The Truth of the Effectiveness of the Berberine Berberine is an alkaloid extracted from various plants. It's primarily used to reduce insulin resistance. [1] Berberine can activate AMPK [2] while inhibiting PTP1B [3] , thus increasing insulin sensitivity. Berberine products are gaining popularity among consumers who want to support healthy blood glucose management. However, the feedback from different consumers varies considerably. Based on our research of consumer feedbacks on multiple brands, almost half reported that Berberine does not work when it comes to controlling blood glucose levels. Even worse, some consumers reported adverse events, such as GI issues like constipation. [4, 5] Figure 1: Customer Feedbacks for Berberine product If companies are using good material and recommending the right dosage, why do their products sometimes not work? The answer is gut microbiota. In the human intestine, there are two pathways for Berberine to get into blood a...