Does David Sinclair recommend Berberine?
David Sinclair recommends Berberine in some contexts, but has also raised cautions.
Published research rates it moderate evidence. Of David Sinclair's 19 tracked claims, 0 are supported or partially supported by studies on PubMed.
Evidence last reviewed May 2026
David Sinclair on Berberine — 19 claims
“This is a molecule from the plant world, bark and roots. You can find it's yellow substance. Again, it's fairly insoluble. So you if you want to take it, take it with some food, yogurt, olive oil, this kind of stuff.”
Berberine is a molecule derived from the plant world (bark and roots), is a yellow substance, and is fairly insoluble, so it should be taken with food such as yogurt or olive oil.
“this one's really interesting because it's a natural and commonly available one that you can try at home. Of course, talk to your doctor first though.”
Berberine is a natural and commonly available supplement that can be tried at home, though one should talk to their doctor first.
“So I think it's likely to be good.”
Sinclair thinks berberine is likely to be good based on animal data.
“there's a natural version of metformin, which is known as berberine, which has a lot of clinical data as well, that um has benefits as well, including lowering of blood glucose.”
Berberine is a natural alternative to metformin that works on some of the same pathways, specifically activating AMPK, and has clinical data supporting benefits including lowering of blood glucose.
“There are some human studies that exist, clinical trials showing that it increases insulin sensitivity. You have to take high doses.”
Human clinical trials show that berberine increases insulin sensitivity, but it requires high doses.
“Yeah, the clinical studies, it's at least a gram. There's one that worked with 2 g, but it does seem to work just like Metformin in improving the body's sensitivity to insulin and lowering the blood glucose levels”
Clinical studies on berberine use at least 1 gram per day, with one study using 2 grams per day, and it improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood glucose levels.
“In mice, berberine will extend the lifespan of mice treated with chemotherapy and have a pretty big lifespan extension of normally aged mice. That's also true in fruit flies.”
Berberine extends the lifespan of mice treated with chemotherapy and produces substantial lifespan extension in normally aged mice, as well as in fruit flies.
“anti type two diabetes. does have wonderful effects and in some clinical trials on dozens of people that's being tested.”
Berberine has anti-type-2-diabetes effects and wonderful effects shown in some clinical trials on dozens of people.
“it to rats and mice and seen that they are very healthy, especially on a high-fat diet.”
Berberine has been given to rats and mice with results showing they are very healthy, especially on a high-fat diet.
“berberine does have some of the similar side effects of Metformin. We don't know different groups of people might be different, but you're looking at diarrhea, constipation, gas, potentially upset stomach.”
Berberine may share some of the same gastrointestinal side effects as metformin, including diarrhea, constipation, gas, and potentially upset stomach.
“kind of get a headache, like almost hypoglycemic”
Berberine can cause near-hypoglycemic effects such as headaches.
“it's been remarkable what's been found in animals and even in people that it can mimic the effects of Metformin. Specifically, what it does is it again it binds... the activation of AMPK and increased mitochondrial energy”
Berberine has been found in animals and human studies to mimic the effects of metformin, activating AMPK and increasing mitochondrial energy.
“if I took berberine, it works very similarly of the AMPK pathway and the mTOR pathway, et cetera, in particular carbohydrates, and kind of get a headache, like almost hypoglycemic.”
Berberine works on the AMPK pathway and the mTOR pathway and particularly affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, and taking it can cause a feeling similar to hypoglycemia.
“energetics in the body, just like AMPK and Metformin does.”
Berberine affects energetics in the body just like AMPK and Metformin do.
“if I took berberine, it works very similarly of the AMPK pathway and the mTOR pathway, et cetera, in particular carbohydrates”
Berberine works very similarly to Metformin via the AMPK pathway and the mTOR pathway, particularly regarding carbohydrates.
“had access to Metformin, I was taking berberine. poor man's Metformin.”
Sinclair personally took berberine when he did not have access to Metformin, describing it as a 'poor man's Metformin.'
“there are two of choice, and I cycle between them. Serena and I do that.”
Sinclair cycles between metformin and berberine personally, along with Serena (his co-host).
“He said, if ever, I'm going to overeat like a Thanksgiving meal or something, I take berberine, those were his words.”
Ori Hofmekler reportedly takes berberine before overeating (e.g., a Thanksgiving meal) to blunt the effects of consuming large quantities of food.
“if ever, I'm going to overeat like a Thanksgiving meal or something, I take berberine, those were his words.”
An acquaintance (Ori) reported taking berberine before a large meal like Thanksgiving to manage overeating.
Other supplements David Sinclair discusses
Claims are extracted from publicly available podcasts and videos, attributed to their source, and compared against PubMed research. This is educational information only — consult a healthcare provider before starting any supplement.
Back to David Sinclair