Dihydroberberine Effects on Body Composition and Metabolic Health in Healthy Adults

NCT ID: NCT07322679

Last Updated: 2026-01-07

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-15

Study Completion Date

2026-09-25

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether dihydroberberine (DHB) supplementation can improve body composition, blood sugar control, energy levels, appetite, and mood in healthy adults with overweight or mild obesity. The study focuses on men and women aged 35-55 years with a BMI between 27.0 and 33.0 kg/m².

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does daily DHB supplementation lead to greater reductions in body weight over 12 weeks compared to placebo? Does DHB improve glycemic responses, appetite regulation, energy levels, and mood, both acutely (short-term) and chronically (over 12 weeks)?

Researchers will compare two groups-one receiving DHB (400 mg/day) and the other receiving a placebo-administered as two capsules twice daily for 12 weeks. Participants will:

Attend three in-clinic visits over approximately 14 weeks (including screening, baseline, and week 12 visits) Undergo mixed-meal tolerance tests (MTTs) to assess glucose metabolism, appetite, and energy levels Complete body composition assessments (including DXA scans), blood tests (e.g., glucose, insulin, HbA1c), and mood questionnaires (POMS-2) Be monitored for safety throughout the study

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Health Adult Subjects

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo (Microcrystalline Cellulose)

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will take 4 placebo capsules daily for 12 consecutive weeks, with 2 capsules taken in the morning and 2 in the evening. Each capsule contains 200 mg of microcrystalline cellulose, an inert substance used as an inactive control.

Dihydroberberine(DHB)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Dihydroberberine(DHB)

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will take 4 capsules daily (each containing 100 mg dihydroberberine \[DHB\] and 100 mg microcrystalline cellulose) orally for 12 consecutive weeks, with 2 capsules taken in the morning and 2 in the evening. The total daily dose of DHB is 400 mg.

Interventions

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Placebo (Microcrystalline Cellulose)

Participants will take 4 placebo capsules daily for 12 consecutive weeks, with 2 capsules taken in the morning and 2 in the evening. Each capsule contains 200 mg of microcrystalline cellulose, an inert substance used as an inactive control.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Dihydroberberine(DHB)

Participants will take 4 capsules daily (each containing 100 mg dihydroberberine \[DHB\] and 100 mg microcrystalline cellulose) orally for 12 consecutive weeks, with 2 capsules taken in the morning and 2 in the evening. The total daily dose of DHB is 400 mg.

Intervention Type DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 35 - 55 years of age (inclusive) at visit 1.
* BMI ≥ 27.0 - ≤ 33.0 kg/m2.
* Participant has a score of 7 - 10 on the Vein Access Scale Assessment at visit 1.
* Non-user or former user (daily use; cessation ≥12 months) of tobacco or nicotine products (e.g., cigarette smoking, vaping, chewing tobacco) within 12 months of visit 1, and has no plans to begin use during the study period.
* Non-habitual users (i.e., daily or almost daily) of marijuana or hemp products, including CBD/THC products, and willing to abstain from use throughout the study period (topical creams/lotions are allowed).
* Willing to use personal smart phone with operating system capable of downloading and operating study applications (e.g., FitBit, smart scale, activity watch, etc).
* Willing to adhere to all study procedures, including lifestyle considerations (see section 6.3), and sign forms providing informed consent to participate in the study and authorization to release relevant protected health information to the Clinical Investigator.

