Table 1.
Specific characteristics of included trials.
| Study | Participants | No. (T/C) | Age | Sex (M/F) | Course (year) | Intervention | Control | Duration (weeks) | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhang et al. 2020 [15] | T2DM | 98/103 | T: 53 (42–61) C: 54 (46–61) |
T: 59/39 C: 61/42 |
Newly diagnosed | Berberine 0.5 g bid | Placebo | 12 | ①②③④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Hu 2020 [28] | T2DM | 60/58 | T: 43.21 ± 8.14 C: 42.85 ± 6.23 |
T: 34/26 C: 30/28 |
T: 2.31 ± 1.06 C: 2.61 ± 0.84 |
Berberine 0.3 g tid Metformin 0.5 g tid |
Placebo Metformin 0.5 g tid |
24 | ①③④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Sanjari et al. 2020 [26] | T2DM | 42/38 | T: 51.8 ± 9.3 C: 46.5 ± 10 |
T: 18/24 C: 7/31 |
T: 4.5 ± 0.25 C: 4.25 ± 0.42 |
Berberis integerrima root extract 480 mg | Metformin 1 g/d | 12 | ①②③⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Li et al. 2021 [20] | Prediabetes | 35/35 | T: 54.11 ± 8.14 C: 42.85 ± 6.23 |
T: 22/13 C: 17/18 |
— | Berberine 0.3 g tid | Life intervention | 24 | ①②③⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Tahmasebi et al. 2019 [27] | T2DM | 40/40 | T: 54.05 ± 8.00 C: 53.07 ± 7.74 |
T: 17/23 C: 15/25 |
Less than 10 years | 1000 mg dry extract and 157.3 mg berberine | Placebo | 6 | ①②④⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Ma 2019 [24] | T2DM | 50/50 | T: 50.8 ± 3.6 C: 50.2 ± 4.2 |
T: 31/19 C:28/22 |
T: 1.77 ± 0.57 C: 1.81 ± 0.53 |
C+Huanglian 3 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 8 | ①②③④⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Deng et al. 2019 [29] | T2DM | 35/35 | T: 54.6 ± 2.5 C: 55.3 ± 2.6 |
T:23/12 C:21/14 |
T: 6.04 ± 2.43 C: 6.61 ± 2.75 |
C+berberine 0.3 g tid | Glipizide 5 mg tid | 12 | ①②③④⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Chen et al. 2018 [30] | T2DM | 40/40 | T: 53.27 ± 8.15 C: 52.71 ± 7.89 |
T: 22/18 C: 24/16 |
T: 5.59 ± 3.74 C: 5.64 ± 3.58 |
C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 12 | ①②③⑩ |
| Wu 2018 [31] | T2DM | 63/63 | T: 58.61 ± 8.37 C: 58.43 ± 8.26 |
T: 37/26 C: 38/25 |
NA | C+berberine 0.2 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 12 | ①②③⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Rashidi et al. 2018 [32] | T2DM | 40/41 | T: 50.18 ± 4.22 C: 45.12 ± 9.55 |
T: 14/28 C: 19/22 |
T: 4.5 ± 1.8 C: 4.3 ± 2.04 |
Berberine 0.5 g bid | Placebo | 4 | ①②④⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Li et al. 2018 [33] | T2DM | 57/57 | T: 53 ± 15 C: 57 ± 12 |
T: 22/35 C: 24/33 |
T: 5.92 (1.92, 8) C:7.25 (2, 10.2) |
C+berberine 300 mg tid | Antidiabetic agents | 24 | ①②③⑤⑥⑦⑩ |
| Sha et al. 2018 [34] | T2DM | 30/30 | T: 58.79 ± 12.27 C: 60.46 ± 11.73 |
T: 15/13 C: 14/15 |
T: 7.08 ± 2.68 C: 8.68 ± 4.13 |
Berberine 500 mg tid | NA | 12 | ①③④⑩ |
| Zhao 2018 [22] | Prediabetes | 32/32 | T: 54.7 ± 0.8 C: 54.9 ± 0.16 |
T: 24/8 C: 26/6 |
— | Berberine 0.3-0.5 g tid | Life intervention | 12 | ①②③⑤⑥⑦ |
| Guan et al. 2017 [35] | T2DM | 53/53 | T: 65.74 ± 3.85 C: 65.28 ± 3.29 |
T: 29/24 C: 28/25 |
T: 6.14 ± 2.44 C: 6.25 ± 2.41 |
C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 4 | ①③ |
| Zhang 2017 [36] | T2DM | 40/40 | T: 58.24 ± 6.15 C: 58.13 ± 6.24 |
T: 21/19 C: 23/17 |
T: 5.8 ± 1.9 C: 5.7 ± 1.8 |
