Free Republic

Berberine has been associated with a variety of health benefits, including modest weight loss, lower cholesterol and improved blood sugar levels, along with drawbacks including potentially dangerous interactions if used with some other medications. Photo by M W/Pixabay Berberine has been associated with a variety of health benefits, including modest weight loss, lower cholesterol and improved blood sugar levels, along with drawbacks including potentially dangerous interactions if used with some other medications. Photo by M W/Pixabay The herbal supplement berberine has become the latest social-media obsession for weight-loss, with some on TikTok calling it "nature's Ozempic." Experts don't agree. "I...

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a multifaceted complication of diabetes that lacks effective treatments. Berberine (BBR), a bioactive compound from Rhizoma coptidis, has potential therapeutic implications, but its precise role in diabetic cardiomyopathy has yet to be defined. In a new study, a diabetic cardiomyopathy model was established by administration of a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection to C57BL/6J mice. Concurrently, the mice received BBR treatment daily for a duration of eight weeks. After the treatment period, myocardial injury, cardiac function, and the levels of oxidative stress and apoptosis were assessed. BBR significantly ameliorated cardiac dysfunction and histopathological damage caused by diabetic...

— An obesity medicine specialist shares his insights on the new social media crazeWelcome to Culture Clinic, MedPage Today's collaboration with Northwell Health to offer a healthcare professional's take on the latest viral medical topics. Social media is chock full of posts promising the next best weight-loss method. One of the latest trends is berberine, a bitter-tasting quaternary ammonia compoundopens in a new tab or window found in many botanical products, including goldenseal, barberry, and Oregon grape. Indeed, many on social media are calling berberine supplements "nature's Ozempic," in a comparison to the highly popular prescription drug semaglutide (also known...

Most medical textbooks claim that atherosclerosis — the process by which plaque accumulates inside blood vessels and slowly chokes off blood flow, eventually leading to heart attack or stroke — is irreversible. This claim may not be accurate. In a landmark study, research has established a therapeutic role for an obscure herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, berberine, for the treatment and even possible reversal of arterial plaque, one of the main drivers of heart disease. The presumed mechanism by which berberine may reduce atherosclerosis is by tamping down production of a compound called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) that has been...

A new study confirms the health benefits of moderate calorie restrictions in humans—and identifies a key protein that could be harnessed to extend health in humans. Dixit started by analyzing the thymus, a gland that sits above the heart and produces T cells, a type of white blood cell and an essential part of the immune system. The thymus ages at a faster rate than other organs. By the time healthy adults reach the age of 40, said Dixit, 70% of the thymus is already fatty and nonfunctional. And as it ages, the thymus produces fewer T cells. They found...