Discussion
BerberineisaplantalkaloidderivedfromseveraldifferentplantspeciescustomarilyusedinAyurvedaandtraditionalChinesemedicineforvarioustherapeuticapplications.Modernclinicaluseandpublishedinvivo,invitro,and animal research studies demonstrate that the berberine metabolitedihydroberberine (DHB) is more bioavailable than berberine andoffersenhancedsupportforhealthybloodglucosemetabolism.*1-5Althoughthemechanismsunderlyingthebeneficialeffectsofberberinearenotentirelyclear,itishypothesizedthatthemodulationofgutmicrobesmaybeonemechanismbywhichberberineaffectsbloodglucosemetabolism.6Resultsfromanimalandinvitrostudiessuggestthatberberinemoderatesglucoseand lipid metabolism through a multi-pathway mechanism,includingtheadenosinemonophosphate–activatedproteinkinase(AMPK),c-JunN-terminalkinase (JNK), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR)-alphapathways.2,7SeparateresearchonAMPKreportsactivatingtheAMPKpathwaystimulatesglucoseuptakeandfatoxidationwhilesuppressinglipogenesisandgluconeogenesis.8Berberineisalsobelievedtobeinvolvedintheregulationofpancreaticbetacellfunction,andithasbeenobservedtoinhibittheexpressionofdisaccharidasesintheduodenum,resultinginlessglucoseformationfromcarbohydratedigestion.*9Increasingevidenceindicatesthatgutmicrobiotaarealsocrucialmediatorsthatregulateberberine’spharmacokineticandbiologicaleffects.Berberineinducescompositionalalterationsingutmicrobiotaandregulatesgutmicrobe–dependentmetabolites,factorsthatcontributetoitsbiologicaleffectsonlipidandglucosemetabolism.10,11Additionally,gutmicrobiotareduceberberinetoDHB,itsintestine-absorbableform,whichthenoxidizesbacktoberberineafterithasbeenabsorbedintointestinaltissuesandenteredtheblood.*4Berberine absorption across the intestinal epithelia is suggested to becompromisedbecauseofits“flat”chemicalconfiguration.BerberinedisplayspoorbioavailabilityandincreasedpotentialforGIdistressattheoraldosesrequired to improve biomarkers associated with glucose homeostasis.3ThestructureoftheDHBderivativeofberberineiscomparablyopen,makingitmoreamenabletouptake.TofurtherexploretheabsorbabilityofberberineandDHB,researchersinvestigatedthemechanismofactionbywhichAMPKisactivatedandifusingDHBatlowerdosesthanberberinecouldpotentiallyimprovetheeffectonadiposityandglucosemetabolisminrodentsfedahigh-fatdiet.Berberinehadtobeadministeredatanearly5-fold increased dose of
DIRECTIONS:Take one capsule once or twice daily,or use as directed by your health care professional
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FORMULATED TO EXCLUDE: This product is formulated without wheat, gluten, corn, yeast, soy, animal and dairy products, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, sesame, ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, and artificial preservatives.
Clinical Applications
» Supports Enhanced Berberine Activity*
» Supports Healthy Blood Glucose Metabolism*
DihydroBerberine ES-5 features dihydroberberine (DHB), a highly bioavailable metabolite of berberine with demonstrated benefits for blood glucose metabolism. Berberine naturally occurs in several plant species used extensively in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal practices; DHB is the natural bioactive form of berberine.*
560 mg/kg/d to establish the same effects demonstrated by DHB at 100 mg/kg/d. The rodents treated with the substantially lower dose of DHB showed markedly reduced adiposity and improved glucose tolerance. Additionally, insulin sensitivity was increased in the DHB-treated animals. These results led researchers to suggest that the difference in effects between berberine and DHB is due to the enhanced bioavailability of DHB. The findings of this study indicate that DHB delivers the beneficial metabolic effects of berberine in a more absorbable form and at a lower dose.
 
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