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).

Lactobacillus reuteri is a probiotic of potential benefit to everyone, but may be of particular interest to these groups of people:

• smokers and ex-smokers;
• those with a large waist circumference;
• those suffering from chronic stress (whether caused by professional, relationship, or financial concerns, etc.).
• those with hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension or diabetes;
• those whose diet is less than healthy;
• those exposed to air pollution or road traffic.

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.

The Lactobacillus reuteri probiotic strains need to be live in order to exert their beneficial effects. To be precise, they need to be live at the moment they enter the intestinal tract. This means surviving the emptying motions of the stomach, acid secretions, aggressive enzymes, the violence of the pyloric sphincter, contact with bile … Not to mention the manufacturing process, encapsulation and storage!

In this respect, it’s safe to say SuperSmart has pulled out all the stops, with the use of:

• Freeze-drying (rather than spray-drying). It’s expensive but it improves the probiotics’ stability.
• Anti-humidity DRcaps®. Numerous studies have shown that humidity significantly accelerates damage to probiotics, causing browning or the Maillard reaction, which massively reduces their viability.
• Gastro-resistant DRcaps®. Conventional capsules dissolve in the stomach due to its acidity. It is in this inhospitable environment that billions of dehydrated probiotics are released. They are instantly rehydrated, thus leaving their dormant state, but they have to survive the stomach’s acidity if they are to arrive in a live condition in the gut, a milder environment with all the conditions they need for growth. In theory, most probiotics from the Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus genera are able to survive the stomach, especially if the supplement is taken in the morning on an empty stomach, and if it has been stored properly, but in practice, a significant number will not make it through. That’s why we have opted for capsules that only disintegrate after they have passed through the stomach (between 50 and 70 minutes after ingestion in the case of DR Caps, 45 minutes after for conventional capsules). This means the probiotics have less contact time with the acid elements of the stomach.
• Storage in a refrigerated, dry place throughout the period between its manufacture and dispatch, with the least possible exposure of the probiotics to ambient temperatures during the stages of dispatch and delivery.
• Packaging the capsules in hermetically-sealed, resealable containers to minimise contact with air.

DR Caps™ are certified 100% vegetarian and contain no synthetic coatings.

The recommended daily dose for our Lactobacilli reuteri supplement is two capsules, which provides an exceptional 5 billion microorganisms a day.

It’s advisable to supplement for at least two months to obtain initial results, though many scientists have confirmed the benefits of year-long supplementation. Probiotics should ideally be taken 20 to 30 minutes before breakfast or lunch.

To preserve the integrity of the probiotics, it’s advisable to keep our supplement refrigerated.

Note: a probiotic is not intended to colonise the gut mucosa for very long. Some strains are able to develop there for a few hours, others for a few weeks (it all depends on how long the strain keeps working), but in general, the effects of probiotics cease quite soon after supplementation stops. However, this period of activity is for the most part sufficient to exert significant benefits

We recommend adopting the following measures throughout your supplementation with Lactobacillus reuteri:

• Maintain a healthy weight, making sure you reduce abdominal fat which surrounds the viscera which is worse for the heart than fat stored elsewhere.
• Eat healthily. Diet has a significant influence on blood lipids and therefore on the risk of cardiovascular problems.
• Get sufficient restorative sleep. Poor sleep is a factor in cardiovascular risk and in gaining body fat.
• If you have a moderate or high risk of cardiovascular problems, take specific supplements, such as phytosterols,marine-source omega-3 supplements, white willow bark (nature’s aspirin) or the excellent formulation Triple Protect.

If you suffer from digestive problems, you may also be interested in our digestive enzymes supplement.

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 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.