By The Oak Age Research Team. Reviewed against primary clinical literature indexed on PubMed and the NIH National Library of Medicine. The Oak Age is an Indian longevity supplement company that publishes evidence-referenced health education.
Published 30 September 2026. Last updated 30 September 2026.
Berberine may increase testosterone in men, according to early research. In a 12-week clinical trial of 84 men, testosterone did not fall on berberine, and levels tracked a little higher than with a placebo. This comes from a single study, so treat it as a promising early signal.
Berberine is a natural plant compound, found in Indian barberry (daruhaldi) and a few other plants, that is being studied for how it shapes the way the body handles blood sugar and fats. Many men in their 40s and 50s pick it up for their sugar or cholesterol numbers, then wonder what it does to their hormones. Here is what the research says so far.
Key takeaways
The one trial in men found a small rise. 84 men took 500 mg of berberine twice a day for 12 weeks. Testosterone did not drop, and one analysis showed it trending slightly higher than placebo.
It is early evidence. Testosterone was a secondary measure in a trial designed around cholesterol, and no other trial in men has tested it yet.
Women with PCOS show the opposite direction. In women whose testosterone runs high, studies link berberine with lower levels. The effect seems to follow where your hormones started.
Metabolic health is the likely bridge. Berberine is being studied for its effect on insulin, and healthier metabolism is linked with healthier testosterone in men.
Berberine is a supplement. If you are concerned about low testosterone, a simple blood test and a chat with your doctor come first.
Why does testosterone matter for men after 35?
Testosterone is the main male hormone, a member of a family called androgens. It plays a part in:
Energy and drive
Muscle and bone strength
Mood and a sense of well-being
Libido and sexual health
Levels drift down gently with age, and waistline, sleep, stress and blood sugar all play a part. Men with low testosterone may notice tiredness, poorer sleep, less muscle or a lower sex drive. Mood can shift too, though testosterone is one piece of that picture among many.
Does berberine increase testosterone in men?
Early research suggests it may, by a small amount. The only clinical trial to measure this was a randomised, placebo-controlled study in Hong Kong (Zhao et al., 2021, Nutrients):
Who: 84 men with high cholesterol, average age in their early 40s
What: 500 mg of berberine twice a day, or a placebo
How long: 12 weeks, with blood tests at the start, at 8 weeks and at 12 weeks
What happened: berberine did not lower testosterone. When the researchers looked at the 8-week and 12-week results together, testosterone was slightly higher in the berberine group than in the placebo group.
Bonus finding: total cholesterol came down more with berberine.
The researchers were actually checking whether berberine might lower testosterone, because earlier studies in women had shown a drop. They found the reverse in men and called it a possible sex-specific effect. One trial is a good start, and more studies in men would make the picture clearer.
Why might berberine support testosterone in men?
The best explanation so far runs through insulin, the hormone that moves sugar from your blood into your cells for energy.
With insulin resistance, cells stop responding well to insulin, and the body makes extra to compensate.
In men, higher insulin and more belly fat are associated with lower testosterone. [ADD: citation to a systematic review on insulin resistance and testosterone in men]
Berberine is being studied for its effect on AMPK, an enzyme that works like the body's energy sensor, and on insulin sensitivity.
Researchers think that as metabolism improves, testosterone may have more room to recover.
This link is still a working theory. It fits well with what we see in metabolic studies, which is where berberine has the most research behind it.
Why does berberine lower testosterone in women with PCOS?
In women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), high insulin can prompt the ovaries to make extra testosterone. A 2019 review of 8 trials (577 women) linked berberine with lower total testosterone compared with placebo or no treatment (Xie et al., 2019, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine).
So berberine seems to nudge testosterone toward balance: down where it runs high in women, and steady or slightly up in men. PCOS care belongs with a gynaecologist.
Berberine and testosterone: men vs women at a glance
Group | What studies measured | What they found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
Men with high cholesterol | Total testosterone over 12 weeks | No drop; slightly higher than placebo | Early (1 trial, 84 men) |
Women with PCOS | Total testosterone | Lower than placebo or no treatment | Moderate (8 trials, 577 women) |
Healthy men with normal cholesterol | Not studied | Unknown | No data yet |
What else does berberine do for men's metabolic health?
