Berberine is chemical found naturally in plants such as Berberis (a shrub) and Goldenseal (a member of the buttercup family). It has been used in traditional herbal medicine to treat bacterial and fungal infections. Research into the potential health benefits of berberine suggests that it might have heart health and other benefits.
A
new obesity study was conducted in mice to determine if the potential anti-obesity benefits of berberine seen in cell culture studies might also be evident in an animal model of obesity. For this study, obesity researchers treated mice being fed either a normal diet or a high-fat diet to induce obesity with berberine. The results of this study showed that:
- Berberine reduced weight gain in obese mice fed a high fat diet.
- Food intake by obese mice was reduced by treatment with berberine.
- Berberine had beneficial effects on markers of cholesterol health and blood sugar health.
- Treatment with berberine did not have any negative effects on mice fed a normal diet.
These are interesting results suggesting that this naturally occuring plant chemical might have potential weight management benefits. Previous research indicates that berberine's possible benefits are likely due to its anti-inflammatory activities and its ability to reduce production of fat by fat cells. Additional research will be needed to test the potential anti-obesity benefits of berberine in human clinical trials. While appropriate levels of exercise and food consumption remain the cornerstone of maintaining a healthy body weight, new discoveries that can help fight the current obesity epidemic are always welcome!
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