Adjunctive berberine reduces antipsychotic‐associated weight gain and metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences Vol. 76; no. 3; pp. 77 - 85
• Main Authors: Chan, MeiYan, Qin, Zongshi, Man, Sui‐Cheung, Lam, Ming, Lai, Wing Him, Ng, Roger Man Kin, Lee, Che Kin, Wong, Tak Luen, Lee, Edwin Ho Ming, Wong, Hei Kiu, Feng, Yibin, Liu, Lanying, Han, Feng, Chen, Eric Yu Hai, Zhang, Zhang‐Jin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 01.03.2022; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Antipsychotic Agents - adverse effects; Antipsychotics; Berberine; Berberine - adverse effects; Body mass index; Body weight gain; Cholesterol; Double-Blind Method; Hemoglobin; Humans; Mental disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - chemically induced; Metabolic Syndrome - drug therapy; Patients; Placebos; Psychosis; Psychotropic drugs; randomized controlled trial; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - drug therapy; Statistical analysis; Weight Gain; metabolic syndrome; Schizophrenia; weight gain; berberine; randomized controlled trial
• ISSN: 1323-1316; 1440-1819
• DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13323

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of berberine as an adjuvant in treating antipsychotic‐associated weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Methods One hundred thirteen participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who had developed metabolic syndrome were recruited. They were randomly assigned to berberine (600 mg/d, n = 58) or placebo (n = 55) groups for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change from baseline to week 12 in net weight. Secondary outcomes included body mass index, waist circumference, serum glucose and lipid profiles, and the severity of psychotic symptoms. Results Compared with the placebo group, the berberine group showed a significantly greater reduction in weight gain at 9 weeks (mean difference [MD], −0.75; 95% CI, −1.42 to −0.07 [P = 0.031, d = 0.41]) and 12 weeks (MD, –1.08; 95% CI, −1.76 to −0.40 [P = 0.002, d = 0.59]). Patients who received berberine also showed statistically significant improvements in end point in body mass index (MD, –0.41; 95% CI, −0.65 to −0.17 [P = 0.001, d = 0.64]), total cholesterol (MD, –0.58; 95% CI, −0.74 to −0.41 [P < 0.001, d = 1.31]), low‐density lipoprotein (MD, –0.52; 95% CI, −0.68 to −0.35 [P < 0.001, d = 1.19]), and glycated hemoglobin (MD, –0.09; 95% CI, −0.18 to 0 [P = 0.05, d = 0.37]). Berberine was well tolerated without serious adverse events and aggravation of psychotic symptoms compared with placebo. Conclusion The findings suggest that berberine is effective in attenuating antipsychotic‐associated weight gain and metabolic syndrome.