click here for pdf version

The "Hidden Affliction"

Congestive hear failure (CHF), especially in its early forms, is infinitely wider spread then commonly believed. It is estimated that more then 2 million Americans show early signs of a weak heart that will eventually progress to full blown clinical disease. The initial symptoms of mild shortness of breath, inability to keep up with work or exercise demands, lower leg edema, fatigue (!), etc. are often attributed to other causes.

Unfortunately, laboratory and imaging tests are frequently "normal" even in advanced stages, let alone in the beginning. Thus the diagnosis may be missed completely. No treatment is then generally offered although clearly an intervention might slow down the progression of the illness.

The medical treatment of congestive heart failure

When disease is clearly present the accepted treatment modalities consist principally in medications such as ACE inhibitors, diuretics and digoxin. The treatment of other contributing illnesses and dietary salt restriction is recommended.

Nutritional breakthrough with Berberine Plus™

Berberine Plus™ is the highest quality barberry extract, the alkaloid berberine, on the market.
When berberine, is administered in sufficient amounts (!) it has been shown to lower blood pressure, strengthen the heart muscles and to lower the incidence of arrhythmias. 1 It has also been shown to lower the frequency and complexity of premature ventricular beats and to increase the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with congestive heart failure. 2, 3

In a more recent study the efficacy and safety of berberine for congestive heart failure was assessed. 150 patients with CHF and with >90 ventricular premature beats in a 24 hour Holter monitor and/or with a rapid heart rate were divided into two groups.

All patients were given conventional therapy for CHF consisting of ACE inhibitors, digoxin, nitrates and diuretics. Patients in the treatment group were also given berberine 1.2 to 2.0 grams/ day. The other group was given a placebo.

General symptoms, a 6 minute walk test, a left ventricle function test (LVEF), frequency and complexity of premature ventricular beats and quality of life were assessed after 8 weeks of treatment and during a mean 2 year follow up.

After treatment with berberine there was a significantly greater increase in LVEF, exercise capacity, improvement in shortness of breath-fatigue index, and a decrease in frequency and complexity of premature ventricular contractions (PVC's) compared with the control group.

There was a significant decrease in mortality of the berberine group. Berberine was found not to cause any irregular heart beats, arrhythmias, and there were no apparent side effects. 4
Berberine is a true "all around" beneficial treatment. 5 In multiple studies it was shown to help not only the heart itself, but also the peripheral circulation and all other aspects crucial to maintaining a healthy cardio-vascular system.

Other positive effects of berberine on the Cardiovascular system

Berberine is considered to be a novel cholesterol lowering modality working through a unique mechanism distinctly different from statin drugs. Oral administration of 500 mg twice daily of berberine to 32 patients with high cholesterol for 3 months reduced their total serum cholesterol by 29%, triglycerides by 35 % and LDL cholesterol by 25%. 6-10

Berberine improves glucose metabolism by decreasing glucose levels and increasing insulin sensitivity. 11

Berberine lowers blood pressure and causes peripheral circulation dilatation. 12, 13

Berberine has strong anti-inflammatory actions. 14

Berberine leads to inhibition of the functional cascade that ultimately leads to platelet aggregation and clot formation. 15

Dosage and Administration:



The problem with regularly available barberry products is that they contain less than 6% total berberine alkaloids. This makes it impossible to be truly effective on the cardiovascular system. Since Berberine Plus™, however, contains more then 500 mg berberine/dose, the therapeutic levels can be achieved which were found in studies to be necessary for a real clinical benefit. After several weeks the patient generally feels a remarkable improvement in the sense of strength, vitality, ease of breathing, work endurance and more.

The recommended dosage starts at 3 capsules per day, adjusted according to individual requirements. (To achieve equivalent blood levels well over 30! capsules of the unpurified barberry would be needed).

Berberine Plus™ has a unique proprietary mix of ingredients, including Bioperine® (for the increase in absorption effectiveness) and AKBA 90™ (a Gold Standard boswellia extract for additional anti- inflammatory effects). The salts of the barberry plant have been added for a truly holistic synergistic action.

