People Are Calling Berberine ‘Nature’s Ozempic,’ but Is It Really as Effective for Weight Loss?

Ozempic and similar prescription medications that can lead to weight loss have become household names over the last year or so thanks to studies showing their impressive results¹. But these drugs are often expensive and can be hard to get ahold of, leaving many people who want to lose a significant amount of weight on the hunt for alternatives.

That’s led to a rise in so-called GLP-1 supplements, including berberine. This botanical compound has been dubbed “nature’s Ozempic” on TikTok, raising a lot of questions about what berberine is and how effective it can be for weight loss.

It’s important to get this out of the way upfront: When it comes to berberine vs. Ozempic, there are a lot of differences. The supplement actually doesn’t have much in common with the drug. Still, there’s a reason plenty of people are talking it up on social media. Here’s what you need to know.

Hold on, what is berberine?

Berberine is a plant-based compound that targets a protein involved in insulin resistance and blood sugar. It’s usually taken as a supplement, with plenty of pills and capsules available online.

There is some research to support using berberine for weight loss. “We’re not entirely sure of the mechanism, but we think that berberine helps reduce insulin resistance in very much the same way that Ozempic does,” says Kunal Shah, MD, an assistant professor in the division of endocrinology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center. “That’s a major way that berberine helps people lose weight.”

Here we should note that Ozempic is actually prescribed to help manage type 2 diabetes, not for weight loss, although that’s typically a side effect (and it’s sometimes prescribed off-label for this reason).

Berberine hasn’t been heavily studied, but there is some research to support its use for weight loss. A 2020 meta-analysis in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN² analyzed data from 12 randomized controlled trials and found that berberine was associated with a reduction in weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI).

Still, there isn’t a lot of good, supportive data for berberine. “The studies seem to be of low quality with small numbers of patients,” says Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

What’s more, berberine dosage varies widely among studies, so it’s difficult to determine what amount is safe and effective. Also, most participants in studies on berberine have had health problems, such as diabetes or fatty liver disease, and those issues may have influenced the study results. And finally, most of the research so far has been limited to Asian countries—very little has been done in the U.S.

“The amount of weight loss on berberine is not really comparable to what people lose on GLP-1 medications, which are much more powerful.” —Kunal Shah, MD, endocrinologist

Berberine vs. Ozempic for weight loss

While both berberine and Ozempic may lead to weight loss, they are very different things. It’s “inaccurate and misleading” to call berberine “nature’s Ozempic,” Dr. Ali says, noting that they work differently in the body and have very different weight loss results.

“Ozempic is a GLP-1 [receptor] agonist, which works by sending the satiety signal to the brain as well as slowing the emptying of the stomach to make a person feel full for longer,” Dr. Ali says. (GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic contain synthetic versions of the hormone.)

On the other hand: “Berberine increases the uptake of glucose by muscles and increases insulin sensitivity.” But berberine does not directly affect hunger, feelings of fullness, or the function of the gut, he says.

“The amount of weight loss on berberine is not really comparable to what people lose on GLP-1 medications, which are much more powerful,” Dr. Shah says. “With GLP-1s, we’re talking about people losing upwards of 15 to 20 percent of their body weight which, for some people, is over 100 pounds.”

The limited research done on berberine shows much more modest amounts of weight loss.

There are potential risks of taking berberine

The supplement industry is largely unregulated in the U.S., making it difficult to know if what’s on the label is actually in the bottle. Claims and marketing around supplements can be misleading, too (see: Kourtney Kardashian’s “GLP-1” supplement). Dr. Shah says that’s “a concern” with berberine. (Ozempic, on the other hand, is a drug, and therefore tightly regulated by the FDA.)

The long-term safety of taking berberine is questionable, too. “Nobody has looked at the long-term effects of taking berberine,” Dr. Shah says. “We’re not even sure of appropriate dosing.”

Berberine also comes with the risk of gastrointestinal side effects, like nausea, vomiting, bloating, and stomach pain, Dr. Shah says. (But, to be fair, Ozempic comes with similar potential side effects.)

The bottom line

If you’re interested in losing weight and have already tried lifestyle changes, Dr. Shah says it’s a good idea to check in with a physician. They may suggest trying a medication for weight loss or a different treatment plan. “If you have a choice between Ozempic and berberine, know that they’re not made equal,” Dr. Shah says.

But Dr. Ali says you’re likely okay to try berberine if you can find it from a reputable source. (Well+Good’s advice: Look for a supplement that’s been third-party certified by either USP or NSF.) “Overall, berberine seems to be well tolerated with minimal side effects for most people,” he says. “However, it is certainly not equivalent to Ozempic and it certainly is not a replacement for long-term healthy lifestyle changes.”

—medically reviewed by Jennifer Logan, MD, MPH