What is Berberine Phytosome™?

In the health and wellness community, Berberine supplementation has been widely promoted as potentially beneficial in terms of maintaining healthy metabolic function, such as weight loss. However, with the introduction of Berberine Phytosome™, there may be some confusion about how it differs from traditional berberine. In this blog, you'll learn about the difference between traditional berberine and Berberine Phytosome™ so that you can make an informed choice as to which supplement is appropriate to suit your needs.

Berberine is an alkaloid found in plants such as Goldenseal, Barberry, Oregon Grapes and Goldthread. Alkaloids are bitter substances that help plants fight off predators and allow them to grow naturally. They have been historically recognized in various parts of the globe for multiple health benefits.

Where is Berberine Found?

In Asia, the roots, stems and bark of plants rich in Berberine – including many plants in the Barberry family – have been used for more than 3,000 years. The Berberidaceae family includes about 450 to 500 species that are the main natural source of Berberine.*

Berberine is extracted from plants of the Berberis genus and Chinese herb Coptis chinensis, including barberry. This plant is the official Berberine species used in The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.

Berberine is an alkaloid, which for centuries has been used as a traditional  medicine to help with many commonly occurring health concerns, in particular supporting healthy blood sugar levels and promoting healthy metabolic function.* 

In addition to the scientific evidence on berberine’s ability to support healthy metabolism of blood sugar already within normal range, Berberine also offers benefits for normal metabolism and body composition.* It promotes healthy cardiovascular and immune system function as well.*

Additionally, berberine plays a role in the metabolism of glucose and fat, regulates the gut microbiota, and exhibits antimicrobial activity, which further contributes to its therapeutic potential in the treatment of various health issues.* Moreover, berberine's adaptability and ability to regulate metabolic processes and promote healthy lifestyle are illustrated by its interaction with several enzyme systems, receptor sites and cell signal pathways.*

Nevertheless, berberine must be taken in large doses for its raw extract form to be effective. The problem is that raw extracts are also low in tolerability, which can lead to gastrointestinal side effects. Therefore, finding a way to optimize absorption and bioavailability has been very important.

A special form of berberine, which has been formulated to enhance bioavailability and absorption, is Berberine Phytosome™. Berberine is bound to a phospholipid derived from sunflower oil in this formulation, creating a unique molecular structure which increases its solubility and absorption into the body. Berberine Phytosome™ uses Berberis aristata, sometimes called Indian Barberry.

Absorption and bioavailability are the main differences in Berberine Phytosome™ compared to berberine. Berberine Phytosome™ is designed to overcome this limitation by having 9.6 times higher levels of absorbable berberine reaching systemic circulation, potentially enhancing its potential health benefits, while berberine on its own has relatively low absorption rates.

What are the benefits of Berberine Phytosome? 

Berberine Phytosome™ has a number of advantages over traditional berberine supplements. In order to achieve health benefits and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects commonly associated with higher doses of berberine, Berberine Phytosome™ has an improved absorption rate. In addition, a greater bioavailability of Berberine Phytosome™ can lead to more consistent and reliable results in support of metabolic health.

Nature’s Lab Gold Berbevis® Berberine Phytosome™ Extract 

Nature’s Lab Gold Berbevis® Berberine Phytosome™ Extract helps support healthy blood sugar and metabolic function.* This formula combines a raw berberine extract with Phytosome™ technology to enhance delivery by mimicking the structure of cell membranes, making for a more bioavailable Phytosome™.* The Phytosome™ complex found in Berbevis® Berberine gives it an absorption rate over 9 times higher than standard berberine for better delivery.*