Article Summary:
- Oxidative stress is related to age-associated declines in health and wellness. Both berberine and metformin are antioxidants that protect cells from oxidative stress and support healthy aging.
- Metformin is an FDA-approved antidiabetic agent and is available only with a prescription. Although berberine is a nutritional supplement available over the counter, it is always recommended that you consult with your healthcare provider before including a new supplement in your diet.
- Tesseract’s BerberActiv® utilizes proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® technology that enables unprecedented absorption of berberine in the intestinal tract.
As we age, changes in our bodies are inevitable. Some factors that affect healthy aging, such as genetics, are not in our control. However, other factors, like regular exercise and a healthy diet, are within our reach for maintaining the quality of our lives as we age. Although a balanced and healthy diet should provide the necessary nutrients for older adults, nutritional supplements can fill most gaps in the diet. Berberine is one such natural compound that promotes healthy aging. On the other hand, metformin is an FDA-approved antidiabetic agent used to address high blood sugar levels. However, metformin is also known for its ability to slow aging.
Let’s look at berberine’s and metformin’s healthy-aging benefits and understand why you might want to include a berberine supplement in your diet.
Berberine’s and Metformin’s Healthy-Aging Benefits: A Comparison
Aging is characterized by cellular growth arrest, impaired tissue and organ function, and slowing metabolism, thereby impacting lifespan. The following cellular mechanisms are considered to be among the primary causes of aging.
- Cumulative DNA damage: Oxidative stress is the imbalance between the number of free radicals in cells and tissues and the body’s antioxidants that counter and eliminate them. Oxidative stress on cells targets the DNA, and continuous oxidative damage of the DNA is associated with several aging pathologies.
- Responsiveness of biochemical pathways: Biochemical pathways, such as adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), are involved in the transduction of several aging-related signaling pathways. The responsiveness of AMPK has been found to decline progressively with age.
Several studies establish the role of plant-derived compounds in protecting cells against oxidative stress and diminishing the risk of age-associated pathologies.
Berberine is derived from the roots, rhizomes, and stem barks of barberry, goldenseal, Oregon grape, and tree turmeric. Berberine beneficially influences several biochemical pathways, particularly AMPK, and plays a positive role in glucose metabolism, fat metabolism, weight management, and modulating gut microbiota to exert positive metabolic effects.
Historically, metformin has been derived from the plant Galega officinalis, commonly known as galega or goat’s rue. It also activates the AMPK pathway to enhance glucose sensitivity, exerts cardioprotective effects, limits age-associated cognitive decline, and helps arrest the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.
So, which one of these two bioactive compounds works better to promote healthy aging? The following table highlights berberine’s vs. metformin’s healthy-aging benefits.
| Berberine and Metformin’s Healthy-Aging Benefits | ||
| Benefits | Berberine | Metformin |
| Supports glucose metabolism*: Aging leads to lesser sensitivity of muscles and other tissues to insulin. | Berberine, via activation of AMPK, stimulates glucose uptake in muscle, liver, and adipose tissue.* | Metformin enhances insulin sensitivity through AMPK and AMPK-independent mechanisms to suppress hepatic glucose production and stimulate glucose uptake in muscle and adipose tissues. |
| Promotes cardiovascular health*: Increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) accumulation with aging causes hardening and narrowing of arteries. | Berberine helps maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels by inhibiting its intestinal absorption.* For elderly individuals who are intolerant to statin medication, berberine can serve as a suitable adjunct to cholesterol management.* | Metformin lowers free fatty acid and triglycerides levels in the body through various biochemical pathways, thereby lowering LDL levels and promoting heart health. |
| Supports healthy weight management*: Aging is closely associated with slower metabolism and subsequent weight gain. | Berberine down-regulates adipogenesis — the accumulation of fat cells or adipocytes at various sites in the body.* Berberine also helps inhibit cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis in the liver, which supports weight management efforts.* Berberine has been found to enrich the population of butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut microbiota that helps promote the synthesis of butyrate. When butyrate enters the blood, it helps lower lipid and glucose levels to promote healthy weight management. | Metformin’s role in inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis (the generation of glucose from non-carbohydrates) is considered the primary reason for its weight loss activity. Emerging evidence1 also suggests that metformin plays a role in modulating the appetite-regulating centers in the brain and altering the gut microbiome to promote weight management. |
Although berberine and metformin have different chemical structures, they share several mechanisms of action that promote healthy aging. It is worth noting that metformin is only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used as an anti-diabetic agent and is available only by a prescription. In contrast, berberine is a nutritional supplement available over-the-counter. However, it is always recommended to consult with your healthcare provider before including a new nutritional supplement in your diet.
Incorporating An Advanced Berberine Supplement in Your Diet
A major challenge with berberine is its poor bioavailability and palatability, which undermine its efficacy. Tesseract Medical Research’s BerberActiv® is an innovative nutritional supplement that contains solubility-enhanced berberine extracted from the roots of Berberis aristata. The proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology masks the intense bitterness of berberine, while ensuring the optimal absorption of billions of berberine molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract. This means your body gets the required nutritional support for healthy aging.*
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in the proprietary science of proven nutrients and unrivaled smart delivery, making them the most effective for supporting healthy aging.*
Citations:
1Yerevanian A, Alexander AS. Current Obesity Reports vol. 8,2 (2019):156-164. doi:10.1007/s13679-019-00335-3
