The search for effective weight loss drugs continues. To date there are no overwhelmingly effective treatments for weight loss. There are however many promising medications that are starting to come on the market. Pharmaceutical drugs that you may get from your doctor go through rigorous scientific research before being released and most of the claims that the pharmaceutical companies make although exaggerated can usually be substantiated. This is not the case for the supplements and "weight loss pills" that you may get from your local health food store. Non of them have to go through any sort of scientific tests to be marketed, and the manufacturers do not have to substantiate their claims. Despite this lack of evidence and even in the presence of evidence for no effect people keep buying them in the hope that it may help. Weight loss is difficult, it requires effort and determination and there is a high level of failure. So manufactures of these weight loss supplements capitalise on desperate people that want an easy way out. But at this stage there is no easy way out.In a recent review in a scientific journal many of the supplements were reviewed and the evidence for and against their effectiveness in weight loss was presented. I will here go through all of their conclusions. There were no supplements that had any dramatic effects on weight loss. The only Supplements that had any effect were capsaicin, caffeine and fibre, but they were only effective if eaten in food. There was no evidence that they were effective when taken as a supplement.
In conclusion, some substances have pharmacological effects but non have a proven role in weigh reduction. The substances that have the best evidence for effect can easily be supplied in your low fat diet and therefor there is no reason whatsoever to use any of these supplements for weight loss. Unless the manufacturers of these products can show clear scientific evidence of the effect of these substances I would not recommend that you use any of them.
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| Brindleberry(Garcinia cambogia/indica) | "Slim Life", "Brindleslim",
"Medislim", "Beer Belly Busters". |
This is supposed to reduce carbohydrate conversion into fat. Even if this was true, fat formation from carbohydrates is only a minor part of fat storage. There is hardly any evidence that this substance help is weight loss. This substance would at best have minimal effect. |
| Capsaicin | "Optislim 2000",
also in spicy foods and chilly |
There are well proven effect from capsaicin. It activates neurons and neuropeptides thought to suppress appetite it also increases secretions of epinephrine which may fat breakdown. There is however no evidence that taking capsaicin as a supplement does anything for your weight. |
| Caffeine/Guarana | "Slim Life", " Beer Belly Busters",
" Body Lean" |
This is another substance that has well proven effects. It increases free fatty acids into the circulation and less use of glycogen. It has also been shown to stimulate the metabolic rate. Several studies have examined the effect of caffeine on weight loss but found that there is no evidence for weight loss. Taking Caffeine as a supplement is not going to help you lose weight and may cause nervousness, anxiety, gastrointestinal discomfort, insomnia, heart arrhythmia's, hallucination and dependence. |
| L-Carnitine | "Fat Metaboliser",
"Pro-Sport L-Carnitine", "ProteCol" |
This is supposed to increase fat metabolism. Some studies have been done and they do not show any effect on weight from this substance. Using the supplements may cause diarrhoea. |
| Chitosan | "Chitorich", "Exofat",
"Fatsorb", "FatBreaker" in addition to other products labeled "chitosan |
This is supposed to bind to dietary fat and prevent digestion and storage. There are no well done studies that show any benefit from this substance. If this substance was to work it should cause a diarrhoea as the fat is excreted but this does not occur. |
| Chromium picolinate | "Body Lean", "Chromaslim",
"Medislim", "Beer Belly Busters", "Protecol" |
Supposed to increase satiety and energy expenditure through thermogenesis. Several studies have been done on this substance, the majority showing no effect on weight loss. There are also reports that show possible tissue damage and DNA damage as well as renal damage. |
| Fucus Vesiculosus | "Cellasene", "Medex",
"Bioslim" diet patches. |
This is a seaweed that contains a lot of Iodine. You thyroid uses Iodine to produce thyroid hormones that regulate your body’s metabolism. There is no proof that adding Iodine when you are not deficient has any effect on your weight and it may be harmful. |
| Ginkgo Biloba | "Cellasene", "Cellusense" | There is evidence that this substance act as a mild stress reduced (anxiolytic). But reducing your stress levels is not shown to reduce your weight rather the opposite in some cases. |
| Pectin | "Zellulean",
"Bear Belly Busters", "Exofat", "Fatsorb" |
This is a soluble fibre extracted from fruit. There is evidence that a high fibre diet reduces weight. But taking fibre in a tablet does not work. |
| Grapeseed extract | "Cellasene" | No evidence for this substance working. |
| Lecithin | "ProteCol",
"Cellasene", "Cellusense" |
There is only one study showing minimal if any reduction in weight. |
| Horse Chestnut(escin) | "Cellasene" | no shown effectiveness. |
| Sweet Clover/Soy beans (isoflanens) | "Cellasene" | no shown effectiveness. |
| St John's wort | "Beer Belly Buster" | This is a well known mild antidepressant. However there is no evidence that it will help in weight loss. |
1. Egger, Cameron-Smith, Stanton, "The effectiveness of popular, non-prescription weight loss supplements", MJA 171, Dec 1999, 604-608Dr. Bernard Beldholm
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