The 6 Best Berberine Supplements of 2024

As of 2024, berberine is a popular way to manage blood sugar and metabolic function. In fact, people have dubbed it “nature’s Ozempic,” which is a blood glucose management medication that is now also being overly prescribed for weight loss.

While it doesn’t have quite the same weight loss-inducing effects as Ozempic, berberine has been shown to be a natural way to support blood sugar management. This has led many to search for the best berberine supplements on the market. 

We also enlisted the help of our in-house Registered Dietitian, Cambria Glosz, MS, RD, who reviewed the ingredients and formulations of each berberine supplement to back up our choices. 

	Best Overall	Best Bulk Buy	Best Value
Product	HUM	PartiQlar	Solaray
Amount of Berberine	1200mg	600mg	500mg
Cost	$35 for 30 servings ($1.17/serving) Shop Now	$93.54 for 360 servings ($0.26/serving) Shop Now	$29.99 for 60 servings ($0.49/serving) Shop Now

Our Insider Picks

Best Overall Berberine Supplement: HUM Nutrition Best of Berberine

Best Bulk Berberine: PartiQlar Pure Berberine HCL

Best Berberine Supplement for Weight Loss: 1st Phorm GDA (Glucose Disposal Agent)

Best Value Berberine Supplement: Solaray Berberine Root Extract Advanced Formula

Most Absorbable Berberine Supplement: NOW Berberine Glucose Support

Most Bioavailable Berberine Supplement: Thorne Berberine

Why Trust Our Reviews?

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Supplement Facts, Ingredients, and Dosage

At 1200mg per serving, HUM Nutrition Best of Berberine offers the highest dose of berberine per two-capsule serving on this list. 

According to HUM, 1200 milligrams is the most clinically effective dose for lowering blood sugar, supporting gut health, and maintaining a healthy body weight, as verified by looking at 77 clinical studies.

You won’t find any unwanted fillers in this supplement, as it just contains berberine, Bioperine (to boost absorption rates), and hypromellose for the capsule (which is a form of vegetarian cellulose). 

This berberine supplement might not be for everyone, as these higher doses are more likely to cause digestive-related side effects when taken all at once. 

However, it may be a good choice for people who don’t want to take three split-up doses throughout the day, as this supplement recommends only taking it once per day with food. 

Price vs. Serving Size

At $35 for 30 servings ($1.17/serving), this is one of the pricier berberine supplements. However, it has triple the dosage of most of the others.

Certifications

HUM triple-tests their products with third-party labs for purity and quality and is certified by the Clean Label Project. 

Their products are also formulated by Registered Dietitians, and this berberine supplement is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and produced in a GMP-certified facility.

PartiQlar Pure Berberine HCL is a great choice for those looking for an affordable, bioavailable berberine in a moderate dose.

Supplement Facts, Ingredients, and Dosage

PartiQlar Pure Berberine HCL provides 600mg per one-capsule serving, which is a middle-of-the-road dose that is not likely to cause digestive issues, and HCl (hydrochloric acid) is added to aid absorption. 

Compared to berberine alone, the addition of hydrochloric acid has been found to improve its absorption. This is because hydrochloride salt can increase the solubility and stability of berberine, making it more readily absorbed by the body.

This supplement also does not contain unnecessary or unwanted fillers—it solely contains a vegetarian cellulose capsule. 

Price vs. Serving Size

Although it’s already affordable with a one-time purchase ($25.99 per bottle or $0.43 per serving), PartiQlar also offers a steep discount when you buy six bottles (bumping it down to just $0.26 per serving and a one-year supply). 

If you know you’re going to be taking berberine long-term, this is a great deal. 

Certifications

PartiQlar Berberine is third-party tested for purity and provides their quality reports readily available on the site.

It is also non-GMO, vegan, produced in GMP-certified facilities in the U.S., and is NSF Certified.

Thorne Berberine is an excellent berberine supplement choice, with a high dose in each serving (1,000mg) and elevated bioavailability—however, it’s pretty pricey compared to other berberine supplements. 

