Preventing Colon Polyps with Berberine…
Eric Madrid MD
The herb berberine, may help prevent colon polyps, which are precursors to colon cancer. Learn what the latest studies show.
The Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) shrub, which has both evergreen and deciduous plants, is the source of berberine. Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe are all home to the barberry. Vitamin C is abundant in the produced berries, which can aid in scurvy prevention.
The active component, berberine, is taken as a supplement or as a herbal snack. Scientific research has demonstrated that it offers a number of health advantages. It is frequently applied in ayurvedic medicine, an ancient Indian medical system, as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
For millennia, berberine has been utilized by traditional healers to treat infectious diarrhea. Additionally, it possesses antioxidant qualities that may help reduce inflammation and be helpful in the treatment and prevention of heart disease.
Additionally, berberine can reduce blood sugar, battle viruses and bacteria, and may even aid in the prevention of colon polyps. It is this fact that makes berberine interesting and useful to me as a family physician.
If left untreated, certain kinds of colon polyps are thought to be precancerous and may raise the chance of developing colon cancer. Adenomas are precancerous polyps that have the potential to develop into cancer. It might be advantageous to stop them from expanding and/or happening again.
Up to one in twenty persons may get colon cancer worldwide. Colon cancer is the second most frequent type of cancer in both women and men worldwide. Around the world, about 2 million people received a colon cancer diagnosis in 2018.
Risk factors for colon cancer
· Older age
· Family history
· A low-fiber diet
· A sedentary lifestyle
· Certain types of colon polyps
A good diet, frequent exercise, and colon cancer screening are crucial components of prevention. According to a study published in January 2020, berberine may be useful in halting the growth of precancerous polyps.
Over 800 persons were tested to compare Berberine’s advantages to a placebo. In 7 hospitals across China, a double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment was conducted. The age range of the participants in the study was 18 to 75. It was known that the participants had a history of precancerous polyps, most notably tubular adenomas.
429 participants received berberine 300 mg twice daily, whereas 462 people received a placebo. After starting the trial, the subjects underwent a colonoscopy 1 and 2 years later. At the conclusion of the trial, 155 participants, or 36%, had recurring colon polyps. 216 people, or 47%, received the placebo in the group.
According to the study’s findings, people who took berberine had a 23% lower risk of developing recurrent precancerous colon polyps. No major side effects were found, but 1% of berberine users did experience some constipation.
According to this study, berberine may be a useful tool for lowering one’s chance of acquiring colon polyps. People over the age of 50 should talk to their doctor about colon cancer screening procedures. Before the age of 50, those with a family history might need to be examined.
References:
Berberine and its derivatives: a patent review (2009–2012). Singh IP, Mahajan S Expert Opin Ther Pat. 2013 Feb; 23(2):215–31
Drug Metab Rev. 2017 May;49(2):139–157. doi: 10.1080/03602532.2017.1306544. Epub 2017 Apr 3.
Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Jan 8. pii: S2468–1253(19)30409–1. doi: 10.1016/S2468–1253(19)30409–1. [Epub ahead of print]
