowered total cholesterol and possibly low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c)
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
500 mg orally, twice a day
Berberine and Adiposity in Diabetes-Free Individuals With Obesity and MASLD: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
- 2026-01-02
- RCT
- JAMA network open 9(1)
- - Lubi Lei
  - Bin Wang
  - Lingshan Zhao
  - Jingkuo Li
  - Xiaofang Yan
  - Jiandong Jiang
  - Lulu Wang
  - Gang Ren
  - Yinchu Li
  - Xiaoguang Cheng
  - Xiaoyan Yan
  - Yidan Zhu
  - Yuanlin Guo
  - Hui Zhong
  - Haibo Zhang
  - Jing Li
- PubMed: 41543854
- DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.54152
5 Insights on
- Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
Berberine was associated with larger reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-7.72 [95% CI, -13.13 to -1.93] mg/dL)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
1 g/d
The efficacy and safety of berberine in combination with cinnamon supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial.
- 2025-02-25
- RCT
- European journal of nutrition 64(2)
- - Asieh Mansour
  - Sayed Mahmoud Sajjadi-Jazi
  - Hadis Gerami
  - Atie Sadat Khorasanian
  - Behnam Moalemzadeh
  - Sara Karimi
  - Nima Mohamadi Afrakoti
  - Vahid Mofid
  - Mohammad Reza Mohajeri-Tehrani
  - Azita Hekmatdoost
- PubMed: 39998703
- DOI: 10.1007/s00394-025-03618-9
10 Insights on
- Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
- High evidence
- Rigorous Journal
- Clinical
The results of the serum lipid profile also indicated a significant difference in the level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.039)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Dose
600 mg/day
Efficacy and safety of berberine on the components of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.
- 2025-07-16
- Systematic Review
- Frontiers in pharmacology 16
- - Dangzhen Liu
  - Haiyan Zhao
  - Yiwen Zhang
  - Jingqing Hu
  - Hong Xu
- PubMed: 40740996
- DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1572197
10 Insights on
- Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
- High evidence
berberine also improves the secondary indicators of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD: -0.495 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.714 to -0.276; p < 0.001)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Dose
not stated in the abstract
The effects of Gegen Qinlian decoction and its main constituents on glucolipid metabolic disorders in diabetes: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.
- 2025-07-30
- Meta-Analysis
- Systematic reviews 14(1)
- - Chongxiang Xue
  - Ying Chen
  - Cheng Tang
  - Linhua Zhao
  - Xiaolin Tong
  - Han Wang
- PubMed: 40739586
- DOI: 10.1186/s13643-025-02914-z
4 Insights on
- Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
- High evidence
GQD and berberine intervention could effectively reduce total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c).
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Berberine and Its Role in Chronic Disease.
- 2016-01-01
- Review
- Advances in experimental medicine and biology 928
- - Arrigo F G Cicero
  - Alessandra Baggioni
- PubMed: 27671811
- DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-41334-1_2
3 Insights on
- Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
- Moderate evidence
- Highly Cited
In humans, its lipid-lowering and insulin-resistance improving actions have clearly been demonstrated in numerous randomized clinical trials.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes
Nutraceuticals in the Management of Dyslipidemia: Which, When, and for Whom? Could Nutraceuticals Help Low-Risk Individuals with Non-optimal Lipid Levels?
- 2021-08-04
- Review
- Current atherosclerosis reports 23(10)
- - Arrigo F G Cicero
  - Federica Fogacci
  - Anca Pantea Stoian
  - Michal Vrablik
  - Khalid Al Rasadi
  - Maciej Banach
  - Peter P Toth
  - Manfredi Rizzo
- PubMed: 34345932
- DOI: 10.1007/s11883-021-00955-y
1 Insight on
- Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Level
- Low evidence
- Clinical
A growing number of meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials supports the effectiveness and tolerability of some lipid-lowering nutraceuticals such as ... green tea
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Significant
Yes