Study finds berberine may reduce recurrence of colon polyps
Berberine is a yellow alkaloid found in various herbs such as the roots of goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), coptis (Coptis chinensis) and Oregon grape (Berberis aquafolium). Ayurvedic, Chinese and American herbalists have long valued these herbs for their beneficial digestive, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Berberine has been associated with the increase in “good” gut bacteria and a decrease in atherosclerosis. Now a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in The Lancet showed a significant decrease in recurrence of colon polyps in those who received 300mg of berberine twice daily (36% of the participants in the study group experienced recurrence vs 47% in the placebo group). No serious adverse events were reported leading to the author’s conclusion: “Berberine 0.3 g twice daily was safe and effective in reducing the risk of recurrence of colorectal adenoma and could be an option for chemoprevention after polypectomy.”
References:
Zhu L, et al. Berberine treatment increases Akkermansia in the gut and improves high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis in Apoe-/- mice. Atherosclerosis. 2018 Jan;268:117-126.
Ying-Xuan Chen, et al. Berberine versus placebo for the prevention of recurrence of colorectal adenoma: a multicentre, double-blinded, randomised controlled study. The Lancet. 2020 Mar; Vol 5; Issue 3; 267-275.