In brief
A substance found in goldenseal. It has been studied for its effects on blood sugar, blood cholesterol and body weight.
- The berberine in goldenseal can be harmful to newborns, according to NCCIH.
How it works
The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that berberine has been studied for its effects on blood sugar, blood cholesterol levels and body weight. Goldenseal itself is promoted for colds and other upper respiratory infections.
The berberine in goldenseal can be harmful to newborns, so goldenseal should not be used in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Talk with your health care provider before using goldenseal or other herbal products.
Connections
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Berberine has been studied for
- Type 2 diabetes Emerging
Berberine has been studied for its effects on blood sugar.
Source: NIH NCCIH, Goldenseal
Medicines and supplements
General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.
Sources
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Summarised from the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Sources read on 13 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.