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Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 4:22 pm
by Pickleball101
(Repost of my Sept 5th article)   Look for Dosage discussion in the 4-5 minute play of the link below

The link below is to a presentation on YouTube by Dr. David Sinclair, of why he moved from taking Metformin for 30 years . to Berberine, and his own research before doing so. He likes to equalize his intake of supplements, so you'll find that is true with NMN, TMG and Bereberine, taken WITH food for their low solubility in oral powder intake.
I have been following his suggestions, and after carrying a "Panzer" (Spanish for tummy) for 40 years, was amazed to see it disappear, with the loss of 15 more lbs, in about a months time. My belt loops tightened up two holes, and I can see my toes!. One Caution, if you're on an Ace Inhibitor blood thinner, wean yourself off of , as you wean your self onto Berberine. My Blood pressure dropped 30 points from 157 to 127/70, Theses benefits ALL come from the ability of Berberine to lower your Glucose levels, controlling your insulin tolerance. That allows More Good nutrition into the calls, with NMN for the anti-aging effects you desire. They are a natural combo. Another pathway , is Ca AKG. Research the many Blind Study trials for your age group for results.
Ben Y. , 81+ Pickleball 101 4 years RbS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bTVxlF6B8A













 

Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2022 10:43 pm
by Boxcost
jamierh wrote: Wed Sep 14, 2022 2:46 pm
Boxcost wrote: Wed Sep 14, 2022 5:28 am I have been experimenting with both supplements. Just the fact that Berberine is so gentle that it does not mess up my gut bacteria balance like metformin is a major win so far for Berberine!

 


 
Are you still taking Metformin? What effects were you feeling on your gut?

thanks!

 
Nope, was never really taking it regularly. Only when a "bad meal" was unavoidable, so tasty stuff but not good for you so to speak ;)  I would take one to even out the glucose spikes. It did though impact my own gut bacteria so slight discomfort and then to put it bluntly then diarrhea!

Then trying the same thing with Berberine, did not have the same impact on gut but still did its job to lowering glucose spike, so Berberine all the way for me now.

Some interesting things noted when tracking myself for 4 weeks with a Glucose monitor:

Things that drop Glucose:
Taking 2 x RBS LIPO Activator capsules (So Fisetin, Quercetin and Spermidine)
Broccoli Sprout powder
Obviously Berberine and Metformin as well

Noting that I did take a Berberine thinking that I am about to eat a bunch of potato chips and a few beers would give me a spike, 2 hours later before just before dinner I ended up with a low Glucose (2.8 mmol/l) and felt very ordinary. So the lesson is learnt, that is I will only take just before or with 'bad meals".

Things that increase glucose:
Interestingly a black coffee while fasting and then kicking off some exercise lifts it a little, then it gradually reduces and levels out.
Of course the usual's being Pasta, Brown (not as bad) and White Rice, Cous Cous and with the biggest spike came from a can of Blackberry Cider (very tasty and sweet!).

Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:46 am
by drkris69
Yeah Im digging the Berberine as well. Ive lost about 5 lbs in 19 days along with I lost 2" in the waist and more 6 pack abs are showing again at the age of 53. I dont know if I will stay on Berberine as I might go back to taking Metformin. Reason being, Metformin is considered a "essential medication" in the Longevity world and proven that people who Metformin will live longer and be protected from Alzheimers disease and certain cancers as according to Dr. Sinclair. I dont think Berberine protects the body against these diseases.

Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2022 7:02 am
by Boxcost
drkris69 wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:46 am Yeah Im digging the Berberine as well. Ive lost about 5 lbs in 19 days along with I lost 2" in the waist and more 6 pack abs are showing again at the age of 53. I don't know if I will stay on Berberine as I might go back to taking Metformin. Reason being, Metformin is considered a "essential medication" in the Longevity world and proven that people who Metformin will live longer and be protected from Alzheimers disease and certain cancers as according to Dr. Sinclair. I dont think Berberine protects the body against these diseases.

 
I am taking so many plant based molecules already I think I have it covered for now on the cancer and Alzheimers front. Cause my Glucose is already in check and some supplements (like RBS LIPO Activator) can drop it further it risks a glucose drop. Not going to take metformin every day, unless of course this changes.

