The studied one
Berberine HCl
The form used in most research.
Good for: Blood sugar
What variations of berberine exist?
A bright yellow plant compound studied for blood sugar, insulin resistance, and cholesterol. It interacts with many medicines. It comes in 3 forms, and they aren't all the same. Here's how they differ.
For education only. What's right for you depends on your health and your medications, so check with your provider before you start or switch. Book a consult
Our top pick
Every form, in plain words
The studied one
Berberine HCl
The form used in most research.
Good for: Blood sugar
The newer one
Dihydroberberine
Your body absorbs it better, but it's newer and less studied.
Usually skip
- The whole herb (Whole goldenseal root)The amount of berberine varies.
Spotting a good one on the shelf
Look for
- Look for 'Berberine HCl' on the label (the studied one)
Watch out for
- 'Metabolic' blends that hide how much berberine is inside
Check with your provider first if…
- You're pregnant or breastfeeding: avoid it
- You take diabetes medicine (your blood sugar could drop too low)
- You take other prescription medicines. Berberine changes how many drugs are handled by your body, so go over your list with your provider.
- Stomach upset is common. Taking it with meals often helps.
In Dr. Lesher's store
4 products in Dr. Lesher's dispensary have berberine. Here's which form, where the label says.
Check with your provider before taking any of these, especially if you're pregnant or take medications.
Metagenics
Berberine GT
Has berberine HCl (the studied one), good for blood sugar
500 mg per serving
Codeage
M-Burn Optimized
Has berberine HCl (the studied one), good for blood sugar
250 mg per serving
Endurance Products
Dihydroberberine SR, 150mg
Has dihydroberberine (the newer one)
150 mg per serving
Vitanica
Bladder Ease (IC Blend)
13.33 mg per serving
Ready to find the root cause?
Dr. Lesher is a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses on autoimmune and chronic conditions in women. Since 2020, she's helped hundreds of patients stop managing symptoms and start healing.