Berberine vs NAC for appetite
Short answer: For appetite, users rate them about the same: 87% report improvement with Berberine (15 reports) and 90% with NAC (31 reports).
Berberine has 109 meta-analyses and 110 randomized trials on PubMed; NAC has 387 and 767.
Based on 294 reports about Berberine and 1,645 about NAC. Not medical advice.
| Berberine Supplement | NAC Supplement | |
|---|---|---|
| User score | 47 | 49 |
| Verdict | Mixed | Mixed |
| Positive of reports that state an outcome | 56% | 55% |
| Reports | 294 | 1,645 |
| Research | AResearch: Strong | AResearch: Strong |
| Meta-analyses / RCTs | 109 / 110 | 387 / 767 |
| Mainly used for | ||
| Weight loss % reporting improvement | 84% (19) | 75% (4) |
| Appetite % reporting improvement | 87% (15) | 90% (31) |
| Focus % reporting improvement | 33% (6) | 82% (156) |
| Energy % reporting improvement | 90% (21) | 74% (78) |
| Sleep % reporting improvement | 75% (4) | 71% (41) |
| Anxiety % reporting improvement | 50% (8) | 90% (259) |
| Mood % reporting improvement | 86% (14) | 65% (274) |
| Memory % reporting improvement | — | 79% (14) |
| Performance % reporting improvement | 67% (3) | 75% (8) |
| Recovery % reporting improvement | — | 86% (14) |
| Pain & inflammation % reporting improvement | 100% (4) | 86% (28) |
| Digestion % reporting improvement | 60% (15) | 72% (18) |
| Libido % reporting improvement | — | 29% (7) |
| Hormones % reporting improvement | 67% (3) | 88% (8) |
| Blood sugar % reporting improvement | 86% (58) | 100% (3) |
| Heart & lipids % reporting improvement | 92% (13) | 67% (12) |
| Skin & hair % reporting improvement | — | 89% (18) |
| Immunity % reporting improvement | — | 97% (34) |
| Longevity % reporting improvement | 50% (2) | 100% (7) |
| Common side effects | stomach issues, fatigue, constipation, anxiety | anhedonia, fatigue, stomach issues, depression |
| Typical dose reported | 400-500 mg / daily | as needed |
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 ↗“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.”
Taken together, these preliminary findings suggest that dietetic approaches might be included as part of BD treatment. Also considering the high risk of metabolic disorders in individuals with BD, they should be encouraged to choose healthy dietary lifestyles, including daily intake of fruits, vegetables, seafood and whole grains.
Nutr Neurosci, 2023 ↗“NAC has helped me stay calm and reduce anxiety as well as gives me loads of energy if I am sleep deprived.”
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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