Supplement Facts, Ingredients, and Dosage

Thorne Berberine contains 450mg of berberine HCl with 550mg of a berberine phytosome with a phospholipid complex that enhances its bioavailability.

Grape seed extract in the phytosome also protects the gastrointestinal tract, helping to reduce the potential digestive side effects of berberine. 

They also note that their berberine is sourced from non-endangered species.

Price vs. Serving Size

At $40 for 30 servings ($1.33/serving), Thorne is one of the most expensive berberine supplements.

Certifications

Thorne has a handful of certifications, including: 

• GMP-certified 
• NSF Certified Facility 
• TGA: Thorne has an A rating from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (similar to the FDA but stricter). Thorne is the first U.S. nutritional supplement company to be fully certified.

However, they don’t have additional certifications like Non-GMO Project Verified or Certified Vegan. 

They also have an extensive “No List” of ingredients they will never add to their products, ranging from the top food allergens and high-fructose corn syrup to preservatives and artificial sweeteners. 
Thorne products undergo four rounds of extensive testing, including testing raw materials for contaminants when they come in, in-process and finished product testing for purity, identity, and potency, and stability testing to confirm their label claims.

While all berberine supplements are technically beneficial for lowering blood sugar, 1st Phorm GDA has additional supportive ingredients for doing so—and the name says it all, as GDA stands for “Glucose Disposal Agent.”

Supplement Facts, Ingredients, and Dosage

1st Phorm FDA contains several nutrients and compounds above and beyond berberine. 

These extra nutrients and compounds include chromium, banaba leaf extract, vanadyl sulfate, and cinnamon, all of which have been studied for their role in reducing blood sugar or insulin resistance. 

Plus, 1st Phorm GDA contains alpha-lipoic acid and Gymnema sylvestre extract, which may help to support weight loss. 

Specifically, Gymnema sylvestre is thought to slow down the absorption of carbohydrates from the intestines into the bloodstream, leading to reduced dietary intake as well as lower blood sugar.  

However, one downside is that this supplement is not vegan or vegetarian, as it’s encased in a gelatin capsule. 

Price vs. Serving Size

1st Phorm GDA costs $42.99 for 60 servings, coming out to $0.72 per 2-capsule serving. 

Although this supplement is pricier than others, you get the benefit of six additional compounds to support weight loss and blood sugar management, which may make it well worth it for some.

Certifications

1st Phorm products are third-party tested, and their ingredients have a Certificate of Independent Laboratory Analysis, which verifies that they meet FDA standards for microbial content, heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides. 

Their facilities are FDA-inspected, SQF Level-3 certified, and follow cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices).

Best for: People on a budget looking for a high-quality berberine supplement. 

At just $0.33 per serving, Solaray Berberine Root Extract Advanced Formula is our top pick for people wanting a berberine supplement on a budget. 

With the berberine coming from Indian barberry and Oregon grape (which is actually a shrub and not, in fact, grapes), this berberine supplement is sustainably sourced. 

It also contains comparable amounts of berberine to other supplements (535mg per serving) and is third-party tested, vegan, and Non-GMO Project Verified. 

For an affordable berberine supplement that doesn’t skimp on quality, Solaray is your best bet.

NOW Berberine Glucose Support is a great option for supporting the absorption and utilization of berberine, as the compound is known to have limited bioavailability on its own. 

Supplement Facts, Ingredients, and Dosage

In addition to 400mg of berberine per capsule, this NOW supplement also contains capric acid and medium-chain triglycerides, which are thought to boost berberine’s bioavailability and lessen any potential digestive symptoms from the compound. 

However, this supplement is not vegan or vegetarian, as it contains bovine gelatin and beeswax, as well as caramel coloring in the capsule.  
According to the CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest), caramel coloring may contain contaminants that cause cancer in male and female mice. While the amount found in these small soft gels is likely negligible, some people understandably wish to avoid such ingredients.

