Berberine and Adiponectin

candistyx

So I was browsing wikipedia and read about Adiponectin which is underexpressed in the obese (and especially in those with metabolic syndrome) and that the chemical herb extract berberine increases expression of adiponectin (I also read that little research has been done into long term effects of berberine consumption so bare that in mind).

Anyway I wondered if anyone had experimented with Berberine for metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and simply weight reduction and what their take on it was.

It's also supposed to be liver protective which is good because so many things seem to want to kill livers >:(

leslieaht

I'd be interested in this information, too.

Larius

Very little toxicity info available. Not a safe compound, imho. Potential kidney damage and interferes with B vitamins at higher doses.
I hope this link works:
http://books.google.com/books?id=Sfmc-fRCj10C&pg=PA304&lpg=PA304&dq=berberine+toxicity&source=bl&ots=lNCC_AsxKL&sig=-IslxHfjCw4PO3RjO8fawbvCDBA&hl=en&ei=Iw8dTvXoKILf0QGb_MS2Bw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CF8Q6AEwCTgK#v=onepage&q=berberine toxicity&f=false

candistyx

Hmm, yeah, searching on google scholar also brings up some scary stuff.

Still, maybe in time someone will develop a safer version, it does seem like a useful chemical in infection though.

I guess real medicine is always a risk/benefit game, but not the kind of thing to be experimenting on oneself with :P