What do we know about berberine patches?
Berberine patches show interesting results in laboratory and animal research for wounds, eczema, psoriasis and joint complaints, but no studies in humans have yet been conducted, so no clinical conclusions can currently be drawn from them.
Berberine patches do not yet exist as a product you can buy in a shop. The applications being explored are experimental: hydrogels, nanofibre membranes, microneedle patches and gels with lipid vesicles (tiny fat droplets that enclose a substance and transport it through the skin). They deliver berberine, a plant-derived alkaloid, directly through the skin to the site of the complaint, without the substance passing through the intestines.
For wound care, laboratory tests show that a berberine nanofibre membrane absorbs blood more quickly and promotes clotting better than ordinary gauze, and that it has broad antibacterial activity. A cellulose-based hydrogel releases more than 100 micrograms of berberine per square centimetre through an artificial skin model within 24 hours, without causing damage to skin cells. Another hydrogel reduced harmful cell growth in cell culture, the kind that can impede chronic wound healing, by around 25% less unwanted cell growth.
In eczema, a berberine hydrogel reduced redness, crusting and inflammatory substances in mice, and improved the skin barrier. For psoriasis, a combination of berberine and mangiferin in a self-forming gel worked better than either substance alone, partly because it appeared to inhibit a specific immune process. A microneedle patch inspired by traditional cupping delivered berberine through the skin more efficiently and reduced inflammation in laboratory and animal tests. For joint complaints, a microneedle patch containing berberine and sinomenine reduced inflammation and unwanted blood vessel formation in mice with rheumatoid arthritis better than either substance alone. A gel containing berberine in lipid vesicles reduced cartilage breakdown in animals without causing liver or kidney damage.
All of these findings come exclusively from laboratory and animal research. No studies have been conducted in humans. This means it is too early to say whether berberine patches are safe and effective in people. If you want to use berberine for skin conditions or joint complaints, there is currently no evidence from human studies to support this, whether for patches or capsules. The research is still too limited to recommend it.
All eight sources are non-indexed publications (no RCTs, no systematic reviews). The findings come entirely from in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (mouse/animal) research. Not a single source contains human clinical data.
Is berberine safe to use if you are taking medication?
Berberine can influence the blood levels of certain medications, although the clinical significance is unclear in most cases. If you are taking medication, discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist before using berberine.
How much berberine do you need per day?
For blood sugar regulation in type 2 diabetes, 500 mg three times daily (1500 mg per day) for at least 8 to 12 weeks is the best-supported schedule; for cholesterol, 500 mg twice daily is the starting point. If you have a condition or use medication, always discuss this with your doctor.
What do we really know about metformin and ageing?
Metformin may extend your healthy years by helping to prevent disease, from diabetes to heart and vascular disease. Whether it also slows ageing itself in people without diabetes is for the TAME trial to show, the first large study to test that directly. If you are considering it for that reason, expect stomach and bowel complaints and a falling folate level.
What are peptides and how do they work in the body?
Peptides are small protein fragments with a wide range of functions in the body, from hormones to defence substances. As a supplement, collagen peptides have the strongest evidence base, particularly for joint pain in active people, but do not expect miracles: the effects are modest and not everyone benefits.
What are the side effects of metformin?
Metformin causes gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting in a substantial proportion of users. Discuss with your doctor whether the dose can be built up gradually, or consider an alternative if the complaints persist.
Does spermidine actually do anything against ageing?
Spermidine has a well-supported mechanism of action and promising results in animal research, but evidence that a supplement actually works in humans is still lacking. Getting more spermidine through food, such as legumes and wholegrain cereals, is a safe and sensible choice.