This extended follow-up of a randomized trial found that patients who took berberine for 2 years had dramatically lower colorectal adenoma recurrence rates six years later — even though they had stopped taking the supplement. Among 648 patients from 7 Chinese medical centers, adenoma recurrence was 34.7% in the berberine group versus 52.1% in the placebo group. Broader colorectal neoplasm occurrence was also lower (63.4% vs. 71.0%). The protective effect became statistically significant by year three after treatment ended and remained stable through year five and beyond, suggesting berberine may induce lasting biological changes that suppress polyp regrowth after polypectomy.
