Berberine
A yellow plant compound, in Trim as two strengths of berberine hydrochloride extract. Pooled trials show modest changes in weight and blood markers at doses well above a serving of Trim.
Written by R. Kessler · About Knurle · Editorial policy
The short answer
Berberine is a plant compound studied for weight and blood markers. A meta-analysis of twelve randomised trials found people taking it lost 2.07 kg more than comparison groups. The trials used purified berberine, typically around a gram a day. A serving of Trim works out at about 73 mg of berberine hydrochloride.
The form, and why it matters
Berberine hydrochloride is the salt form the trials used. Trim carries it as two granular extracts: 790 mg standardised to 8% and 10 mg standardised to 97%, in a two-capsule serving. Standardised to 8% means 8% of that extract's weight is berberine hydrochloride.
Typical dose
The placebo-controlled trial most often cited gave one gram of berberine a day for three months. Trim's serving is 800 mg of extract, which is about 73 mg of berberine hydrochloride once the two percentages are worked through.
What the research shows
A meta-analysis of twelve randomised trials found body weight came down by 2.07 kg, BMI by 0.47 and waist by 1.08 cm. In 116 adults with type 2 diabetes and raised blood fats, one gram a day for three months took HbA1c from 7.5% to 6.6%. A 2004 study in 32 people with high cholesterol, with no placebo group, saw total cholesterol fall 29%. A 2015 meta-analysis gathered 27 trials and 2,569 patients, most adding berberine to existing treatment.
Who should be careful
Do not take berberine if you are pregnant or nursing, and do not give it to children. It can add to the effect of blood sugar medication and can change how some medicines are processed, so talk to your clinician first if you take any prescription. Trim is a food supplement and does not treat diabetes.
Where it sits in our formulas
| Product | Form on the label | Amount per serving | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trim | granular, bark and root | 790 mg | not established |
Sources
- Asbaghi et al., The effect of berberine supplementation on obesity parameters, inflammation and liver function enzymes, Clin Nutr ESPEN
- Zhang et al., Treatment of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia with the natural plant alkaloid berberine, J Clin Endocrinol Metab
- Kong et al., Berberine is a novel cholesterol-lowering drug working through a unique mechanism distinct from statins, Nature Medicine
- Lan et al., Meta-analysis of the effect and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia and hypertension, J Ethnopharmacol
Figures checked against the sources above on 21 September 2026.
Every milligram, printed.
Each amount on the label is the amount in a full daily serving, and it matches what is on this page.
