For many people suffering from high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart conditions, berberine supplements are marketed as an answer to their problems. But if you’ve used these supplements under the impression that they contain the same amount of berberine as stated on their labels, you may have been the victim of intentional mislabeling and deceptive sales practices.
What Is Berberine and What Does It Do?
Berberine is a chemical found in several plants including European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, Phellodendron, and tree turmeric. It’s also a mixed nutraceutical, meaning that it has several applications for lowering blood sugar, lipids, and body weight.
Specifically, studies suggest that berberine slightly reduces blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, and early research suggests that taking 500 mg of berberine two to three times daily for up to three months might control blood sugar as effectively as metformin or rosiglitazone. There is also early evidence that berberine can help decrease cholesterol levels; taking 500 mg of berberine twice daily for three months appears to reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in people with high cholesterol.
Berberine Supplements – The Numbers Don’t Add Up
According to tests conducted by ConsumerLab.com, berberine supplements sold in the U.S. contain, on average, just 75 percent of the amount of berberine listed on their labels – with some products containing as little as 33 percent and others containing 100 percent of their listed amount of berberine, causing many who value berberine’s positive health attributes to be misled.
Estimates suggest that 60 percent of berberine supplements in the marketplace fail to contain amounts represented on their labels.
Have You Been Duped?
The attorneys in Sommers Schwartz’s Complex Litigation Group are currently investigating allegations of deceptive sales practices and false advertising against sellers of berberine supplements, which could lead to class action litigation.
If you have purchased berberine supplements and believe the label and packaging misrepresent its berberine content, you may be entitled to damages. Please contact us today!
Rod Johnston
Rod Johnston is a member of the Complex Litigation Group, participating in the firm’s direct and class action litigation on behalf of those harmed as a result of wage and overtime violations and consumer fraud.