Berberine 3 g tid | Metformin 750 mg/d | 12 | ①②③④ |
| 40/40 | T: 58.91 ± 6.58 C: 58.13 ± 6.24 |
T:22/18 C:23/17 |
T: 6.0 ± 1.7 C: 5.7 ± 1.8 |
C+berberine 3 g tid | Metformin 750 mg/d | 12 | ①②③④ | ||
| Xing 2017 [37] | T2DM | 35/35 | T: 53.3 ± 6.2 C: 54.1 ± 6.1 |
T: 18/17 C: 17/18 |
T: 5.9 ± 2.8 C: 5.8 ± 2.7 |
Berberine 500 mg tid | Metformin 250 mg tid | 12 | ①③④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Sun 2017 [38] | T2DM | 91/91 | T: 58.95 ± 10.57 C: 58.34 ± 11.21 |
T: 53/38 C: 51/40 |
T: 3.98 ± 1.62 C: 3.64 ± 1.75 |
C+berberine 30 mg tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 8 | ①②③④⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Chen et al. 2017 [39] | Prediabetes | 50/50 | T: 36.5 ± 14.4 C: 35.2 ± 15.1 |
T: 31/19 C: 30/20 |
— | Berberine 0.5 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 24 | ①②⑤ |
| Li et al. 2017 [40] | T2DM | 30/30 | T: 50.54 ± 3.78 C: 51.24 ± 3.91 |
T: 18/12 C: 17/13 |
T: 6.04 ± 2.43 C: 6.61 ± 2.75 |
C+berberine 0.3 g tid | Sitagliptin 100 mg tid | 12 | ①②③ |
| Li 2016 [41] | T2DM | 90/90 | T: 56.2 ± 2.9 C: 57.8 ± 2.7 |
T: 55/35 C: 55/35 |
T: 3.7 ± 1.9 C: 3.8 ± 1.7 |
C+berberine 0.3 g tid | Metformin 1.7 g/d | 12 | ①②③④ |
| Lang and Zhu 2016[42] | T2DM | 50/50 | 46.3 ± 4.7 | 63/37 | NA | Berberine 500 mg tid | Placebo | 12 | ①②③ |
| Du 2016 [43] | T2DM | 37/36 | T: 67.8 ± 4.6 C: 56.5 ± 7.1 |
T: 21/16 C: 18/18 |
T: 10.9 ± 6.3 C: 11.6 ± 6.9 |
C+berberine 4 pills tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 4 | ①②③ |
| Li 2016 [44] | T2DM | 60/60 | T: 65.85 ± 4.78 C: 67.92 ± 4.73 |
T: 26/24 C: 28/32 |
T: 5.32 ± 1.08 C: 5.28 ± 1.31 |
C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Glipizide 5 mg tid | 12 | ③④⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Cui 2016 [45] | T2DM | 40/40 | T: 50.85 ± 7.26 C: 51.59 ± 8.97 |
T: 28/12 C: 30/10 |
T: 8.65 ± 3.33 C: 9.07 ± 3.47 |
C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 16 | ①②③⑥⑦ |
| Ren et al. 2016 [46] | T2DM | 31/30 | T: 47.74 ± 7.39 C: 46.87 ± 7.74 |
T: 21/10 C: 19/11 |
Newly diagnosed | C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Life interverntion | 12 | ①②③⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Wang 2015 [25] | T2DM | 39/36 | T: 51.6 ± 11.7 C: 53.4 ± 11.3 |
T: 22/17 C: 21/15 |
T: 1.7 ± 0.78 C: 1.9 ± 0.71 |
C+Huanglian 3 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 8 | ①②③④⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Yu 2015 [47] | T2DM | 49/48 | T: 51.7 ± 4.6 C: 50.9 ± 3.8 |
T: 23/26 C: 25/23 |
T: 4.1 ± 0.5 C: 4.3 ± 0.7 |
C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g qd | 12 | ①③⑥⑦ |
| Zhu et al. 2015 [48] | T2DM | 59/59 | T: 66.4 ± 7.6 C: 65.6 ± 7.2 |
T: 35/24 C: 33/26 |
T: 4.5 ± 1.8 y C: 4.3 ± 2.04 |
C+berberine 100 mg tid | Gliclazide modified release tablets 30 mg qd | 12 | ①②③⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Shu 2014 [49] | T2DM | 32/32 | T: 62.80 ± 12.20 C: 61.21 ± 13.52 |
T: 19/13 C: 20/12 |
T: 6.53 ± 2.61 C: 6.79 ± 2.93 |
C+berberine 300 mg tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 24 | ①④ |
| Zhou 2014 [50] | T2DM | 33/33 | 65.3 ± 2.5 | 46/20 | 7.4 ± 1.4 | C+berberine 300 mg tid | Metformin 0.5 g bid | 12 | ①②③⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Cao 2012 [51] | T2DM | 38/40 | T: 51.26 ± 14.71 C: 52.53 ± 6.37 |