Price vs. Serving Size

At $39.99 for 90 servings, NOW Berberine is a very reasonable $0.44 per serving. 

Certifications

NOW is one of our trusted brands at The Nutrition Insider, earning an A in our extensive review.

Their products are audited and certified by Intertek GMP Supplement Certification, which means they have met Supplement Safety & Compliance Initiative (SSCI) benchmarks, and do in-house testing for microbes, heavy metals, contaminants, and more.

What Does Berberine Do In the Body?

Berberine works primarily by activating an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which acts like a metabolic master switch that reduces blood sugar and regulates metabolism. 

Berberine is most well-known for its ability to reduce blood sugar and insulin resistance, which may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

It may also reduce high cholesterol and lipid levels and support liver function, brain health, and weight loss. 

Top Health Benefits of Berberine

Berberine offers numerous health benefits due to its alkaloid properties that exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, which translates to several health benefits, including: 

• Lowers Blood Sugar. One of the top ways that berberine benefits health is through its ability to manage high blood glucose and insulin resistance—two of the leading risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Berberine activates the AMPK pathway to pull glucose from the blood, directly lowering blood sugar. 
• Improves Insulin Resistance. In a 2021 meta-analysis, researchers compiled data from 46 trials looking at the effects of berberine on people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Berberine treatment was found to improve insulin resistance—a state when the body stops responding to insulin, the hormone that shuttles glucose from the blood into cells. 
• Acts As an Antioxidant. Berberine benefits health by acting as an antioxidant, which helps to fight oxidative stress—an accumulation of harmful compounds (like free radicals and reactive oxygen species) that damage cells, proteins, and DNA. Oxidative stress is a leading contributor to accelerated aging and chronic disease—and compounds like berberine may be able to help neutralize the harm. 
• Fights Inflammation. At the root of many diseases is chronic inflammation—and berberine may be able to help lower it. Research has found that berberine reduces several pro-inflammatory compounds or markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).
• Reduces Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Berberine is thought to improve several risk factors related to heart disease, including high cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides, and inflammation. In the previously mentioned meta-analysis of 46 trials, berberine was also found to significantly reduce total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL (“bad cholesterol”) while increasing HDL (“good cholesterol”).
• May Promote Weight Loss. Research has also uncovered that berberine reduces adipocyte (fat cell) growth by regulating the activity of specific genes involved in that process. In a study with mildly overweight adults, people who supplemented with berberine for one month lost weight and had increased brown adipose tissue activity—also known as brown fat, this healthy type of fat tissue is more metabolically active and increases energy expenditure.
• May Improve Brain Health. Berberine can cross the highly selective blood-brain barrier and facilitate the clearing of dysfunctional neurons by inducing autophagy—our body’s way of removing or recycling damaged cells and cell parts. While we don’t have research looking at the effects of berberine in humans with Alzheimer’s disease, a review of 15 animal studies found that berberine significantly improved memory in animals with cognitive impairment. 
• Supports Liver Health. Berberine has been shown to reduce fatty liver (hepatic steatosis), which is a precursor to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It also has been found to reduce liver fibrosis—a buildup of scar tissue in the liver that leads to cirrhosis. Research has shown that people with NAFLD who took 1500mg of berberine per day for 16 weeks had significantly improved liver health, especially when paired with lifestyle changes.

Berberine Side Effects

Although berberine has plenty of benefits, there are also some potential downsides to be aware of. 

Berberine is generally safe in moderate doses—such as 250-500mg, three times per day—but higher or excessive doses may cause side effects.

The most common side effects of berberine are gastrointestinal-related, including gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation—however, these are often fixed by taking smaller doses or splitting it up between three meals. 

As one of the leading benefits of berberine is lowering blood sugar, it can also cause hypoglycemia (too-low blood sugar) in some people. 

Berberine has the potential to interact with several medications (especially those for lowering blood sugar), so check with your healthcare provider if you’re unsure. 

Lastly, it’s not recommended to take berberine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. 

Best Berberine Supplement FAQs