Ingredient profile
Berberine in Neuro Recall: A Blood Sugar Compound With Many Interactions
Berberine HCl is the sixth line of Neuro Recall's 635 mg blend, so label order caps it at about 106 mg per serving. Its research is limited and mostly about blood sugar and blood fats, not memory (MSK - Berberine). It changes how the liver processes many drugs, and it is a concern in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Written by the Neuro Recall label deskUpdated
The basics
What is berberine?
Berberine is a bitter yellow compound found in several plants, including barberry and goldenseal. Supplements usually sell it as berberine HCl, a salt form that is easy to put in capsules.
It is not a vitamin or a food. It is a plant alkaloid, a class of compounds that often act strongly on the body. That is why berberine has more drug cautions than most items on the Neuro Recall label (MSK - Berberine).
| Label name | Berberine HCl |
|---|---|
| What it is | Plant alkaloid |
| Position on the label | Line 6 of 10 in the 635 mg blend (listed by weight) |
| Per 2-capsule serving | Not printed. Blend line 6 of 10, so at most 106 mg |
| Amount used in research | No verified dose in our sources |
| Strength of evidence | Limited, mostly blood sugar and lipids |
| Marketed use | Marketed for blood sugar |
| Main caution | Changes how many drugs are processed; avoid in pregnancy. |
On the label
How much berberine is in Neuro Recall?
The amount is hidden. Berberine HCl is the sixth of ten lines in the WMG-NVT Exclusive Blend, which only has to show its 635 mg total (21 CFR 101.36 - proprietary blends).
Because blend lines run from heaviest to lightest, the five lines above it each weigh at least as much. So berberine can be 106 mg at most. That ceiling is our arithmetic, and the real amount is probably lower. Our sources give no verified effective dose to compare it with.
Berberine is also one of four label lines often marketed for blood sugar. Together they make the formula lean in that direction.
| Label line | Per serving | What research says |
|---|---|---|
| Chromium (picolinate) | 120 mcg, printed | Trial results inconsistent (NIH ODS - Chromium) |
| Cinnamon extract | Up to 635 mg | Not clearly helpful for diabetes (NCCIH - Cinnamon) |
| Berberine HCl | Up to 106 mg | Possible benefit, limited study quality (MSK - Berberine) |
| Alpha-lipoic acid | Up to 79 mg | Can lower blood sugar (MSK - Alpha-lipoic acid) |
The evidence
What does research say berberine does?
The main research is on type 2 diabetes and blood fats such as cholesterol. Some studies suggest a possible benefit, but Memorial Sloan Kettering rates their quality as limited (MSK - Berberine).
None of that research is about memory or nerves. Neuro Recall's brand panels do not claim a blood sugar effect either. They speak of energy, focus and healthy aging. The memory angle comes from the product name and the eBay title, not from berberine.
High blood glucose and high triglycerides can damage nerves over time, and about one-third to one-half of people with diabetes have nerve damage in the feet or hands (NIDDK - Diabetic neuropathy). The proven way to protect nerves is good diabetes care with your own care team. A small, unknown dose of berberine is not a substitute.
If blood sugar is your real concern, the chromium and cinnamon profile covers the other two blood sugar lines in detail.
Medicines
Which medicines can berberine interact with?
Quite a few. Berberine may change the work of liver enzymes called CYP2D6, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4, which help clear a large share of prescription drugs (MSK - Berberine).
When one of those enzymes slows down, a drug can build up in the blood. When it speeds up, a drug can work less well. Either way, the dose your doctor chose may no longer fit.
Transplant drugs
Berberine may raise blood levels of cyclosporine and tacrolimus (MSK - Berberine). Anyone on these medicines should not add it without their transplant team.
Diabetes medicines
Berberine, chromium and ALA may each add to the effect of insulin or diabetes pills (NIH ODS - Chromium)(MSK - Alpha-lipoic acid). Together they raise the chance of a low.
