Sex Differences in Berberine Pharmacokinetics

A single dose of 1000 mg berberine in two capsules will be administered with 250 ml of still water in the overnight fasting condition. A total of 11 blood samples will be taken at defined time points (baseline, 1; 1.5; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 8; 10; 24 h). At each time point, blood will be collected in 2x 7.5 ml tubes for collecting serum and plasma samples to determine berberine concentrations. (Women will undergo the Intervention twice, once in the 1st half and once in the 2nd half of their menstrual cycle.) In addition urine will be collected over the time of 0-10 h after berberine intake and body composition will be measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).