Do you know what's in your weight loss product? Many weight loss products contain a variety of ingredients on the label, but do you know what these ingredients do or how they work? Did you know that what a company claims on the label is not always what you find in the product? In fact, an independent group of researchers recently tested many of these products and found that many of them contained much smaller or larger amounts of certain ingredients than what was disclosed on the label. Let's take a look at some common weight loss product ingredients and what the researchers found.

Caffeine

The cornerstone of many weight loss products, caffeine is thought to speed up metabolism. Unfortunately, it can also cause irritation, jitteriness, irregular heartbeat and headaches. Many times caffeine is not even mentioned on the label. It is instead included as part of the ingredient named 'proprietary blend'. Unfortunately, this practice is perfectly acceptable by the FDA's standards. Other times, you may see herbal ingredients like guarana or kola nut. These products are sources of caffeine. When an independent organization tested several weight loss supplements, they found that many of them contained extremely large amounts of caffeine. Zantrex-3 contained the same amount of caffeine as 30 cans of cola! Ripped Fuel had the amount equivalent to 14 ½ cans. Xenadrine-EFX had an amount equivalent to 11 cups of coffee (this after the label claimed it had as much as 1 cup). TrimspaX32 contained amounts equivalent to 4 to 8 cans of cola. Lean System 7 contained amounts similar to 4 to 7 cans and EZ-Trim contained an amount similar to 4 ½ cans.¹

Chromium

Chromium is another common ingredient in weight loss supplements. Usually, it is seen in the form of chromium picolinate. Most research has shown that chromium can cause modest weight loss to the tune of about one to two pounds over two to three months.² Certain types of chromium such as 'chromium III' and 'chromium VI' have been shown to cause liver, heart and kidney failure.²

Products that were tested showed large discrepancies when it came to the amount of chromium that was actually in the product vs. what the label claimed was in the product. TrimSpaX32 contained 42% more chromium than what the label said. This would mean that the daily amount of chromium someone would receive while taking this supplement would exceed the 600mcg daily dose that has already been linked to liver and kidney toxicity. EZ-Trim only contained 25% of the amount of chromium it claimed was in their product.¹

When tested, TrimspaX32 contained 0.4% of chromium VI. Life Extension Chromium 200mcg Caps contained 3.8%. Safe doses of chromium VI have not been established, however, it makes sense to avoid it if we know it can cause organ damage.¹

Bitter Orange

Bitter orange is found in many weight loss products. It is a stimulant that contains synephrine. Synephrine is similar to norepinephrine, the stimulant chemical naturally found in the body that is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response. Although research suggests that bitter orange may cause small amounts of weight loss, one should be careful because bitter orange, especially when taken with other stimulants like caffeine, can cause increases in blood pressure, rapid heart rate and cardiovascular problems.²

All supplements that were tested contained the amount of bitter orange that was disclosed on the label except for Lean System 7 which contained 55 mg of bitter orange. This, despite the fact the ingredient did not appear on the label.¹

Pyruvate

There is little scientific evidence that this ingredient helps with weight loss or helps to increase lean muscle mass although it is found  in many weight loss and body building supplements. Pyruvate is a naturally occurring substance in the body that helps with metabolism. It appears to be fairly safe as a supplement, however, it may not be that effective. Products that contained pyruvate did not appear to disintegrate well indicating that it may not be absorbed well in the body. Pinnacle Pyruvate 1000 Bioactive FatModulator contained only 600mg of the 1000mg it claimed to contain.^1,2

Hydroxycitric Acid

Often abbreviated 'HCA', this ingredient claims to help prevent the storage of fat in the body and help suppress appetite although there is not much in the way of research to back this up.²

Conjugated Linoleic Acid

This is often abbreviated as 'CLA'. There has been a lot of talk in the media about CLA lately. This is because there may be evidence that CLA helps reduce body fat.² There is still a lot of research to be done. Allmax Nutrition CLA contained only 75% of the CLA it claimed to contain on the label.¹ If you would like to get CLA the old fashioned way, you will find it in beef and dairy products.

7-Keto-DHEA

Not to be confused with plain DHEA, this DHEA is not converted into hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Preliminary research on 7-Keto-DHEA suggests that it may help with weight loss but there is much research to be done.² This ingredient has been known to be included in the 'proprietary blend' of some supplements. This means that often the amount of this ingredient is not disclosed on the label. The safe and effective doses for this ingredient have not been established, although studies that showed weight loss used a daily dose of 200mg. Lean System-7 contained 71mg of this ingredient when tested. ¹

The Bottom Line

Most of the weight loss supplements on the market have little research that can back up their effectiveness. What's more, many of  these products contain ingredients that can be down-right harmful. One product, Rainbow Light Garcinia-Max Diet System contained 2.6mcg of lead. This is because many natural plants, including garcinia, contain naturally occurring lead.¹

When it comes to losing weight, I would offer that nothing is as easy as popping a pill. Weight loss requires a commitment to a different lifestyle; one of healthy eating and increased physical exercise. If you are serious about losing weight and don't know where to begin, my advice would be to save the money you would have spent on that expensive weight loss supplement. Whatever you do, continue to read and learn.

If you feel lost when it comes to your diet, I would recommended consulting a nutritionist. I would beware of nutritionists who follow the old school philosphophy of the low-fat, food pyramid diet that doesn't matter where your source of carbs comes from. There is mounting evidence that starchy, sugary, high-glycemic index carbs are not good for you and may undermine weight loss efforts. Many times, your doctor can refer you to a nutritionist or dietary educator. If you can not see a nutritionist, a good place to start, would be a diet high in veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean protein and good fats like those from olive oil. Your diet should also be low in starchy white breads and sugar.

As far as increasing your physical activity, try getting the recommended 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day. Such activities could include brisk walking, running, swimming, or cycling. Many people find consulting a personal trainer to be helpful. Before starting any weight loss or exercise plan, consult your doctor. Your doctor should be a part of your weight loss efforts.

REFERENCES:

1. Anon. Product Review: Weight Loss Supplements (Including Bitter Orange, Green Tea, 7-Keto-DHEA, Pyruvate). http://www.consumerlab.com/results/wtloss.asp? (Accessed January 29, 2007).
2. Jellin JM, Gregory PJ, Batz F, et al. Pharmacist's Letter/Prescriber's Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com/. (Accessed January 29, 2007).