Supplements For Weightloss - Are They Useful?

 Whether you are flipping through your favorite magazine or surfing the Internet, you will see plenty of advertisements promoting magical supplements for weightloss.

Weightloss supplement products come in all kind of shapes, styles and sizes and have a range of solutions and claims. For example they may come in the form of pills, patches or creams. But the important question is do these cures really work? Only you can decide that for yourself.

Let's take a look at some of the most popular supplements for weightloss products and the positive benefits and negative effects of each, so you can decide for yourself.

• Citrus Aurantium, Bitter Orange and Sour Orange:

These supplements for weightloss products are manufactured directly from concentrated extracts from orange peel.

They often claim to increase metabolism but there are no real conclusive tests to back this up.

Citrus Aurantium, Bitter Orange and Sour Orange contain synephrine, a stimulant which can cause cardiovascular toxicity and hypertension. Anyone with heart disease, hypertension, and glaucoma should avoid these at all costs.

• Chromium (Examples of Chromium products include Puritan's Pride Chromium Picolinate, Nutrilite Trim Advantage, Vitamin World Naturally Inspired Yeast Free Chromium Picolinate): 

The claims that chromium improves body composition and increases weight loss have been backed by one main study which proved this to be the case.

• There are two types of chromium: 

Trivalent (which the body requires and is considered safe in doses of 200 micrograms or less daily) and Hexavalent (but this form can cause convulsions, stomach upsets, kidney and liver diseases, ulcers, and even death).

• Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) (Examples of this product include Now Foods CLA, Vitamin World CLA, Nature Made CLA): 

This product claims to promote leanness, but there are very few studies that actually support the marketing claims. While more research is needed, CLA is generally safe.

• Ephedra/Ephedrine: 

The way Ephedra may help weight loss is by suppressing appetite, and research has proven its effectiveness when used with caffeine. However, ephedra causes stroke, high blood pressure, and serious heart problems, which is why the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra was prohibited in April 2004.

• 7-Keto Dehydroepiandrosterone (7-keto DHEA): 

Preliminary research indicates that this product may decrease body weight and fat composition by increasing metabolism, but more research studies are needed.

• Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) and Garcinia Cambogia: 

These supplements for weightloss products claim to suppress appetite and improve fat metabolism. While studies have shown mixed results, they are generally safe.

• L-Carnitine: 

L-Carnitine claims to inhibit obesity, but there is very little evidence of its effectiveness.

• Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), Pyruvate, and Dihydroxyacetone and Pyruvate (DHAP): 

A few small studies suggest that these supplements may have modest effects on weight loss, but much more research is needed. Presently, no serious side effects have been reported.

• Lecithin, Guar Gum, Psyllium Hulls, Chickweed, and Chitosan (Examples: Fat Blocker Complex, Chito-Trim, Metabo Fat Blocker, Miracletab, Exercise in a Bottle, Fat Trapper, Fat Grabbers, Fat Trapper Plus, Now Chitosan with Chromium): 

These supplements for weightloss products claim to help break down fat so that it can be absorbed, trapped, emulsified, and eliminated by the body. However, until now, there is no competent and reliable scientific research to support such claims.