Which Form?
Berberine
Moderate
consensus
Available Forms
- Berberine HCl is the most common form
- Attia recommends Thorne brand specifically for pharmaceutical-grade quality
- Berberine is also found in goldenseal, Oregon grape, and barberry root extracts
Dosage & Timing
Dosage
- 500-1500mg per day, typically divided into 2-3 doses (commonly 500mg per dose)
- No specific dosage consensus among the 5 experts — Attia uses it empirically and adjusts based on patient response
Timing
- Take with meals to reduce GI side effects and align with its glucose-lowering mechanism
- When used as a glucose disposal agent, take shortly before or with a carbohydrate-containing meal (Huberman context)
Expert Positions
What Each Expert Says
Huberman discusses berberine across 4 videos, primarily in the context of blood glucose management and fasting. In his hunger and satiety episode, he notes that berberine and metformin can potently lower blood glucose but warns about hypoglycemia risks. In his fasting episodes, he describes berberine as a glucose disposal agent that can accelerate the transition to a fasted state and mimic fasting effects, though he advises caution. However, in his dedicated longevity supplements AMA, he explicitly states he avoids metformin, berberine, and rapamycin, citing lack of sufficient human data for longevity and the presence of significant side effects.
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