For months, we have been hearing claims concerning the importance of GLP-1 and the expensive process of injecting a substance that acts like it into the body. Meanwhile, some researchers work on ways to induce the body to make more of its own hormone, right inside the gut microbiome, where it does the most good. The concept is to get in there where food cravings originate and stop them in their tracks.
According to an illustrated explanation, here is what happens. In the distal colon, beneficial bacteria go to work on fiber and metabolize it into butyrate, acetate, and propionate, meanwhile secreting P9 and other essential proteins, and stimulating mucin rejuvenation. All this activity in turn stimulates the production of GLP-1, which tells the pancreas to make insulin, which then alerts the brain to deactivate the mouth from eating, and instructs the stomach to hold onto its contents and not empty so fast. Et voilà! Food cravings are vanquished!
Now, this is based on preclinical studies, a phrase which often translates as, “Come back in a year, when we have solid results.” But the makers of this “powerful, multi-strain probiotic” sound very sure of themselves. The whole secret to their product or, to be fair, any similar products that might come along, is to encourage the thriving of the very best, most helpful and efficient strains of gut bacteria — in this case, a strain called Akkermansia and another known as Clostridium butyricum.
Here is the paragraph that catches the reader’s attention and encourages the eternal springing of hope:
Gut bacteria can significantly impact weight, independent of genes. Transplanting the microbiome from an obese twin drives obesity. Conversely, transplanting the microbiome from a healthy twin drives weight loss.
Moving on… A previous post took a deep dive into berberine, which turns out to not be everything that some folks say it is. The longer the subject is pursued, the more it seems that debunking berberine has become a minor industry. Yes, the substance appears to lower fasting blood sugar levels, and even to reduce BMI in some cases. And it does seem to encourage beneficial gut bacteria while suppressing the harmful kind.
On the other hand, it also produces unpleasant side effects like nausea, constipation, and diarrhea, just like the expensive injectables. Also, the list of people who should avoid it altogether includes “children and adolescents, pregnant and breastfeeding women, diabetic individuals and individuals with liver or heart disorders…” — so there’s that. On the third hand, unlike the GLP-1 RA drugs, berberine has not been observed to cause mental health issues, which would be a definite plus, if only it actually did a useful job.
In France, the agency that looks into food, environmental and occupational health, and safety, is called ANSES, and it…
[…] draws the attention of healthcare professionals to berberine’s ability to interact with numerous drugs, which could compromise the efficacy of certain treatments… [C]onsuming berberine-containing food supplements in combination with a drug treatment can inhibit its effects or lead to adverse effects… [T]he safety of use of these food supplements cannot currently be guaranteed.
Via a website in the business of selling a brand of semaglutide that costs only a fraction of what Ozempic does, Dr. Melissa VanSickle says this of berberine:
A significant challenge is its poor bioavailability; only a small portion is absorbed into the bloodstream when taken orally… Human clinical trials are few and often lack robustness. Some studies indicate that Berberine can lower blood sugar and improve cholesterol in type 2 diabetes patients, but these results are not definitive enough to recommend it as a standalone treatment.
A McGill University article comes right out and uses the H-word in the title: “Berberine. Don’t swallow the hype. Or the pill.“:
Berberine may indeed be “natural,” not that this has any relevance… Berberine has nothing to do with GLP-1.
The piece scoffs at the barely relevant studies found in “low-impact journals” with wildly varying dosages or the inclusion of other substances; or which have not tested the substance in subjects whose only problem was extra weight. Via another source, Dr. Lisa Kroon, who holds a very high academic position, confirmed:
It’s absolutely not nature’s Ozempic and does not work like Ozempic… It is a completely different mechanism… I think people are just grasping here and manufacturers of these supplements are just kind of creating a hype to try to be appealing for people looking for a magic potion to help them lose weight.
So. Definitely not a substitute for the GLP-1 drugs.
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “The Science Behind GLP-1 Probiotic,” PendulumLife.com, undated
Source: “Use of berberine-containing plants in food supplements,” Anses.fr, 11/25/19
Source: “Berberine vs Ozempic®: Understanding the differences,” BMIDoctors.com, 01/12/24
Source: “Berberine. Don’t swallow the hype. Or the pill.,” McGill.ca, 06/22/23
Source: “Berberine Isn’t ‘Nature’s Ozempic.’ But It May Help Manage These Conditions,” VeryWellHealth.com, 06/08/23
Image by NIH Image Gallery/Attribution 2.0 Generic
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