Exclusion Criteria

* Extreme dietary habits (e.g., ketogenic, very high protein, very high fiber, vegan/vegetarian) at the discretion of the Clinical Investigator.
* Individuals undergoing moderate-to-intense activity (e.g., sports/exercise ≥ 5h/wk).
* Recent weight changes (\>4.5 kg ≤ 90 d of visit 1), or current/planned engagement in a weight change program (e.g., weight loss or muscle gain) outside of the researcher-instructed, self-directed Lifestyle Intervention throughout the study period.
* Abnormal laboratory test results of clinical significance at visit 1, at the discretion of the Clinical Investigator. One re-test will be allowed on a separate day prior to visit 2, for subjects with abnormal laboratory test results.
* Uncontrolled and/or clinically important pulmonary (including uncontrolled asthma), cardiac (including, but not limited to, atherosclerotic disease, history of myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease, stroke), hepatic, renal, endocrine (including Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus), hematologic, immunologic, neurologic (such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease), psychiatric (including depression and/or anxiety disorders) or biliary disorders. Conditions that are well-controlled or resolved will be assessed by the Clinical Investigator on a case-by-case basis.
* Clinically important GI condition that would potentially interfere with the evaluation of the study product (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, history of surgery for weight loss, gastroparesis, and clinically significant lactose or gluten intolerance or other food or ingredient allergies).
* Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg. Stable use (no initiation or change in dose ≤ 90 d of visit 1) of FDA-approved medications for hypertension is allowed.
* History or presence of cancer in the prior 2 years, except for non-melanoma skin cancer.
* Signs or symptoms of an active infection of clinical relevance ≤ 5 d of visit 1. The visit may be rescheduled once all signs and symptoms have resolved (at the discretion of the Clinical Investigator) at least 5 d prior to visit 1.
* Recent use (≤ 6 mo of visit 1) of any prescription anti-hyperglycemic/weight loss medication. This includes, but is not limited to: metformin, insulin, DPP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonist, GIP agonists, Pioglitazone and Sulfonylureas.
* Use of any dietary supplement, other than conventional once-daily multivitamin/mineral supplements (within limits of the DRI) ≤ 14 d of visit 1 and throughout the study.
* Recent history (≤ 12 months visit 1) of alcohol or substance abuse. Alcohol abuse is defined as \>14 drinks per week (1 drink = 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, or 1½ oz distilled spirits).
* Unstable use (change in dose) of any other prescription medications ≤ 90 d of visit 1, except for medications used PRN (e.g., asthma inhalers, non-drowsy seasonal allergy medications, etc.)
* Antibiotic use ≤ 90 d of visit 1 and throughout the study period.
* Regular use (≥ 3 days/week ≤ 30 d of visit 1) of anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., NSAIDs) and throughout the study period.
* Recent use of oral or injectable steroids, or topical or inhaled steroids (≥ 1500 µg/d) within 30 d of visit 1 and throughout the study period.
* Exposure to any non-registered drug product ≤ 30 d prior to visit 1.
* Diagnosed with major affective disorder, or other psychiatric disorder, that required hospitalization ≤ 12 months prior to visit 1.
* Recent (≤ 90 d of visit 1) endoscopy and/or colonoscopy procedure.
* Major trauma or any other surgical event ≤ 30 d of visit 1.
* Currently scheduled, or planning to schedule, an elective surgical procedure during the study.
* Female who is pregnant, planning to be pregnant during the study period, lactating, or is of childbearing potential and is unwilling to commit to the use of a medically approved form of contraception throughout the study period. Women who become pregnant during the study will be discontinued.

General safety related criteria

* Known sensitivity, intolerability, or allergy to any of the study products or study foods.
* Has a condition the Clinical Investigator believes would interfere with his ability to provide informed consent, and comply with the study protocol, which might confound the interpretation of the study results, or put the participant at undue risk.
Minimum Eligible Age

35 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

55 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Biofortis, Merieux NutriSciences

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Nanjing Nutrabuilding Bio-tech Co., Ltd.

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Biofortis, Merieux NutriSciences

Addison, Illinois, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Elizabeth Antoo, MD

Role: CONTACT

630-617-2000

Facility Contacts

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Elizabeth Antoo, MD

Role: primary

630-617-200

References

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Anderssen S, Holme I, Urdal P, Hjermann I. Diet and exercise intervention have favourable effects on blood pressure in mild hypertensives: the Oslo Diet and Exercise Study (ODES). Blood Press. 1995 Nov;4(6):343-9. doi: 10.3109/08037059509077619.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8746601 (View on PubMed)

Herrera-Acosta J, Reyes PA, Lopez Manay G, Padilla L, Cerdas Calderon M, Ruiz A, Perez Grovas H. [Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis suppresses the renal functional reserve in patients with lupus nephropathy]. Rev Invest Clin. 1987 Apr-Jun;39(2):107-14. No abstract available. Spanish.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 3310165 (View on PubMed)

Zhang H, Wei J, Xue R, Wu JD, Zhao W, Wang ZZ, Wang SK, Zhou ZX, Song DQ, Wang YM, Pan HN, Kong WJ, Jiang JD. Berberine lowers blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients through increasing insulin receptor expression. Metabolism. 2010 Feb;59(2):285-92. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2009.07.029. Epub 2009 Oct 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19800084 (View on PubMed)

Chan M, Qin Z, Man SC, Lam M, Lai WH, Ng RMK, Lee CK, Wong TL, Lee EHM, Wong HK, Feng Y, Liu L, Han F, Chen EYH, Zhang ZJ. Adjunctive berberine reduces antipsychotic-associated weight gain and metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2022 Mar;76(3):77-85. doi: 10.1111/pcn.13323. Epub 2022 Jan 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34931749 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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NNBHCS-BIO-2513

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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