T: 22/16 C: 24/16 |
Newly diagnosed | C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 16 | ①②③④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Zhou and Huang 2012 [52] | T2DM | 45/45 | 46.67 ± 8.52 | 48/44 | 4.81 ± 0.29 | C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 12 | ①②④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Zhang and Yuan 2012 [53] | T2DM | 38/38 | No difference | T: 21/17 C: 20/18 |
No difference | C+berberine 0.5 g-0.8 tid | Metformin 0.5 g tid | 12 | ①②③ |
| Xue et al. 2012 [54] | T2DM | 44/45 | No difference | No difference | No difference | C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Metformin 1.5 g/d SU | 12 | ①②③④ |
| Lou et al. 2011 [55] | T2DM | 30/30 | 36-74 | 32/28 | Newly diagnosed | C+berberine 0.3 g tid | Metformin 1.5 g/d | 24 | ①②③④⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Qiu et al. 2011 [56] | T2DM | 49/51 | T: 42.2 ± 11.4 C: 54 ± 12.5 |
T: 26/23 C: 28/23 |
NA | C+berberine 0.3 g tid | Antidiabetic drugs | 8 | ①②③④⑩ |
| Meng et al. [57] 2011 |
T2DM | 30/30 | T: 51 ± 13.3 C: 53 ± 13.9 |
T: 17/13 C: 16/14 |
Newly diagnosed | C+berberine 0.3 g tid | Insulin injection | 12 | ①②③ |
| Ye 2010 [58] | T2DM | 40/40 | T: 43∙5 ± 9∙8 C: 42∙5 ± 8∙6 |
T: 24/16 C: 22/18 |
T: 0.84 ± 0.36 C: 0.8 ± 0.35 |
C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Glimepiride 0.1 mg bid Metformin 0.5 g tid |
12 | ①②③⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨ |
| Sheng and Xie 2010 [59] | T2DM | 30/30 | T: 52 ± 11 C: 51 ± 8 |
T: 18/12 C: 11/19 |
T: 5 ± 3 C: 6 ± 3 |
C+berberine 0.5 g tid | Glipizide 5 mg bid Metformin 0.5 g tid |
12 | ①④⑤⑩ |
| Xu et al. 2008 [60] | T2DM | 32/32 | 43.4 ± 2.1 | 34/30 | Newly diagnosed | C+berberine 0.3 g tid | Pioglitazone 30 mg qd | 12 | ①②⑦ |
| Zhang et al. 2008 [61] | T2DM | 59/57 | T: 51 ± 9 C: 51 ± 10 |
T: 30/28 C: 31/21 |
Newly diagnosed | Berberine 0.5 g bid | Placebo | 12 | ①②③④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Li et al. 2008 [62] | T2DM | 33/32 | T: 47.5 C: 49.2 |
T: 17/16 C: 16/16 |
T: 9.01 ± 1.99 C: 8.11 ± 2.24 |
Berberine 500 mg tid | Metformin 250 mg tid | 12 | ①②③④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Liu and Hu 2008 [63] | T2DM | 30/30 | T: 52 ± 9.81 C: 53.07 ± 8.51 |
T: 10/20 C: 14/16 |
T: 9.01 ± 1.99 C: 8.11 ± 2.24 |
C+berberine 0.3-0.5 g tid | Metformin 500 mg tid | 8 | ①②③④ |
| Ju et al. 2007 [23] | Prediabetes | 46/44 | T: 46.7 ± 4.2 C: 45.6 ± 4.4 |
T: 28/18 C: 26/18 |
— | Berberine 0.6 g/d | NA | 48 | ①②⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
| Zhang 2005 [64] | T2DM | 48/46 | 43 ± 11 | 50/44 | 6-10 | SU+berberine 0.3 g tid | Metformin 1.5 g/d + SU | 12 | ①②③④ |
| Cao 2004 [65] | T2DM | 30/30 | T: 55.3 ± 11.5 C: 55.4 ± 10.7 |
T: 13/17 C: 12/18 |
T: 0.8 ± 0.28 C: 0.825 ± 0.275 |
Berberine 0.5 g tid Life intervention |
Life intervention | 12 | ①②③④⑤⑥⑦⑧⑨⑩ |
Note: ① FBG: fasting blood glucose; ② 2hPBG: 2-hour postprandial blood glucose; ③ HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin; ④ FINS: fasting insulin; ⑤ BMI: body mass index: ⑥ TC: total cholesterol; ⑦ TG: triglyceride; ⑧ HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; ⑨ LDL-L: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; ⑩HOMA-IR.