Plants from the Berberis genus grow in all the world’s semi-tropical regions. That’s why berberine is such an integral part of the major systems of traditional medicine, such as Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine.

Our berberine supplement is obtained from Berberis vulgaris (common barberry) which grows predominantly in Iran, the world’s largest producer with 11,000 hectares of cultivation. Various parts of the plant are suitable for therapeutic use, namely the bark, the root and the stem, though it’s the dried barberries which are most commonly-used (3 – 4). It has been judged completely safe for human use by the American FDA (5).

Barberry contains other alkaloids such as oxyacanthine, berbamine, bervulcine and columbamine, but it’s berberine which attracts most interest among the scientific community. That’s why we’ve chosen to enrich our natural extract with berberine (guaranteed to contain 97% active principles).

The Berberis vulgaris extract offered by Supersmart is standardised to 97% berberine, the highest percentage available to buy on the market. It contains nothing else apart from natural acacia fibre and rice flour, completely safe, natural-source excipients. It represents a considerable technical achievement as producing berberine in a capsule is not easy.

There are several supplements available to buy at Supersmart which may be of interest for helping to prevent high blood sugar and improve cardiovascular health.

• For example, the compounds in the formulation Carbo Defense™ can help control carbohydrate metabolism, primarily by reducing the absorption of sugars in the small intestine.
• DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), sold in supplement form as Super DHA, helps maintain normal triglyceride levels (10).
• PectaSol® (a natural concentrate of lemon pectins) helps reduce post-prandial increases in blood sugar (when taken with meals at a dose of at least 10g) (11).
• Beta 1.3/1.6 Glucan, a natural substance obtained from yeast cell walls, helps maintain optimal cholesterol levels (12).

And if you like taking phytonutrients, you also have a number of options:

• Apple Polyphenols, a concentrate of apple polyphenols.
• A broccoli extract standardized in sulforaphane glucosinolate.
• Olive Leaf Extract, a ‘Mediterranean’ formulation with a triple action against cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Double Pomegranate, a pomegranate-based supplement with high antioxidant potency.

The therapeutic dose used in the majority of clinical studies is between 200mg and 500mg, two to three times a day. Supersmart’s berberine comes in 500mg vegetarian capsules, to be taken just before meals, at these same intervals.

If you find swallowing capsules hard, there’s nothing to prevent you from breaking open the capsules and diluting the contents in a glass of water, fruit juice or yoghurt. Berberine is actually converted by oral flora into dihydroberberine, which may be absorbed better in the gut (13).

Updated: April 2018

Note: this product should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. It’s important to follow the guidelines on how to take it and the recommended dose, and to use it by the ‘best before’ date. It is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or for children under 15. Keep out of children’s reach. Store in a cool, dry place.

This product’s capsules are made of pullulan, a natural polysaccharide obtained by fermenting tapioca or corn. Pullulan contains no animal ingredients and provides an excellent barrier to oxygen, helping to preserve the integrity of the capsule’s ingredients. It is also an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic materials.

This product’s capsules are composed of HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), a plant substance derived from cellulose. HPMC is widely used for medicines and dietary supplements. It contains no animal ingredients, is recognised as safe by health authorities and is considered more sustainable than synthetic alternatives.