Effects of Berberine on Cardiometabolic Outcomes

• Berberine (Dietary supplement): Berberine supplement 500 mg 2 x per day
• Placebo (Other): Placebo control 2 x blinded placebo tablet per day

Primary outcomes

• Blood triglycerides [Baseline]: Capillary blood triglycerides - mmol/L
• Blood triglycerides [20-days]: Capillary blood triglycerides - mmol/L

Secondary outcomes

• Systolic blood pressure [Baseline]: Systolic blood pressure - measured using a digital blood pressure monitor
• Systolic blood pressure [20-days]: Systolic blood pressure - measured using a digital blood pressure monitor
• Diastolic blood pressure [Baseline]: Diastolic blood pressure - measured using a digital blood pressure monitor
• Diastolic blood pressure [20-days]: Diastolic blood pressure - measured using a digital blood pressure monitor
• Percent bodyfat [Baseline]: Participants percentage composition of fat - measured using bio-electrical impedance
• Percent bodyfat [20-days]: Participants percentage composition of fat - measured using bio-electrical impedance
• Waist to hip ratio [Baseline]: Ratio of waist to hip circumference - measured using anthropocentric tape
• Waist to hip ratio [20-days]: Ratio of waist to hip circumference - measured using anthropocentric tape
• Blood glucose [Baseline]: Capillary blood glucose - mmol/L
• Blood glucose [20-days]: Capillary blood glucose - mmol/L
• Triglyceride glucose index [Baseline]: Calculated as the natural logarithm of (blood triglycerides x blood glucose) /2)
• Triglyceride glucose index [20-days]: Calculated as the natural logarithm of (blood triglycerides x blood glucose) /2)
• Blood cholesterol - Total [Baseline]: Capillary blood cholesterol - mmol/L
• Blood cholesterol - Total [20-days]: Capillary blood cholesterol - mmol/L
• Blood cholesterol - LDL [Baseline]: Capillary blood cholesterol - mmol/L
• Blood cholesterol - LDL [20-days]: Capillary blood cholesterol - mmol/L
• Blood cholesterol - HDL [Baseline]: Capillary blood cholesterol - mmol/L
• Blood cholesterol - HDL [20-days]: Capillary blood cholesterol - mmol/L
• Coop-Wonka chart [Baseline]: Psychological wellbeing - The Coop-Wonka chart is a six item questionnaire with a 1-5 scoring
• Coop-Wonka chart [20-days]: Psychological wellbeing - The Coop-Wonka chart is a six item questionnaire with a 1-5 scoring
• Beck Depression Inventory [Baseline]: Psychological wellbeing - the Beck Depression Inventory is a 21 questionnaire with questions that range in scoring from 0-3, thus the maximum score is 63 which is the highest depression score possible.
• Beck Depression Inventory [20-days]: Psychological wellbeing - the Beck Depression Inventory is a 21 questionnaire with questions that range in scoring from 0-3, thus the maximum score is 63 which is the highest depression score possible.
• State Trait Anxiety Inventory [Baseline]: Psychological wellbeing - the state trait anxiety inventory is a 40 item questionnaire with each question having a 1-4 score system, thus the maximum score is 80 which indicates the highest level of anxiety.
• State Trait Anxiety Inventory [20-days]: Psychological wellbeing - the state trait anxiety inventory is a 40 item questionnaire with each question having a 1-4 score system, thus the maximum score is 80 which indicates the highest level of anxiety.
• Insomnia Severity Index [Baseline]: Sleep quality - The Insomnia Severity Index is a brief instrument designed to assess the severity of both nighttime and daytime components of insomnia. The Insomnia Severity Index is a 7-item self-report questionnaire yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 28.
• Insomnia Severity Index [20-days]: Sleep quality - The Insomnia Severity Index is a brief instrument designed to assess the severity of both nighttime and daytime components of insomnia. The Insomnia Severity Index is a 7-item self-report questionnaire yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 28.
• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [Baseline]: Sleep quality - The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index, is a questionnaire that consists of 19 self-rated questions, grouped into 7 components. Each component is scored separately, weighted equally on a 0 - 3 scale and the scores of the 7 components are then added to give a global score, which has a range of 0 - 21 with higher scores indicating worse sleep quality.
• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [20-days]: Sleep quality - The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index, is a questionnaire that consists of 19 self-rated questions, grouped into 7 components. Each component is scored separately, weighted equally on a 0 - 3 scale and the scores of the 7 components are then added to give a global score, which has a range of 0 - 21 with higher scores indicating worse sleep quality.
• Epworth Sleepiness Scale [Baseline]: Sleep quality - The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a self-administered questionnaire with 8 questions. Respondents are asked to rate, on a 4-point scale (0-3) with a maximum score of 24.
• Epworth Sleepiness Scale [20-days]: Sleep quality - The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a self-administered questionnaire with 8 questions. Respondents are asked to rate, on a 4-point scale (0-3) with a maximum score of 24.

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to 65 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy
* Between 18 \& 65 years
* Non-smoker
* BMI < 30
* Able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy
* Diabetes or any other metabolic/ uncontrolled hypertensive conditions
* Food allergies to berberine
* Habitual consumption of berberine
* Not regularly taking medication or antioxidant supplements