Weight Loss Supplements

FDA is said to have recently instituted a crack down on weight loss supplements as a result of serious side effects and even death associated with some diet supplements such as ephedra. The ban on ephedra products resulted to the introduction of so-called ephedra free weight loss supplements, these too have been shown to yield their own fair share of problems and they too could be destined to the same fate as ephedra.

These ephedra free medications have been shown to cause an increase in heart rate and a couple other side effects on healthy people according to a health expert who participated in the study.

The study conducted by the University of California at Berkeley was the first one to look into the health effects of reformulated weight loss supplements. Among the things tested for included blood pressure and heart beat rate of volunteers who were given reformulated weight loss supplements made from extracts of bitter orange.

Since the ban slapped on ephedra by FDA, an increasing number of weight loss product manufactures have turned to extracts of bitter lemon. The USB study involved 20 healthy volunteers, who were given single doses of a weight loss supplement or a placebo.

The supplements tested in the study were Xenadrine EFX and Advantra Z, each of which contains bitter orange extracts. The administered drug was shown to effect an increase in cardio pulse rate of up to 16 beats in one minute. The Thermogenic Xenadrine EFX in particular was shown to rev up heart rate by 13 per cent, something that makes it almost similar in performance to ephedra.

Bitter orange extracts contain synephrine, a component present in over 90% of citrus fruits but found in higher concentrations in fruits such as Sour orange, Zhi shi and bitter orange and which is popularly used as a medication in the management of respiratory tract congestion and blood pressure. Xenadrine EFX includes a stimulant in the ingredient, usually caffeine. The quantity of caffeine is Xenadrine is estimated to be the equivalent of 3 coffee cups. This is the constituent responsible for increase in blood pressure and patients using this product are cautioned against over dosage.