Based on the science it is not one thing that will trigger or protect against degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimers. Check out the precision approach from Dr Dale Bredesen, I have been looking into his approach over the last week (seen a few of his presentation's, etc), I am going to do their free cognitive test just got to find the best / clear 10-15min to ace the test :)
   
 

Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2022 10:03 am
by PJM
I was prescribed 500mg Metformin daily to lower my A1C.  It did not had the desired effect so we went to 1000mb daily.  This created unwelcome intestinal issues and exhaustion.  These symptoms are supposed to go away after a while but I could not put up with them.

So we switched to 600-mg non-lipo Berberine twice a day.  I don't know my A1C yet, but after a couple weeks of Berberine I have more energy and my blood pressure has been significantly lowered -- so much so that the docs (at a major 1st tier research hospital) no longer are suggesting new BP meds.

So I'm a huge fan of Berberine so far.

As for Berberine and Metformin combined, there has been and continues to be research on combining the two.  A study published this summer found that "Co-administration of metformin (250 mg/kg) with berberine (125 mg/kg) could not only further improve insulin sensitivity, but also demonstrate different alterations on gut microbial communities than that of their individual treatment in db/db mice." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... 1322001775

A meta-analysis, published 2021, reported "Berberine and metformin share many features in actions despite different structure and both could be excellent drugs in treating T2DM. Meanwhile, berberine can improve the intestinal intolerance of metformin [19]. The combination of the two drugs may bring better hypoglycemic effect."  https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinfo ... rid=113351

So yes, there is evidence that combining the two does help.

At the end of the day, if you go on Metformin, it will have to be prescribed for you and you should be talking to your docs about what supplements you are taking or planning to take with it.

For me, I'm interested in added low-dose (500mg) Metformin back in, but only after I've done 90 days with Berberine alone and I know what it's done for my A1C. 

Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:11 pm
by jessicaP
Boxcost wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 10:43 pm
jamierh wrote: Wed Sep 14, 2022 2:46 pm
Boxcost wrote: Wed Sep 14, 2022 5:28 am I have been experimenting with both supplements. Just the fact that Berberine is so gentle that it does not mess up my gut bacteria balance like metformin is a major win so far for Berberine!

 



 
Are you still taking Metformin? What effects were you feeling on your gut?

thanks!


 
Nope, was never really taking it regularly. Only when a "bad meal" was unavoidable, so tasty stuff but not good for you so to speak ;)  I would take one to even out the glucose spikes. It did though impact my own gut bacteria so slight discomfort and then to put it bluntly then diarrhea!

Then trying the same thing with Berberine, did not have the same impact on gut but still did its job to lowering glucose spike, so Berberine all the way for me now.

Some interesting things noted when tracking myself for 4 weeks with a Glucose monitor:

Things that drop Glucose:
Taking 2 x RBS LIPO Activator capsules (So Fisetin, Quercetin and Spermidine)
Broccoli Sprout powder
Obviously Berberine and Metformin as well

Noting that I did take a Berberine thinking that I am about to eat a bunch of potato chips and a few beers would give me a spike, 2 hours later before just before dinner I ended up with a low Glucose (2.8 mmol/l) and felt very ordinary. So the lesson is learnt, that is I will only take just before or with 'bad meals".

Things that increase glucose:
Interestingly a black coffee while fasting and then kicking off some exercise lifts it a little, then it gradually reduces and levels out.
Of course the usual's being Pasta, Brown (not as bad) and White Rice, Cous Cous and with the biggest spike came from a can of Blackberry Cider (very tasty and sweet!).

 
I think this is a good approach with Berberine, to take 'as needed, rather than every day. Unless you have Type 2?
 

Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2022 3:41 pm
by JanCOhio
Does berberine give anyone a dry mouth?

Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 7:04 pm
by jessicaP
JanCOhio wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 3:41 pm Does berberine give anyone a dry mouth?

 
It does only if i take it at night. I have woken up with a very dry mouth or a headache. Not fun.

Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:17 pm
by drkris69
Hmm, maybe thats why my mouth and throat has been dry. I thought it was from the weather change now that its cooler outside. Im loving this Berberine so far. Pickleball was right about loosing some belly fat.  ;)
 

Re: Berberine and Metformin

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:35 pm
by ChrisBON
Yes, i now take Berberine during the early part of the day. 

With winter almost here, i will drink about three cups of water during the night.