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Berberine vs Dihydroberberine: Discover the GlucoVantage® Advantage
Before we dive into the world of Berberine let’s take a look at Metabolic health. Alarmingly, statistics show(1) how most US adults are metabolically unhealthy. Various studies have shown that only around 12% of American adults meet the criteria for metabolic health considered optimal. It is in this general metabolic dysfunction that lifestyle interventions need to be geared toward optimal diet, exercise, and regular health screenings that improve metabolic outcomes with aging.
Metabolic health is critical as the years progress because of its influence on the development of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Good metabolic health means the body regulates blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and lipid profiles effectively; then, the disease risks decrease. Other than laying good foundations through lifestyle there is also a plant that can help to keep the body on the right metabolic track. Meet Berberine.
What is Berberine?
Berberine is a naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloid found in various plants, such as Berberis, Goldenseal, Oregon Grape, and many more. Since ancient times, it has been commonly used in various biological activities within the Chinese and Ayurvedic medical systems. Chemically, berberine is classified as an isoquinoline alkaloid due to its gold-yellow color.
Berberine is obtained from the roots, rhizomes, and stems of plants belonging to the Berberis species. The most common sources include:
- Berberis vulgaris (Barberry)
- Berberis aristata (Indian Barberry)
- Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)
- Coptis chinensis (Chinese Goldthread)
- Phellodendron amurense (Amur Cork Tree)
- Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)
These plants are widely distributed in various areas ranging from Asia to North America, and have been traditionally applied in folk medicine due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties.
Biological Activities and Health Benefits
Antimicrobial effects: Berberine carries very high antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity. Investigations have pointed to its potency in inhibiting a spectrum of pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Candida species, among others.
Anti-inflammatory properties: Berberine can mediate inflammatory pathways, thereby modulating the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. This, therefore, makes it a possible remedy for chronic inflammatory conditions.
Antidiabetic Effects: Among the most promising roles of berberine is diabetes control. It has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, enhance glucose metabolism, and reduce blood sugar levels to degrees similar to those seen with common antidiabetic medications.
Cardiovascular Effects:Berberine is valuable in lipid metabolism, and this helps to reduce the levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride in blood, therefore having cardioprotective effects.
Anti-cancer Potential: Preclinical studies have reported that berberine exerts cancer growth-inhibiting effects characterized by a reduction in cell growth and cell division by many means of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest.
Mechanism of Action Berberine's broad spectrum in therapeutics is thanks to its capability to act through several biochemical pathways.
AMPK Activation: Berberine can activate AMP-activated protein kinase, essentially activating cellular energy homeostasis. Increased activation of AMPK results in increased sensitivity to insulin and glucose uptake.
Modulation of Gut Microbiota:Berberine can induce a shift in microbiota within the gut, bringing about increased beneficial bacteria growth and a decrease in the number of harmful pathogens. This modulation leads to significant anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Inhibition of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines: Berberine inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, thus promoting anti-inflammatory activity.
Clinical Studies(2,3)on Berberine, there have been various clinical studies conducted with Berberine to establish its efficacy and safety. Some of the significant findings include:
Management of diabetes: Berberine significantly lowers fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and postprandial glucose in a meta-analysis of 14 RCTs with 1068 participants. The impact was on par with standard antidiabetic medicines like metformin.
Improvement of lipid profile: Clinical trials have revealed that when supplemented, berberine reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides and increases HDL cholesterol levels.
Weight Management: Some research showed berberine to be associated with losing weight and getting metabolically healthier—even in an overweight person. More evidence for that use is anecdotal, however. It seems to function as a regulator of lipid metabolism and an activator of the expenditure of energy.
And unlike Metformin ( a drug for Diabetes 2) , berberine tends to have fewer gastrointestinal side effects, making it a more tolerable option for some individuals.
Dihydroberberine aka GlucoVantage®
What is Dihydroberberine?
Dihydroberberine (DHB) is a derivative of Berberine synthesized through hydrogenating its double bond. This gives the compound the advantage of being more bioavailable and potentially more effective.GlucoVantage®is the branded form of DHB; it was created for the maximum benefit derivable from the substance in terms of therapy.
Advantages of Dihydroberberine over Berberine in as much as berberine has great health benefits, it also has its limitations; this is majorly due to its bioavailability. Berberine shows poor absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to reduced plasma concentration and, hence, low efficacy. These benefits of DHB help to avoid the following problems:
Enhanced Bioavailability: Studies demonstrate that DHB is 5-10 times more bioavailable compared to berberine. That means less dosage with DHB can produce an equal or even a more significant effect than a higher dosage of berberine.
Better Absorption: A great deal of this substance is absorbed through the intestines, thus having increased plasma concentrations and very consistent therapeutic effects.
Longer half-life: DHB exhibits a longer half-life than berberine, resulting in more sustained effects and possibly requiring lower dosing frequencies. It's the case with higher doses of Derberine causing gastrointestinal discomfort, namely diarrhea and constipation. Higher absorption levels and bioavailability will have less of an impact on the gastrointestinal tract with DHB.
Mechanisms of Action Dihydroberberine works through the exact, main mechanisms of action as Berberine:
AMPK activation, modulation of gut microbiota, and inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines. However, due to better bioavailability and absorption, these effects are magnified, making DHB a more potent therapeutic agent.
Clinical Studies on DHB GlucoVantage®
Emerging clinical studies(4)support the superior efficacy of DHB.
Improved Glycemic Control: In a study in which DHB was compared to berberine, it was noticed that DHB diminished the blood glucose level vastly compared to berberine and increased the sensitivity of insulin. The improved bioavailability made it possible to use small doses for better glycemic control.
Lipid Profile and Cardiovascular Health:Preliminary studies propose that DHB improves the lipid profile better compared to berberine and lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and, at the same time, increases HDL cholesterol. This action of DHB holds promise as an agent of cardiovascular health.
Metabolic Syndrome: Studies demonstrated that DHB can be effective in treating metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. DHB was superior in terms of enhancing metabolic health parameters than berberine.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
As per preclinical findings, DHB is improved in terms of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and, hence, provides better protection against chronic inflammation and oxidative diseases.
Berberine is a robust, naturally-occurring compound with tremendous positive health benefits ranging from its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity to brilliant improvements in the blood sugar and lipid profiles of its consumers. While practical, its low bioavailability and a relatively higher incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects in the forms of diarrhea, constipation, and cramps reduce its potential as an oral drug.
Dihydroberberine, commercialized underGlucoVantage®, is an improved substitute for berberine with better bioavailability, increased absorption, and decreased side effects. The consensus from the clinical trials (4)conducted in DHB indicated that it had the most effective and consistent therapeutic effects, especially in treating diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular health.
For those looking for some kind of natural solution toward improvements in metabolic health and overall well-being, Dihydro berberine is a step above traditional berberine supplements.
(1)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30484738/
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8107691/
(3) https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/12/7/973