Safety

Essentially no adverse events were reported with taking oral Berberine Plus™. Contrary to other poor preparations on the market there are also no untoward digestive complaints.

Conclusion

Berberine Plus™ is a significant natural supplement that enables maintaining a strong heart.

An astounding number of people can be helped to quickly regain the strength needed for their daily tasks.

Berberine Plus™ is ideally suited to prevent or slow down the deterioration of the cardiovascular organs.

Berberine Plus™ is part of a larger line of supplements specifically directed at, and distributed exclusively through prescribers.

Please call the company for additional information.*

References
Marin-Neto JA, Maciel BC, Secches AL, GalloJr. L. Cardiovascular effects of berberine in patients with severe congestive heart failure. Clinical Cardiology 1988;11:253-60. 2.  Liu J-, Chan P, Chen Y-, Tomlinson B, Hong S-, Cheng J-. The antihypertensive effect of the berberine derivative 6-protoberberine in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Pharmacology 1999;59:283-9. 3.  Wang JL, Fang DC. Effect of epiberberine on alpha-adrenoceptors. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 1990;25:289-92. 4.  Zeng X-, Zeng X-, Li Y-. Efficacy and safety of berberine for congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol 2003;92:173-6. 5.  Lau C-, Yao X-, Chen Z-, Ko W-, Huang Y. Cardiovascular actions of berberine. Cardiovascular Drug Reviews 2001;19:234-44. 6.  Brusq J-, Ancellin N, Grondin P, et al. Inhibition of lipid synthesis through activation of AMP kinase: An additional mechanism for the hypolipidemic effects of berberine. Journal of Lipid Research 2006;47:1281-8. 7.  Choi Y-, Lee Y-, Lee S-. Effects of extracts of Coptis japonica on lipid metabolism in rats. Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy 1996;27:246-53. 8.  Creasey WA. Biochemical effects of berberine. Biochemical Pharmacology 1979;28:1081-4. 9.  Doggrell SA. Berberine - A novel approach to cholesterol lowering. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs 2005;14:683-5. 10.  Kong W, Wei J, Abidi P, et al. Berberine is a novel cholesterol-lowering drug working through a unique mechanism distinct from statins. Nature Medicine 2004;10:1344-51. 11.  Tang L-, Wei W, Chen L-, Liu S. Effects of berberine on diabetes induced by alloxan and a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2006;108:109-15. 12.  Fatehi-Hassanabad Z, Jafarzadeh M, Tarhini A, Fatehi M. The antihypertensive and vasodilator effects of aqueous extract from Berberis vulgaris fruit on hypertensive rats. Phytotherapy Research 2005;19:222-5. 13.  Fatehi M, Saleh TM, Fatehi-Hassanabad Z, Farrokhfal K, Jafarzadeh M, Davodi S. A pharmacological study on Berberis vulgaris fruit extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2005;102:46-52. 14.  Ivanovska N, Philipov S. Study on the anti-inflammatory action of Berberis vulgaris root extract, alkaloid fractions and pure alkaloids. International Journal of Immunopharmacology 1996;18:553-61. 15.  Huang CG, Chu ZL, Wei SJ, Jiang H, Jiao BH. Effect of berberine on arachidonic acid metabolism in rabbit platelets and endothelial cells. Thromb Res 2002;106:223-7. 16.  Howes M-R, Perry NSL, Houghton PJ. Plants with traditional uses and activities, relevant to the management of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders. Phytotherapy Research 2003;17:1-18. 17.  Zhu F, Qian C. Berberine chloride can ameliorate the spatial memory impairment and increase the expression of interleukin-1 beta and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the rat model of Alzheimer's disease. BMC Neuroscience 2006;7: 18.  Kulkarni SK, Dhir A. Possible involvement of l-arginine-nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway in the antidepressant activity of berberine chloride. European Journal of Pharmacology 2007;569:77-83. 19.  Vizi ES, Zsilla G, Caron MG, Kiss JP. Uptake and release of norepinephrine by serotonergic terminals in norepinephrine transporter knock-out mice: Implications for the action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Journal of Neuroscience 2004;24:7888-94.