What berberine is
Berberine is an alkaloid found in barberry plants. The products we sell use Indian barberry (Berberis aristata), taken from the root or the bark. On labels you will usually see it as berberine hydrochloride, written berberine HCl, which is the salt form used in most capsules.
Three kinds of products
The first kind is berberine HCl. The label states the amount of berberine hydrochloride per capsule, for example 400 mg or 500 mg. The second kind is a barberry root extract. Here the label states the extract weight and the share of berberine in it, and that share varies a lot between products. The third kind is a complex, where berberine is mixed with other plants.
| Product | Label amount | Daily dose |
|---|---|---|
| NOW Foods Berberine HCl | 500 mg berberine HCl per capsule | 1 capsule |
| Swanson Berberine HCl | 400 mg berberine HCl per capsule | 1 capsule |
| Kenay Rebersa | 500 mg berberine HCl | 2 capsules |
| Aura Herbals extract (98 % berberine HCl) | 500 mg extract, of which 490 mg berberine | 2 capsules |
| OstroVit VEGE extract (2 % berberine) | 500 mg extract, of which 10 mg berberine | 1 tablet |
| Swanson Berberine Advanced (Berbevis) | 550 mg Berbevis extract | 1 capsule |
| Swanson Berberine Complex | 450 mg berberine HCl with cinnamon, fenugreek and gymnema | 3 capsules |
How to compare labels
Look for the line that gives berberine or berberine HCl in milligrams, not just the extract. An extract standardised to 98 % and one standardised to 2 % can both say 500 mg on the front. Multiply the extract weight by the percentage to get the amount of berberine. Then check how many capsules make the daily dose and compare the price per day. Berbevis is a trademark of Indena, and Swanson combines it with sunflower lecithin. Its label states the extract amount.
How to take it and store it
Take the daily dose printed on the pack and do not exceed it. Kenay and Aura Herbals split the dose into one capsule twice a day. Store the pack at room temperature in a dry place. Aura Herbals notes that a sediment from the natural ingredients may form, and NOW Foods notes that the capsule colour may change without affecting quality.
Who should ask a doctor first
Labels in this category say berberine is not for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and several say it is for adults only. Kenay names people under 18. NOW Foods and Swanson labels ask you to consult a doctor if you take medicines or have a medical condition, and some name specific groups of medicines. If you take any prescription medicine, talk to your doctor before you start.
Berberine benefits: what we can and cannot tell you
Searches for berberine benefits are common, and the internet is full of promises. In the EU, a food supplement may carry a health claim only if the European Commission has authorised it and listed it in the EU Register of nutrition and health claims. No claim for berberine is in that register, so no seller may tell you what it does for your body. That is why our product pages stick to facts you can check on the label: the form (berberine HCl or extract), milligrams of berberine per daily dose, how the dose is split and the warnings. The two PubMed reviews listed under Sources describe how berberine is absorbed and broken down. They note that only a small part of an oral dose reaches the bloodstream, which explains why some makers combine it with lecithin or other carriers. A label may not turn that into a promise of an effect.
Questions
Which berberine is best?
We cannot rank berberine products by effect, and nobody can honestly do it on a label basis. What you can compare is the amount of berberine in milligrams per daily dose, whether it is the HCl salt or an extract with a stated percentage, what else is in the capsule and the price per day. A cheap 2 % extract and a 98 % extract are very different products even when both say 500 mg.
When should I take berberine?
Follow the label. Where the dose is two capsules, Kenay and Aura Herbals split it into one capsule twice a day, for example morning and evening. If the label says to take it with a meal, do so. Take each capsule with water.
Is berberine HCl the same as berberine?
Berberine HCl is berberine in the form of a hydrochloride salt. Labels state either the salt or the berberine content, so compare like with like.
How long does a pack last?
Divide the number of capsules by the daily dose. 90 capsules at one a day last 90 days. 60 capsules at two a day last 30 days.
Sources
- The metabolism of berberine and its contribution to the pharmacological effects (PubMed)
- Physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of berberine (PubMed)
- EU Register of nutrition and health claims
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (permitted health claims)
- EFSA: Health claims
Content reviewed by Inese Kalniņa, dietitian.
2026-08-28
