The body of research on PCOS, and really women's health in general, has been spotty until the last few decades. Recently, there has been a lot more attention being turned toward polycystic ovary syndrome in the research community, although the practicing medical community still has some catching up to do. The amount of women affected by PCOS worldwide is growing, now estimated to affect up to 20% of women worldwide. As you may well know, there are a lot of issues that come along with PCOS, such as metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance ), hormonal imbalances, chronic inflammation, irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure. There can even be long-term issues that stem from these symptoms like osteoarthritis and heart disease.
Currently, due to the difficulty getting diagnosed with PCOS and the spotty treatment and information available once we do get diagnosed, the solutions are often patches for a larger issue and patients are not properly educated on lifestyle and dietary changes to support the long-term positive outcomes of any medications they are prescribed. While prescribed medications work very well for some, others experience too many side effects and are unable to continue. While prescribed medicines are always worth a try, and it's important to follow your doctor's advice, many women are turning to alternative approaches, including the use of herbs like berberine, a natural compound found in various plants, to manage their PCOS symptoms.
Let's explore the potential benefits of berberine supplements for PCOS, putting scientific evidence from clinical trials and traditional medicine practices into simple words.
JUMP to the bottom for the top recommended berberine supplement from Made Simple Labs.
The Link between PCOS and Insulin Resistance
Insulin resistance is one of the most common features of PCOS, estimated to affect up to 80% of us. Insulin resistance basically means that your body's cells are unable to absorb sugars from your bloodstream as well as somebody with a healthy sugar metabolism. This causes the majority of the sugars you consume to stay in your blood, instead of being converted to energy for your cells - which then causes your body to react by producing even more insulin to try to eliminate the sugar. The insulin receptors are damaged & weak, and so no matter how much insulin your body puts into your bloodstream, your body won't be able to use the sugar you consume. Your body then takes this excess sugar and stores it as fat for later energy use.
Anything that disrupts your metabolism can have a significant effect on different systems in your body. For example, high insulin levels in your blood not only cause your pancreas to over-produce insulin, but it also causes our ovaries to produce too much testosterone. If you have PCOS, you may already know that many of us have elevated testosterone levels causing symptoms like an irregular or non-existent menstrual cycle, hirsutism or male-patter baldness, depression & anxiety, cystic acne, and so many other unpleasant issues. This can also increase weight gain and cause high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease.
Insulin sensitivity, or the cell's ability to receive insulin efficiently, plays a crucial role in maintaining metabolic health. That is why improving insulin sensitivity is considered an essential strategy for managing PCOS and its associated symptoms.
This is where Berberine comes into the picture.
Benefits of Berberine for PCOS
Berberine is a compound that is naturally found in various plants, including Oregon grape, tree turmeric, Goldenseal, and European barberry. It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for its potent medicinal properties, as well as a natural treatment for inflammation and diabetes. (source) PCOS has many metabolic similarities with type 2 diabetes mellitus, so it is often valuable to look to the recommendations made for people with diabetes as they may also benefit women with PCOS. (source)
In recent years, berberine has gained attention for its potential benefits in managing PCOS due to its positive impact on insulin sensitivity, lipid (fat) metabolism, and hormonal balance. (source)
Berberine and Insulin Sensitivity
One of the key benefits of berberine for PCOS is its ability to improve insulin sensitivity. Various clinical trials have shown that berberine acts as an "insulin sensitizer", which means it improves your body's response to insulin, allowing your cells to absorb sugars more efficiently. This can improve your body's blood sugar control and help prevent huge sugar spikes after meals.
So how does it do this? It activates a particular enzyme in your body at the molecular level, which plays a huge role in regulating your glucose metabolism. When this enzyme is activated, it leads to increased glucose absorption in your cells, improves the way the glucose is used, and helps lower blood sugar levels overall. (source)
In patients with PCOS, berberine has been shown to lower fasting blood glucose levels and hemoglobin A1c, which is a marker of long-term blood sugar control. It has also be used in combination with Metformin, a common prescription medication used for insulin resistance and pre-diabetes in PCOS in order to achieve even better therapeutic effects (source). If you are already taking Metformin, talk to your doctor to see if this is something that could benefit you and help you improve your insulin sensitivity overall to get your sugar metabolism back on track!
Berberine and Cholesterol
"Dyslipidemia", or high total cholesterol levels, is a common issue in women with PCOS, mainly due to weight gain from insulin resistance. High cholesterol levels are the number one cause of cardiovascular issues in women with PCOS. (source)
Berberine has been shown to have positive effects on lipid metabolism, which basically means it can help improve the way your body obtains energy from fat. High cholesterol is caused by having too much of the fatty substance "cholesterol" in your blood and it can build up in your arteries, causing significant issues.
