Berberine HCl: evidence, dose and safety
Berberine is a yellow compound from plants such as barberry and goldenseal. We do not sell it in the EU, where EFSA's 2026 draft opinion found no safe intake level.
At a glance
- Strongest evidence
- B Good
- Dose in our plans
- 1000 mg a day for adults
- Adult upper limit
- 1500 mg a day from food and supplements together
- Safety checks
- 2 situations and 2 medicine or supplement interactions, checked against your answers in every plan
- Reviewed
- Atrum Labs clinical team (MD, PhD), November 2026
What the research looked at
Each line is one body of research, graded A (strong) to D (weak). How we grade evidence. What each study measured is explained in your personal plan.
| Grade | Who was studied | References |
|---|---|---|
| B | Adults with elevated glucose |
|
| B | Adults with dyslipidemia |
|
How much
- Our plans usually use 1000 mg a day for adults. The exact dose depends on your lab results, age and medicines.
- Adult upper limit: 1500 mg a day from food and supplements together. Source: Trials used 0.9-1.5 g a day (Lan J et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2015).
- Children's doses are set by age, and some ingredients are for adults only.
Who should not take it, or should check first
- Not suitable. Berberine may cause kernicterus in newborns.
- A clinician checks first. Hepatic metabolism and CYP inhibition.
Medicines and other supplements
- A clinician checks first. Additive glucose lowering; hypoglycemia risk.
- Not suitable. Berberine inhibits CYP3A4 and raises cyclosporine levels.
Your plan is checked against every medicine you tell us about. If you take a medicine, ask your pharmacist or doctor before starting a new supplement.
Where we sell it
- Not sold in Sweden.
Written and reviewed by the Atrum Labs clinical team (physician-scientists, MD, PhD) from our clinical knowledge base, version 0.2.0-draft. This page is general information, not medical advice. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
See if it belongs in your plan