Berberine
Glucose disposal agents or “GDAs” are not a popular mass market category of products, yet they are widely used and recommended in places like bodybuilding forums, and within the hardcore supplement users of the world.
Berberine is one of the continual mainstays in the product category due to its unquestionable effectiveness as proven in countless clinical studies as well as evidence showing it comparable to prescription drugs such as metformin and glibenclamide.
What it does
Berberine is extremely effective at reducing blood glucose levels and reducing insulin sensitivity[1][2], lowering total cholesterol levels[3], and increasing HDL cholesterol[4]. Due to its glucose lowering and insulin sensitizing benefits, berberine has been shown to decrease body fat while potentially increasing lean muscle.
How it works
Berberine works by activating an enzyme known as the adenosine mMonophosphate-activated protein kinase or AMPK while simultaneously inhibiting the PTP1B enzyme.
AMPK works by stimulating glucose uptake in our skeletal muscle cells, giving many users the “insulin-like” effects they desire from GDAs. As a result of this, users should always consume carbohydrates with or after dosing berberine to prevent from going hypoglycemic.
Dosing
Average dosing of berberine is 500-2,000mg/day taken with or directly after carbohydrate-rich meals. Most studies utilize a 500mg dose taken with or directly after each major meal of the day.