Berberine and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Hope or Hype?

[Extract] Berberine, an odorless isoquinoline alkaloid derived from the Berberis species, has recently gained significant public attention as a metabolic supplement. Its popularity has been amplified by non-medical messaging primarily through social media, where it is often promoted as “Nature's Ozempic”- a potential alternative to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. This framing is appealing, but it is also potentially misleading. In this commentary, we pose a sharper question: does the current evidence justify viewing berberine as a meaningful adjunct in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), or has enthusiasm outpaced the data?

Pharmacology Research & Perspectives

Pharmacology Research & Perspectives

14

2052-1707

N/A

4

5