A 2025 review of 12 placebo-controlled trials (889 adults with blood sugar or cholesterol concerns) gives the clearest recent picture (Liu et al., 2025, Frontiers in Pharmacology). Participants took 300 to 1,500 mg of purified berberine a day for 12 to 20 weeks.
Marker | Average change with berberine | Trials (people) | How consistent were results? |
|---|---|---|---|
Waist size | About 3.3 cm smaller | 4 (396) | Very consistent |
Triglycerides | 0.37 mmol/L lower | 9 (666) | Varied between studies |
LDL cholesterol | 0.50 mmol/L lower | 8 (750) | Varied between studies |
Total cholesterol | 0.45 mmol/L lower | 7 (707) | Varied between studies |
Fasting blood sugar | 0.52 mmol/L lower | 6 (578) | Varied between studies |
BMI | 0.44 lower | 8 (684) | Fairly consistent, but weakened when lower-quality trials were removed |
HDL cholesterol, blood pressure | No clear change | 9 and 3 | Not significant |
In plain terms: clinical research links berberine with a modestly slimmer waist, and early studies suggest it may support healthier triglyceride, cholesterol and fasting sugar numbers. For men, a trimmer waist and steadier sugar are good news in their own right, whatever happens with testosterone.
How was berberine used in the men's trial?
Dose: 500 mg twice a day (1,000 mg in total).
Duration: 12 weeks.
Form: purified berberine tablets, taken on their own.
Tracking: blood tests for testosterone and cholesterol at the start, 8 weeks and 12 weeks.
How to start berberine safely
Talk to your doctor first, especially if you take medicine for blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol.
Get a baseline: morning total testosterone, HbA1c or fasting sugar, and a lipid profile.
Recheck with your doctor after about 12 weeks.
Where does The Oak Age Berberine fit in?
The Oak Age makes a Berberine + Milk Thistle supplement, so we have an interest in this topic, and we would rather you choose with the full picture. Milk thistle is included because it is being studied for helping the body absorb berberine. The men's trial used berberine on its own, so its results may not carry over exactly to combination products.
Berberine & Testosterone: Frequently asked questions
Berberine is best known for its metabolic research. One trial in men found testosterone did not drop and rose slightly, which is encouraging, but it is too early to call it a testosterone booster.
Current evidence suggests it does not. The testosterone-lowering effect has been seen in women with PCOS, whose levels were raised to begin with.
500 mg twice a day for 12 weeks.
In the men's trial, the difference showed up across the 8-week and 12-week checks.
Trials link the pair with lower blood sugar than metformin alone (2024 review). Only combine them with your doctor's guidance.
The bottom line: does berberine increase testosterone in men?
Early research says it may, a little. The one trial in men found no drop and a small rise over 12 weeks, alongside better cholesterol. The effect most likely travels through healthier metabolism, which is where berberine's evidence is strongest. If energy, strength and drive matter to you, start with a blood test, look after your sleep, movement and meals, and keep your doctor in the loop.
Related reading: Can Berberine Help with Weight Loss? What the Evidence Shows
Sources
Zhao JV, et al. Effect of Berberine on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Mechanistic Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2021;13(8):2550. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082550
Xie L, et al. The Effect of Berberine on Reproduction and Metabolism in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019;2019:7918631. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31915452/
Liu D, et al. Efficacy and safety of berberine on the components of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Front Pharmacol. 2025;16:1572197. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1572197
Disclosure and disclaimer
This article shares supplement information for general wellness and is not medical advice. Berberine is a food supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult your doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you are managing a health condition or taking medication. The Oak Age sells a berberine supplement.
The Oak Age is an Indian company selling longevity supplements. You can reach us through our contact page, and read our privacy policy, terms of service and return and refund policy. Batch certificates of analysis for our products are available on our lab reports page.
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