As women transition into menopause, there are a lot of changes happening in our bodies, including increased risk of diseases and alterations to mental health. Hormone replacement therapy is a standard option to manage these changes, but what if there was another option that didn’t involve traditional medicine? In this article, we will delve into the promising potential of berberine in managing menopause symptoms, offering a hopeful alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
What is berberine?
Berberine is a substance found in plants with several potential health benefits. The primary source of berberine is the Berberidaceae family, the genus Berberis, which includes 450 to 500 species of plants. Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have used berberine for various medical ailments(1).
Berberine is typically found in the bark, rhizomes, roots, and stems of Berberis vulgaris L. (Berberidaceae) and exhibits possible functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, antihyperglycemic, and anti-depressive effects(2).
How Berberine Can Help
Research suggests that berberine’s unique properties, potentially reducing inflammation, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin resistance, could be particularly beneficial for women during the perimenopausal and post-menopausal stages. These are crucial times when estrogen levels fluctuate, and the anti-inflammatory properties of estrogen, in the form of estradiol, diminish as women progress through these stages.
Menopause symptoms come about with the changes in hormones, and for some women, hormone replacement therapy may alleviate menopause symptoms. In some cases, it doesn’t provide relief, or some women are unable to take HRT due to medical contraindications. Berberine stands in as a potential replacement for HRT for women who are unable to take HRT. This article explores the potential benefits of berberine for women going through menopause.
Benefits of Berberine
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Estrogens Role in Heart Health
Women are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease after menopause, possibly due to changes in estrogen levels. Cardiovascular disease risk typically occurs after the age of 55 for women.
Atherogensis refers to plaque buildup in the arteries. Plaque comprises fats, cholesterol, inflammatory cells, and other substances that increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. LDL cholesterol, otherwise known as “bad cholesterol,” is deposited into the walls of the arteries.
Role of Berberine in Heart Health
Atherogenesis is an inflammatory process; however, supplementation with berberine may decrease the inflammatory response, leading to atherogenesis and reducing these health risks.
Berberine May Lower Cholesterol Levels
In this randomized control study, 120 menopausal women were given berberine along with soy isoflavones and were able to improve their cholesterol levels. The women were not on cholesterol-lowering medications and were following a low-calorie, low-fat, and low-glucose diet. The form of Berbine, supplemented in the study, was extracted from Berberis aristata, and it lowered total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides with an improvement in menopausal symptoms.
Estrogens Role in Blood Sugar Management
Type 2 diabetes has a higher prevalence among menopausal women; it may be that a decrease in estrogen plays a role in insulin sensitivity.
For diabetes to develop, two conditions must occur:
- Insulin resistance
- Chronic inflammation
Berberine May Support Blood Sugar Management
When your body becomes insulin resistant, your pancreas must release more insulin to bring your blood sugars down after meals. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to medical issues(2). Berberine may have the following benefits:
-Decreased insulin resistance
-Lower fasting blood glucose
-Lower A1c
Role of Berberine in Mood Management
Estradiol manages serotonin, the “happy” hormone that manages your mood, appetite, and emotions when perimenopause rolls around, and estradiol decreases the levels of serotonin, which can lead to variable moods and depression.
In animal studies, berberine decreased the activity of an enzyme, MAO, that is elevated in perimenopausal women and individuals suffering from depression (3)(2). The current research uses animal studies, so hopefully, human-based studies will emerge.
In another animal study using mice, berberine supplementation with fecal transplant altered the gut microbiota to decrease anxiety in the test subjects. The research study explored reduced estrogen’s role and effect on the gut-brain axis. When levels of estrogen decline during menopause, the theory is this occurrence may alter the gut microbiota and bring on mood disorders like anxiety and depression.
There is a possible link to a decrease in estrogen and an increase in anxiety. An alteration in the gut microbiota may occur due to decreased estrogen levels. The gut microbiota are all the microorganisms that live in your gut. If we can support our gut microbiota through the changes in menopause, we may be able to increase the quality of life.
Possible Role in Weight Loss
Berberine was used on obese human subjects in this study to see its effects on weight loss. The average weight loss was only 5 lbs in twelve weeks, with subjects taking 500mg of berberine three times a day. The five-pound weight loss in the subjects was a small amount. Would the subjects continue to lose weight with berberine supplementation after the twelve weeks?
Safety of Berberine
Berberine has almost no reported adverse side effects. The reported side effects include gastrointestinal upset:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Gas
- Upset stomach
Berberine is safe in doses of up to 1.5 mg for six months. However, it interacts with some medications, so checking with a medical doctor or nurse practitioner is imperative before starting berberine supplements. WebMD has a list of medication interactions and more information on safe dosing of Berberine.
Choosing third-party verified supplements, such as USP, NSF, and Consumer Labs, is also essential. The FDA does not regulate the supplement industry like drugs, so you may not know if you are taking the supplement or dose advertised on the bottle.
Final Thoughts
While the potential benefits of berberine are promising, it’s important to remember that lifestyle modifications remain the cornerstone of managing changes during menopause. By making healthy choices and seeking professional advice, you can take control of your health and potentially enhance the benefits of berberine. This professional guidance will ensure that you make well-informed and secure health decisions.
More research is necessary on berberine’s health benefits, with more studies focusing on human subjects. The benefits of berberine are promising, but there is not enough research to recommend taking berberine supplements.
Hopefully, more research will focus on berberine supplementation and its possible health benefits. Before taking berberine supplements, check with a medical doctor; this article is helpful as an informative guide.