Berberine May Reduce Atherosclerosis, Promising Study Finds

Is berberine the key to a healthy heart? A recent study published in Nature found that the supplement berberine may prevent atherosclerosis, reducing the size of plaques in the carotid arteries.

Berberine acts on harmful bacterial substances produced in the gut during digestion that can eventually enter the bloodstream and cause vascular inflammation, ultimately resulting in atherosclerosis.

What Is Berberine?

Berberine is a compound isolated from Coptidis rhizoma, an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat infections, diarrhea, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Berberine is also found in various plants, including goldenseal, Oregon grape, barberry, and Chinese goldthread, used in homeopathic medicine.

The same group of researchers that conducted the Nature study has been investigating berberine since 2004 and has found it to be a “safe and effective medicine” for treating high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.

Blood samples from study participants indicated only about 1 percent of berberine, yet the effect of oral berberine was still significant. Hence, the researchers suspected something in the gut might make the berberine more bioavailable. They then discovered that berberine was entering the gastrointestinal tract and changing the gut microbiota.

The Role of Gut Microbiota in Cardiovascular Disease

The gastrointestinal tract, often called the gut, was once recognized solely for its ability to absorb nutrients. However, we now know it harbors over 100 trillion microbial cells or gut microbiota that influence many factors associated with human physiology, including nutrition, metabolism, and immune function.

Gut microbiota is now considered its own physiological functional unit. Scientists sometimes refer to it as an endocrine organ, as it plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism and maintaining health.

Dr. Kevin Huffman, a board-certified bariatric physician, told The Epoch Times, “Intestinal microbiota play a critical role in regulating inflammation in the body. Disruption of this microbiota, either through antibiotics or dietary changes, can trigger or accelerate the development of inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and atherosclerosis.”

High Levels of TMAO Increase CVD Risk

The gut microbiota breaks down foods high in choline (e.g., red meat, dairy products, and egg yolks) and L-carnitine (e.g., some supplements, energy drinks, and red meat) into a compound called trimethylamine (TMA), which is then converted into another compound called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO).

TMAO was initially considered a waste product. However, recent research shows that it is a factor in the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, and high levels of TMAO are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Chris Kresser, a renowned expert in functional medicine and the author of “The Paleo Cure” and “Unconventional Medicine,” wrote an article challenging the idea that increased TMAO levels in the blood from red meat consumption cause atherosclerosis. He believes further study is needed to determine whether red meat is to blame for increased TMAO levels or if a poor diet is actually the underlying cause.

Kessler explained: “In order to know whether red meat is really to blame for changes in the gut flora that increase TMAO production, we’d have to do another study with two groups: one that follows a Paleo diet rich with fruits, vegetables, and soluble fiber, as well as red meat; and another vegan/vegetarian diet with equivalent amounts of plant matter and no meat. If the Paleo diet followers still had higher levels of TMAO, this hypothesis would be a lot stronger.”

Although preliminary studies don’t show the exact mechanism behind TMAO and how it contributes to CVD, evidence suggests TMAO stimulates an inflammatory response that leads to atherosclerosis. TMAO also interferes with platelet function, promoting the formation of blood clots in the arteries.

“The gut microbiome also affects lipid metabolism and helps regulate lipid levels in blood and tissues. Changes to the microbiota can trigger dyslipidemia, cause cholesterol deposits to arterial walls, and add to atherosclerosis and other chronic cardiovascular conditions,” Huffman added.

A study published in Nature found that the supplement berberine may prevent atherosclerosis. (Anna Hoychuk/Shutterstock)

How Berberine Reduces Atherosclerotic Plaque

Reduces Gut TMAO

When the berberine study researchers discovered the supplement was changing the gut microbiota, they wanted to know how. They found that when taken orally, berberine enters the gut microbiota and deactivates the enzymes that make TMA and TMAO. The berberine may not completely eradicate the formation of TMAO but reduces it enough that less of the compound enters the blood vessels, reducing the risk of developing atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Reduces Plaque Formation in Blood Vessels

The study enrolled 49 patients. Group 1 consisted of 16 participants whose blood lipids and glucose levels were within normal range. This group served as a reference for TMA and TMAO levels.

Twenty-one of the 49 participants (Group 2) were hyperlipidemia patients with high blood glucose or lipid levels, all diagnosed with atherosclerosis, and none was undergoing treatment before enrolling in the study. A dose of 500 milligrams of berberine was given twice daily to the 21 participants in Group 2 for four months.

The remaining 12 participants (Group 3) were atherosclerosis patients with elevated baseline glucose and lipid levels. These 12 participants were treated with the statin rosuvastatin plus aspirin and anticoagulant therapy of either clopidogrel sulfate or ticagrelor as needed, according to the guidelines for treating CVD.

Each patient’s plaques were examined and analyzed before and after treatment to determine the therapeutic efficacy. There were a total of 49 plaques in Group 2. Twenty-eight of the 49 plaques were reduced in size after berberine treatment.

Group 2 patients showed a significant average plaque score decrease of 3.2 percent, suggesting a potential anti-plaque berberine effect in atherosclerotic patients. The group also had a decrease in blood glucose and lipid levels, and average levels of elevated total and LDL cholesterol were lowered into the normal range.

In addition to the plaque score reduction seen in the Group 2 berberine group, researchers also observed respective decreases in TMA and TMAO of 37 percent and 35 percent in blood levels and 38 percent and 29 percent in feces.

Group 3 patients treated with conventional drug therapy had 54 plaques. After four months of using conventional drug therapy, the group had an average plaque score increase of 1.9 percent.

The researchers concluded that taking 500 milligrams of berberine twice daily could effectively prevent plaque development in atherosclerosis by decreasing levels of TMAO in the gut and, ultimately, in the blood.

Other Berberine Studies

A systematic review and meta-analysis concluded berberine can help diminish obesity and lower lipid levels by reducing total glucose, total and LDL cholesterol, and increasing HDL cholesterol. The review also found berberine can reduce insulin resistance, improve Type 2 diabetes, and prevent diabetic encephalopathy (brain disease or damage) in the most severe cases.

Berberine Recommendations

Since berberine isn’t found in everyday foods, you must take a supplement to add it to your diet.

While berberine is considered safe for most adults, Huffman recommends consulting your health care provider before taking berberine supplements, “especially if already on medications like cyclosporine, dextromethorphan, azithromycin, clarithromycin, macrolide antibiotics, blood pressure, and cholesterol medications, sleeping aids, as well as blood thinners.” He added, “Also, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, alongside people with diabetes, should avoid taking berberine supplements.”

Additional and more extensive clinical trials are needed to determine the benefits of berberine for treating atherosclerosis. The potential cardiovascular benefits could help reduce or eliminate the extensive drug regimens for people suffering from CVD.

Reposted from: https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/berberine-may-reduce-atherosclerosis-promising-study-finds_5350996.html