Many prescriptions
If you take several drugs, a pharmacist can run an interaction check with the bottle in hand. It takes a few minutes.
Supplements can interact with medicines, and "natural" does not always mean safe (NIH ODS - What you need to know). Tell every clinician you see that you take Neuro Recall.
Neuro Recall: 5 bottles for $59.952 capsules a day · about $11.99 a bottle · free standard shipping · seller does not accept returns
View listingBefore you start
Should you check with a doctor before taking Neuro Recall?
Yes, if any of the questions below applies to you. Berberine is one reason, but not the only one.
Pregnancy
Is berberine safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
No. Berberine may worsen jaundice in newborns, so it is a concern during pregnancy and breastfeeding (MSK - Berberine).
The Neuro Recall warning reads: "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing. As with any dietary supplement, consult with your healthcare provider before use." Follow it. The product is for adults only, and it should be kept away from children.
If you are trying to become pregnant, raise it with your doctor too. The formula also carries 320 mcg of folic acid, which is useful before pregnancy. But a plain prenatal vitamin gives folic acid without berberine or herbs.
Our take
What side effects does berberine cause, and is it worth it here?
Stomach and bowel effects are the most common, such as cramps, constipation or diarrhea (MSK - Berberine). In Neuro Recall, the magnesium oxide can add loose stools of its own (NIH ODS - Magnesium).
Memory loss that disrupts daily life, or numbness and tingling, deserves a medical check. Diabetes and low B12 are common, treatable causes of tingling feet (NINDS - Peripheral neuropathy).
In its favor
- Some early research on blood sugar and lipids
- Clearly named on the label
- Small amount, at most 106 mg
Against it
- No memory or nerve research
- Many drug interactions
- Not for pregnancy or nursing
Berberine is the item most likely to clash with other medicines. Read the full Neuro Recall side effects page before ordering, and see who Neuro Recall may suit. Next up: green tea and L-theanine.
FAQ
Berberine in Neuro Recall: common questions
How much berberine is in Neuro Recall?
Neuro Recall does not print the berberine amount. Berberine HCl is the sixth of ten lines in a 635 mg blend listed by weight, so it can weigh about 106 mg at most per 2-capsule serving. The real figure is not disclosed and is probably lower than that ceiling.
Does berberine help memory?
Good evidence for that is lacking. Berberine research focuses on type 2 diabetes and blood fats, and even there the study quality is limited. Neuro Recall's own brand panels make no memory claim for it. Worries about memory are best taken to a doctor.
Can I take berberine with metformin?
Only with your doctor's approval. Berberine may add to the blood sugar lowering effect of diabetes medicine, and Neuro Recall also contains chromium and ALA, which can do the same. Your doctor may want you to check your glucose more often or avoid the combination.
Can berberine affect other prescription drugs?
Yes, it can. Berberine may alter the liver enzymes CYP2D6, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4, which process many common drugs, and it may raise levels of the transplant drugs cyclosporine and tacrolimus. Ask a pharmacist to check your full medicine list before you start Neuro Recall.
Is berberine safe while breastfeeding?
No, it is not considered safe. Berberine may worsen jaundice in newborns, which makes it a concern in both pregnancy and breastfeeding. The Neuro Recall label also says not to use the product if you are pregnant or nursing, so skip it during those times.
What are the side effects of berberine?
The most common side effects involve the gut, such as cramps, constipation, gas or diarrhea. They tend to be mild. In Neuro Recall, magnesium oxide can also loosen stools. Stop and ask a doctor if you notice shakiness, sweating or other signs of low blood sugar.
Why is berberine in a brain supplement?
Neuro Recall does not explain it. The formula leans toward blood sugar ingredients, including chromium, cinnamon and berberine, alongside B vitamins and a few herbs sold for focus. Its brand panels claim general wellness, while the memory angle comes from the product name and the eBay title.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the bottle label, the sales listing and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner, not by the manufacturer. This site is paid a commission when you order through its links.
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