EXCLUSIVE: Nerilee Gregory spent $144 on a popular berberine supplement after seeing it touted as “nature’s Ozempic” on social media.
Instead of helping her lose weight, it landed her in hospital.
Now the 52-year-old from Sydney is desperately warning other Australians to do their research before buying into online claims about berberine and other supplements.
Nerilee Gregory suffered a scary adverse reaction to a popular weight loss supplement. (Supplied)
“I was the sickest I’ve ever been in my life,” she told 9news.com.au.
“I thought I was going to die.”
Berberine is a compound found in some plants, some research suggests berberine could have some health benefits.
When taken as a supplement it may lower blood sugar, increase weight loss, and improve heart health.
Macquarie University School of Natural Sciences Professor Nial Wheate said that berberine’s popularity has spiked recently due to social media claims that it is a “natural alternative to Ozempic”.
But there’s not significant scientific evidence backing up these weight loss claims.
”The evidence, as it currently stands, does not support berberine as an effect chemical to increase weight loss, so few people are likely to benefit from it,” Wheate told 9news.com.au.
“Some people may be taking it to help with regulating blood sugar levels and lowering cholesterol, but the evidence for these benefits is equally weak.”
Berberine is a compound found in some plants, including the Oregon grape (pictured). (Getty)
He added that berberine supplements are provided in Australia as unscheduled, listed medicines, which allows them to be sold over the counter in supermarkets.
But it also means that while they have been assessed for ingredient safety, they have not been tested for efficacy.
Berberine supplements are widely available in Australia from chemists, pharmacies, supermarkets and online.
Tiny capsule, hellish side-effects
Berberine’s advertised weight loss benefits appealed to Gregory, so she ordered two bottles of supplement capsules online for $144.
She claimed none of the marketing or packaging for the supplement included warnings about potential side-effects.
”The bottle just said take two tablets a day,” she said.
Within a few hours of taking her first capsule on a Saturday night, she was violently ill.
At first she thought it was food poisoning.
“I blamed my husband because he cooked the dinner,” she confessed.
For hours she was locked in the bathroom with severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
It took her days to recover.
Within a few hours of taking her first berberine supplement capsule Gregory was violently ill. (Getty)
The second time she took a berberine supplement capsule was on a Thursday morning before work.
Hours later, she had to race to the office bathroom.
Gregory claimed she was violently ill there, then managed to leave the office only to collapse outside.
”Luckily I was on my side [because] I just continued to vomit, like I had been poisoned,” she said.
“It was coming out both ends for a good two hours until there was nothing left … it nearly killed me.”
Eventually she made it to a nearby hospital, where doctors said she had experienced a severe adverse reaction to berberine.
Where are the warnings?
Gregory was floored that she had never seen any warnings about potential adverse reactions to berberine.
Macquarie University School of Natural Sciences Professor Nial Wheate said common side effects of berberine include diarrhoea, constipation, gas, and an upset stomach.
“Large quantities may be fatal,” he revealed.
Berberine is also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and it can interact with many medicines.
Supplements containing herbal substances like berberine are generally regulated by the TGA. (Getty)
Gregory knew none of this and fears many other Aussies could be in the same boat.
“I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did,” she said.
“Mine was a rare reaction, but I will never, ever buy another supplement.”
A Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) told 9news that “no medicine or other therapeutic good is totally risk-free”.
Supplements containing herbal substances like berberine are generally regulated by the TGA as therapeutic goods.
They must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before being imported to, exported from, or supplied in Australia.
Most are included as listed medicines, meaning they can only contain ingredients from a pre-approved TGA list.
“Berberine is found naturally in some plants and is a component of some herbal ingredients permitted for use in listed medicines,” the spokesperson told 9news.
There are currently no restrictions relating to berberine content in herbal permitted ingredients, but berberine has not been approved for use as an ingredient by itself in listed medicines.
“The TGA continually monitors the safety of therapeutic goods in Australia, including berberine, and takes action to address confirmed safety concerns,” they said.
Wheate urged Aussies to speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking berberine or any other supplements.
He also cautioned against buying supplements online.
”Buy only from a physical store in Australia [and] check that the front of the packaging has a TGA approval number,” he said.
This will be formatted AUST L followed by a string of numbers, e.g. AUST L 123456.
“This means the government that approved the ingredients as safe and that it has been manufactured to the highest standard,” Wheate explained.
“Don’t buy a product that doesn’t have an TGA approval number.”
The information in this article is general in nature. Please consult your GP or other healthcare professional for advice that is specific to your needs.
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