#31 Diabetes 101: Metformin VS Berberine

In this episode, Dr. Donohoe and Dr. Panno discuss two of the most commonly used interventions, both in mainstream medical and functional medicine fields, Metformin and Berberine. Dr. Panno recently wrote a paper on this topic where he read through numerous research articles in order to gain more clarity and understanding of these two products (how they work and how effective they are). We get into the science behind them but also the clinical takeaways and what it all means. Below we reference all the articles used. 

 

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 Time Stamps

1:10 - Start/Introduction

6:25 - Berberine: What Does It Do And How Effective Is It?

16:30 - Where Does Berberine Come From?

22:45 - Where Does Metformin Come From?

31:30 - How Does Metformin Work? (MOA)

39:50 - How Does Berberine Work? (MOA)

44:10 - Can you take Metformin and Berberine Together?

57:30 - Burst My Beta Cells

 

Resources/Links Discussed in the episode:

References

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2. Bailey, C., & Day, C., (2004). Metformin: its botanical background. Pract Diabetes Int; 21: 115-117. https://doi.org/10.1002/pdi.606
3. Bailey, C., & Day, C., (1989). Traditional plant medicines as treatments for diabetes. Diabetes Care; 12(8): 553-564. PMID: 2673695
4. Center of Disease Control (2020). National Diabetes Statistic Report 2020, Estimates of Diabetes and its burden in the united states. Retrieved at: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf
5. Chang, W., Zhang, M., Li, J., Meng, Z., Wei, S., Du, H., Chen, L., & Hatch, G., (2013). Berberine improves insulin resistance in cardiomyocytes via activation of 5’adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Metabolism; 62(8): 1159-1167. PMID: 23537779
6. Chang, W., Chen, L., & Hatch, G., (2015). Berberine as a therapy for type 2 diabetes and its complication: from mechanism of action to clinical studies. Biochem Cell Biol; 93(5): 479-486. PMID: 19800084
7. Cheuh, W., & Lin, J., (2012). Protective effect of berberine on serum glucose levels in non-obese diabetic mice. International Immunopharmacology; 12(3): 534-538. PMID: 22266065
8. Choi, YH., & Lee, MG., (2006). Effects of enzyme inducers and inhibitors on the pharmacokinetics of metformin in rats: involvement of CYP2C11, 2D1, 3A1/2 for the metabolism of metformin. B J Pharmacol; 149(4): 424-30. PMID: 16940989
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16. Li, Y., Wang, Y., Kong, W., Yang, P., Wang, Y., Li, Y., Yi, H., et al., & Jiang, J., (2011). Bioactivates of berberine metabolites after transformation throughout CYP450 isoenzymes. Journal of translational medicine; 9(62): 62. PMID: 21569619
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21. Neag, M., Mocan, A., Echeverria, J., Pop, R., Bocsan, C., Crisan, G., & Buzoianu, A., (2018). Berberine: Botanical Occurrence, Traditional Uses, Extraction Methods, and Relevance in Cardiovascular, Metabolic, Hepatic, and Renal Disorders. Front Pharmacology; 9: 557. PMID: 30186157
22. Owen, M., Doran, E., & Halestrap, A., (2000). Evidence that metformin exerts its anti-diabetic effects through inhibition of complex 1 of the mitochondria respiratory chain. Biochem J; 348; 607-614. PMID: 10839993
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25. Ren, G., Guo, J., Quian, Y., Kong, W., & Jiang, J., (2020). Berberine improves glucose and lipid metabolism in HepG2 cells through AMPKα1 activation. Front Pharmacology; 11: 647. PMID: 32457629
26. Yin, J., Xing, H., & Ye, J., (2008). Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism; 57(5): 712-717. PMID: 18442638
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