The $12 supplement being hailed as ‘nature’s Ozempic’ that has people ditching the weight-loss shots

Ozempic, Wegovy and similar drugs have revolutionized weight loss, allowing people to drop major pounds in a fraction of the time it typically takes with diet and exercise alone.

However, with undesirable side effects and price tags of more than $1,000 per month, people are increasingly looking for GLP-1 alternatives – and one supplement dubbed ‘nature’s Ozempic’ has taken the market by storm. 

Berberine, which sells for anywhere from $12 to $50 for 60 pills, is a plant-based compound commonly derived from barberry, goldenseal and Oregon grape. It has been used for hundreds of years in traditional medicine to treat infections and digestive issues and has also been used to manage blood sugar in diabetics 

It is similar to GLP-1 agonists, which were originally approved to treat diabetes, because it improves insulin sensitivity and reduces glucose production – two key issues for diabetics. 

However, the dietary supplement, available without a prescription, has ‘far more modest’ effects than drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy when it come to weight loss, Dr Erik Nuveen, a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon, told the Daily Mail. 

Nuveen explained that berberine activates AMPK, an enzyme in the body that plays a role in cell energy. When AMPK is activated, your body burns more fat for fuel, uses sugar more efficiently, clears out damaged cells and protects the body from inflammation and fat buildup in the liver. 

With GLP-1s, the weight loss mostly comes from the drugs suppressing appetite and reducing how much a user eats. 

Multiple studies have shown that taking berberine can lead to weight loss, but doctors tell the Daily Mail that despite its widespread availability without a prescription, and the flood of influencers promoting the supplement on social media, berberine’s weight-loss impact is largely ‘overhyped’ and the supplement isn’t safe for everyone.

Dr Hector Perez, a board-certified bariatric surgeon at Renew Bariatrics, told the Daily Mail the supplement sets ‘unrealistic expectations and pushes people to avoid proven care.’ 

‘I’ve had morbidly obese patients delay needed treatment for years while they keep self-medicating with [over-the-counter] supplements, and by the time they finally decide to try medication or surgery, they’re worse off than before,’ Perez said. 

And while berberine is similar to a GLP-1 agonist in that both improve insulin sensitivity, the comparison ‘is simply exaggerated marketing.’

With a GLP-1 drug like Ozempic or Wegovy, the medication acts on the brain’s appetite centers. It squashes cravings and appetite, and slows gastric emptying to make people feel fuller longer. 

Berberine, on the other hand, mostly works by activating AMPK.

‘Simply put, Ozempic changes your appetite while berberine tweaks your metabolism, and that’s a massive difference in clinical effect,’ Perez explained.

Nuveen added that berberine’s effects ‘are far more modest compared to prescription GLP-1 medications.’

‘The comparison [between berberine and Ozempic] exists because berberine can produce some overlapping metabolic effects, such as improved blood sugar control and mild weight loss,’ he said.

‘However, the similarity largely ends there. Prescription GLP-1 drugs are far more powerful mechanisms. Berberine is simply much less potent, and equating the two can create unrealistic expectations.’

In clinical trials, GLP-1 drugs generally led to a five to 25 percent loss of starting body weight over one to two years. Users of tirzepatide, sold as Zepbound and Mounjaro, saw the biggest drop at 21 percent in 72 weeks. 

Users of semaglutide, sold as Wegovy and Ozempic, experienced a 15 percent loss between 68 and 104 weeks. 

For berberine, one 2020 meta analysis of 12 studies found that users lost 4.5lbs and 0.4in off their waist. 

A 2025 meta-analysis of 23 trials found berberine reduced weight by about 2lbs and waist circumference by 0.5in. 

Both analyses included studies that varied in time from two to six months. 

Dr Fernando Ovalle, a plastic surgeon and obesity medicine specialist, not only also called the supplement ‘overhyped,’ but said it’s ‘natural’ label is ‘potentially misleading.’

‘”Natural” does not necessarily mean effective or risk-free,’ he said. ‘The real risk is that people delay evidence-based obesity treatment or combine supplements unsafely because they assume there’s no downside.’ 

Because Berberine is classified as a dietary supplement, it does not have to undergo the same level of safety and efficacy testing that FDA-approved products do. Additionally, it is not overseen by any regulatory body, meaning there is no way to know what is truly in a capsule, pill or powder claiming to be berberine.

Dr Evan Nadler, the former co-director of the Children’s Obesity Program at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, also raised safety concerns. 

‘It’s definitely not safe for just anyone to use berberine,’ Nadler told the Daily Mail. 

‘Many supplements have side effects, and berberine is no different. It’s most common side effects are gastrointestinal such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain and gas. 

‘It can interact with prescribed medications, so it should definitely be used only in conjunction with a medical professional if being used for something like diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol, or weight management.’

He also said that berberine isn’t suitable for children or pregnant women, as well as anyone who has multiple medical problems. 

‘Where [berberine] becomes more complicated is its potential interactions with other drugs and medications, as well as inappropriate use,’ Ovalle said. ‘For example, berberine can interact with and may amplify the effects of diabetes medications, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.’

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to the brain not getting enough glucose, which is needed for the organ to function. Complications include cognitive impairment, seizures, coma, heart attacks, brain damage and death. 

Instead of reaching for a berberine supplement, the experts speaking to the Daily Mail all gave similar advice to lose weight without medications or supplements. They suggested increasing fiber intake, reducing ultra-processed foods and refined carbs, doing resistance training and weight-bearing exercises, limiting alcohol, getting adequate quality sleep, eating protein with each meal and going for a walk after dinner. 

‘Exercise remains the gold standard,’ Nuveen said.

‘Regular physical activity – especially weight-bearing and resistance exercise – improves insulin sensitivity and metabolic health more reliably than any supplement. 

‘From a nutrition standpoint, limiting refined carbohydrates while prioritizing adequate protein and healthy fats supports the body’s natural metabolic signaling. Supplements can play a small role, but lifestyle fundamentals always matter more.’