Abstract
Background/Objectives: Berberine is a naturally occurring compound found in several plants and has been traditionally used for its various health benefits. However, its poor bioavailability limits its therapeutic potential. Berberine LipoMicel(®) is a novel micellar formulation of berberine, microencapsulated within an emulsified matrix, designed to enhance bioavailability and bioactivity. This study aims to evaluate its safety, ensuring that improved bioavailability does not introduce new safety concerns. Methods: To assess its safety, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study with a minimum 4-week washout period was conducted in 19 healthy participants over 30 days. The participants received 1000 mg of the treatment daily (i.e., 2 capsules/d), and their capillary blood was analyzed every week to monitor for changes in established safety markers related to liver and kidney function, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TB), creatinine, fasting glucose (GLU), HbA1c, and various electrolytes. Additionally, potential side effects were recorded through the collection of weekly health questionnaires to determine treatment tolerability. Results: Compared to placebo, no statistically significant changes in any of the safety markers related to liver or kidney health were detected. Within-group analysis revealed a significant reduction of total cholesterol (TC) in females after 30 days of Berberine LipoMicel(®) treatment. Although not significant, both male and female participants showed a noticeable improvement in the mean AST, potentially signaling a hepatoprotective effect. As for tolerability, no adverse events were reported by any of the participants. Conclusions: Based on these findings, despite higher bioavailability of berberine in a newly formulated delivery system (LipoMicel(®)), the treatment was found to be safe and well tolerated by human participants, with no significant deviations in blood chemistry that would indicate safety concerns over a period of 30 days.