Berberine for Cancer: Safety & Side Effects
This page covers safety information for Berberine. See our complete Berberine therapy guide →
Side effects and adverse reactions
Few serious adverse events have been seen in studies using berberine.1Fang S, Guo S et al. Efficacy and safety of berberine in preventing recurrence of colorectal adenomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2022;282:114617; Qiu Y, Li M et al. Berberine treatment for weight gain in patients with schizophrenia by regulating leptin rather than adiponectin. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 2022;67:102896; Zhao JV, Yeung WF et al. Effect of berberine on cardiovascular disease risk factors: a mechanistic randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2550; Mirzaee F, Razmjouei P et al. The effect and safety of berberine on polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2021;41(5):684-689; Meng S, Wang LS et al. Berberine ameliorates inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome following percutaneous coronary intervention. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology. 2012 May;39(5):406-11; Chan M, Qin Z et al. Adjunctive berberine reduces antipsychotic-associated weight gain and metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial [published correction appears in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 2022 Oct;76(10):536]. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 2022;76(3):77-85; Chen C, Tao C et al. A randomized clinical trial of berberine hydrochloride in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Phytotherapy Research. 2015;29(11):1822-1827; Rabbani GH, Butler T, Knight J, Sanyal SC, Alam K. Randomized controlled trial of berberine sulfate therapy for diarrhea due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1987;155(5):979-984; Cicero AF, Tartagni E et al. Combined nutraceutical approach to postmenopausal syndrome and vascular remodeling biomarkers. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2013;19(6):582-587; Zhang J, Han C et al. A randomized, multicenter and noninferiority study of amoxicillin plus berberine vs tetracycline plus furazolidone in quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori rescue treatment. Journal of Digestive Diseases. 2020;21(5):256-263; An Y, Sun Z et al. The use of berberine for women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing IVF treatment. Clinical Endocrinology (Oxford). 2014;80(3):425-431; Chen XX, Chen YX et al. Efficacy and safety of triple therapy containing berberine hydrochloride, amoxicillin, and rabeprazole in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Journal of Digestive Diseases. 2022;23(10):568-576. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, including nausea, abdominal distension, constipation, or diarrhea.2Li Z, Wang Y et al. Berberine and health outcomes: An umbrella review. Phytotherapy Research. 2023 May;37(5):2051-2066; Di Pierro F, Bertuccioli A, Giuberti R, Saponara M, Ivaldi L. Role of a berberine-based nutritional supplement in reducing diarrhea in subjects with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica. 2020;66(1):29-34; Zhang Y, Gu Y et al. Gut microbiome-related effects of berberine and probiotics on type 2 diabetes (the PREMOTE study). Nature Communications. 2020;11(1):5015; Harrison SA, Gunn N et al. A phase 2, proof of concept, randomised controlled trial of berberine ursodeoxycholate in patients with presumed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and type 2 diabetes. Nature Communications. 2021;12(1):5503; Dong H, Wang N, Zhao L, Lu F. Berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systemic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012;2012:591654; Yan HM, Xia MF et al. Efficacy of berberine in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. PLoS One. 2015;10(8):e0134172.e. One case of a rash was reported.3Zhang BY, Chen M et al. Berberine reduces circulating inflammatory mediators in patients with severe COVID-19. British Journal of Surgery. 2021;108(1):e9-e11.
Contraindications
Berberine should not be used when pregnant or breastfeeding.4Fan J, Zhang K, et al. Pharmacological effects of berberine on mood disorders. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Jan 2019;23(1):21-28.
Drug interactions
There are known drug interactions with this therapy. Interactions with medications and other interventions are complex. Always consult with a healthcare professional before adding any new therapy to your regimen. To learn more about interactions visit one of the trusted resources below:
References