The effect of berberine on obesity indices: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
Berberine use significantly reduces body weight, BMI, and WC but does not significantly reduce WHR. Future trials should focus on improving reporting standards for biochemical characterization (such as purity, potency and gram amounts) and address common biases such as lack of blinding and randomization to enhance the reliability of the evidence.
Study context
- Population
- Adults in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of berberine reporting weight, BMI, WC or WHR23 articles
- Comparison
- Berberine vs control
- Outcome
- Obesity indices: body weight, BMI, WC, WHR
Methodological detailsrandom-effects meta-analysis, Cochrane RoB 2 risk-of-bias assessment, meta-regression
- Random-effects meta-analysis
- Cochrane RoB 2 risk-of-bias assessment
- Meta-regression
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Obesity indices
Berberine vs ControlMD, kg (95% CI)P value
Body weight
−0.88(−1.36 to −0.39)
P = 0.0003Berberine vs ControlMD, kg/m² (95% CI)P value
BMI
−0.48(−0.89 to −0.07)
P < 0.0216WC (unit as printed)
−1.32(−2.24 to −0.41)
P < 0.0046Berberine vs ControlMD (95% CI)
WHR; not significant
−0.01(−0.03 to 0.01)
Further pooled results
Meta-regression by age
- No association between berberine use and age
Original publication
The effect of berberine on obesity indices: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 27 November 2025. doi:10.
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