Various clinical studies have shown that supplementation of berberine can significantly improve the lipid profile and reduce cholesterol levels in women with PCOS, while at the same time helping improve insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk of high cholesterol altogether. One such study claims "the data suggest that berberine may have a greater potential to reduce cardiovascular disease risk than metformin in patients with PCOS" for long-term use. (source). Furthermore, berberine has been shown to have potential benefits in improving other markers of cardiovascular health, such as reducing waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and blood pressure. (source) This means berberine could help get rid of "PCOS belly" in addition to improving cholesterol levels.
Improving cholesterol levels reduces the risk of cardiovascular issues like heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. If you have high cholesterol due to PCOS, talk to your doctor about possibly supplementing with berberine to help support your health journey.
Berberine and Testosterone Levels
Hormonal imbalances are another hallmark of PCOS, characterized by increased levels of male hormones like testosterone, and disrupted levels of other essential reproductive hormones like luteinizing hormone (LH). These hormonal imbalances can lead to symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, acne, and hirsutism (excessive hair growth). For many, this hormonal imbalance is driven by either chronic inflammation, insulin resistance or more often a combination of the two.
Studies have shown that berberine can effectively reduce androgen levels in women with PCOS. It has been found that berberine supplementation significantly decreased total testosterone and free testosterone levels in women with PCOS (source). In addition to improving insulin sensitivity and therefore reducing the amount of testosterone produced in response to high insulin levels, berberine may also directly influence the ovaries and their ability to produce testosterone.
A normal hormonal balance can lead to a variety of improved symptoms with PCOS including a normalized menstrual cycle, better mood, less anxiety, healthy body weight, clear skin, reduced hair growth, thicker head hair and so much more.
Berberine and Weight Management
Weight management is an important aspect of PCOS management, as many women with PCOS struggle with weight gain and obesity, which can further worsen insulin resistance and hormonal imbalances. Berberine has shown potential benefits in weight management, which further reinforces it as a promising therapeutic option for women with PCOS to help them get their life back.
Studies have shown that berberine can effectively reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference in women with PCOS. (source) This is mainly due to its ability to improve insulin resistance, which is the culprit behind PCOS weight gain and difficulty losing weight. As your body becomes more sensitive to insulin, it's able to use the sugar you consume as energy and stops converting the excess sugars in your blood to fat.
Have you gone out with a group of friends for pizza and for some reason, while everyone else seems fine, you feel exhausted and find that you've somehow gained 5 pounds overnight? That's due to insulin resistance. The carbs in the pizza get quickly converted to glucose in your body, but your insulin-resistant cells have no way of using all this glucose for energy, so you feel exhausted and your body sends that sugar to store as fat for another time. This can be a vicious cycle if you don't take control of the food you put in your body, but berberine can help support you on your journey to increase insulin sensitivity and start using that glucose properly.
As an added bonus, berberine has been shown to have fewer gastrointestinal side effects compared to other medications commonly used for weight management, making it a potentially safer alternative for women with PCOS who may already have gastrointestinal symptoms due to insulin resistance and other metabolic issues.
Safety of Berberine
Berberine is generally considered safe when used as a dietary supplement, but it is important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking any medications, as berberine may interact with certain medications, such as blood thinners and may have potential side effects in some individuals. It also has the effect of lowering blood pressure. It is always important to follow a healthcare provider's dosage advice to make sure you don't have any intolerances or allergies to any dietary supplement.
Furthermore, berberine-containing plants, such as Oregon grape and Berberis vulgaris, may have different concentrations of berberine and other bioactive compounds, which can affect their efficacy and safety. Therefore, it is important to choose a reputable brand of berberine supplement that has been tested for quality and purity. The best and most widely used form of berberine comes from barberry (berberis vulgaris), as it is also highly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. (source)
Always read the nutrition fact panel on your supplements to make sure you are getting quality ingredients!
Conclusion
In conclusion, berberine has emerged as a promising natural supplement for managing various metabolic and hormonal issues associated with PCOS, including insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, weight management, and menstrual irregularities. Clinical studies and animal research have shown that berberine has positive effects on insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism, weight loss, and glycemic control, which are important considerations for women with PCOS who are seeking alternative or complementary approaches to manage their symptoms. Berberine may also have potential benefits for other health conditions, such as NAFLD and cardiovascular disease, due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering properties.
In addition to berberine supplementation, lifestyle changes, including regular exercise, a low-glycemic diet, stress management, and adequate sleep, remain crucial in managing PCOS and improving overall health. Berberine should be considered as part of a comprehensive approach to managing PCOS, and it should not be used as a substitute for conventional medical care or prescription medications when indicated.
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