However, the team of researchers from Greece, Cyprus, and Italy emphasized a key limitation for product developers: “Because no single-agent arms were included, individual component contributions and synergy remain undetermined” they wrote.
They noted that the combination supplement requires future studies to establish its individual and combined effects, including in key populations such as those with type 2 diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome.
How the active ingredients work
Berberine is a yellow alkaloid compound found in various medicinal plants, including barberry, goldenseal, and Oregon grape. It has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine and has more recently been dubbed “nature’s Ozempic” due to its potential for weight management.
It works primarily by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). This is key in maintaining energy balance and blood sugar management.
However, earlier this year, EFSA concluded that it cannot establish a safe daily intake level for berberine due to data gaps and potential risks such as genotoxicity, calling its future as a supplement into question.
White mulberry (Morus alba) leaf extract is rich in a natural compound called 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ). DNJ is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that slows carbohydrate digestion by blocking the abortion of sugars. Blunting the rise in blood glucose after a meal can reduce insulin secretion and improve insulin sensitivity. This can also have positive effects on body fat regulation “since reduced postprandial insulin secretion limits lipogenesis and favors lipolysis,” the study noted. Lastly, DNJ may also positively influence gut hormones such as GLP-1 and PYY, which control appetite and satiety.
Chromium is a trace element that improves glycemic control. It is widely used in supplements to improve weight management and metabolism and may help to prevent metabolic syndrome. It works by enhancing insulin binding and increasing the number of active receptors in cell membranes.
Study details
Researchers randomly assigned 93 adults with obesity and no diagnosed chronic diseases to receive a supplement containing berberine, white mulberry leaf extract, and chromium picolinate, or a placebo, for 12 weeks.
They evaluated the effects of the interventions on insulin sensitivity using the Matsuda Composite Insulin Sensitivity Index derived from a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Body composition measurements included body mass index, total body fat mass, and visceral fat rating.
The results revealed that the supplement group’s overall insulin sensitivity was 28% higher than the placebo group after mathematically adjusting for baseline differences.
In addition, the supplement group showed significantly greater reductions in body mass index (adjusted mean difference −1.24 kg per square meter), total body fat mass (−2.35 kg), and visceral fat rating (−0.92 units).
However, the researchers noted that methods such as MRI or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry would be required in ordre to make any mechanistic claim about the supplements’s effect on visceral fat.
Because the study didn’t evaluate the individual ingredients of the supplement, the researchers recommended further studies to establish the contributions of each component.
Source: Nutrients 2026, 18(17), 2801; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18172801, “Effects of Berberine, White Mulberry Leaf Extract and Chromium Picolinate on Body Composition and Insulin Resistance in Adults with Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Authors: K. Xenos et al.
