PlainPill

Apple Cider Vinegar vs Berberine for blood sugar

Short answer: For blood sugar, more users report improvement with Apple Cider Vinegar — 100% of 5 reports, versus 86% of 58 for Berberine.

Apple Cider Vinegar has 6 meta-analyses and 5 randomized trials on PubMed; Berberine has 109 and 110.

Based on 51 reports about Apple Cider Vinegar and 294 about Berberine. Not medical advice.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Supplement
Berberine
Supplement
User score5547
Verdict
Mostly positive
Mixed
Positive
of reports that state an outcome
84%56%
Reports51294
ResearchBResearch: ModerateAResearch: Strong
Meta-analyses / RCTs6 / 5109 / 110
Mainly used for
Weight loss
% reporting improvement
—84% (19)
Appetite
% reporting improvement
100% (2)87% (15)
Focus
% reporting improvement
100% (2)33% (6)
Energy
% reporting improvement
75% (4)90% (21)
Sleep
% reporting improvement
100% (2)75% (4)
Anxiety
% reporting improvement
—50% (8)
Mood
% reporting improvement
—86% (14)
Performance
% reporting improvement
—67% (3)
Pain & inflammation
% reporting improvement
—100% (4)
Digestion
% reporting improvement
83% (6)60% (15)
Hormones
% reporting improvement
—67% (3)
Blood sugar
% reporting improvement
100% (5)86% (58)
Heart & lipids
% reporting improvement
—92% (13)
Longevity
% reporting improvement
—50% (2)
Common side effectsstomach issuesstomach issues, fatigue, constipation, anxiety
Typical dose reported2 tbsp400-500 mg / daily
Apple Cider Vinegar
Latest review conclusion

We found a significant favorable effect of ACV consumption on FPG and blood lipid levels.

BMC Complement Med Ther, 2021 ↗
What a user said
“Apple Cider Vinegar and water. It's changed my gut health for the better.”
Full Apple Cider Vinegar profile →
Berberine
Latest review conclusion

Treatment with berberine may be safe since it does not increase the incidence of total adverse events and the risk of hypoglycemia. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=292975, identifier CRD42021292975.

Front Pharmacol, 2022 ↗
What a user said
“I started berberine and inositol, and began having energy that I did not have before. Somehow, my recovery after working out wasn't as long either.”
Full Berberine profile →

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Percentages come from first-hand user reports and are not clinical outcomes. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. How we rate