At this point in 2023, who more and who less has a brother-in-law, a cousin, a neighbor or a co-worker who “has taken the injections that lose weight”. If you are from the resistance and this sounds Chinese to you, go ahead because semaglutide and liraglutide are two relatively new drugs, subject to medical prescription, indicated for weight loss as long as they are accompanied by healthy lifestyles (food , exercise, mental health).

Advantages of these drugs? They have shown that they can help lose weight to some people with obesity who are stagnant and who have spent years engaged in diets and exercise without seeing results.

Drawbacks? Unfortunately, its use is trivialized in many cases, being used for people who are not obese but are simply looking for a shortcut to remove “those extra kilos”.. Of course, like all drugs, semaglutide, liraglutide, and other cousins in the family also have side effects.. It is essential that these drugs are only prescribed to people who are really candidates for using them according to the data sheet.

What is berberine and why is it successful on 'TikTok'?

This Chemical Compound Named After A Marvel Superhero Wasn't Born Yesterday. It is extracted from plants such as barberry and its millennial use was recorded on clay tablets from the library of the Assyrian emperor Ashurbanipal, dated 650 BC.. Berberine has always aroused therapeutic interest, although, yes, its “benefits” have evolved over time.

In the time of Ashurbanipal, berberine was proposed, in fine, to purify the blood (although the reality is that it was the Fortasec of the time). A few years ago it was called “the little sister of metformin” and now it triumphs on TikTok as “the natural Ozempic”. Is this true? We could say that “when the river sounds, water carries” or, as I always like to repeat, that all hoaxes or tendentious headlines have a leg of truth. But let's see what the science says.

Berberine and Ozempic or how to confuse speed with bacon

Despite being dubbed “the natural Ozempic”, berberine acts in the body with a very different mechanism of action than semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in Ozempic.. The mechanism of action of semaglutide is well defined and is based on the fact that this molecule has a structure similar to satiating hormones, being able to fit into their same receptors like a puzzle piece.. In this way, semaglutide “tricks” our body into thinking that we are full.. As a consequence, food and energy intake is reduced and eventually the patient loses weight.

The big difference is that the molecular mechanisms that link berberine to weight loss are multiple, not well defined, and bear no relation to the mechanism of action of semaglutide.. It is true that in some clinical trials it has been observed that berberine could be useful for reducing appetite, improving glucose metabolism and modulating the microbiota.. but there is no evidence of a sufficient level to affirm that these effects are truly useful when treating the different pathologies. It's like comparing a high-speed train to a bicycle (and not being sure that the bicycle has air in the tires).

From the gold rush to the Ozempic rush

It is a fact that, due to their efficacy, both semaglutide and liraglutide have become a “obscure object of desire”, even by people without obesity. The problem is that its high price and the fact that it is a drug subject to medical prescription could lead many people to think that berberine is a “slightly less effective” but cheaper option, without a prescription, and without side effects.. Mistake!

There are still few trials that have been carried out evaluating its effectiveness in weight loss in humans.. And while most people who take berberine tolerate it well, it's not a harmless substance.. On the one hand, these supplements can cause nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure and/or tingling in the hands and feet.. On the other hand, it is important to note that berberine may be responsible for drug interactions, for example, with drugs such as metformin.. In this case, berberine can enhance the effect of metformin, causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

There are no shortcuts in weight loss

If an overweight or obese person is considering trying any of the new pharmacological options, the first step is to consult their doctor to see if they really are a candidate.

The second step, both in the affirmative and negative case, will be to establish a comprehensive plan to address an improvement in your metabolic health.. Let's remember: in weight loss there are no shortcuts, neither pharmacological nor natural.

In weight loss, it is only possible to work hand in hand with specialists to find a 360º plan adapted to the needs of each person.