Synephrine Review
Synephrine is often touted as the non-ephedrine ephedrine. It’s sold under the ingredient name of Advantra Z™ (which is touted as the flagship ingredient in both Miracleburn and Nuphedrine). Synephrine can be found in the citrus aurantium fruit, also known as bitter orange.
Is Synephrine effective? One study performed in December of 2007 looked at the lipolysis (fat loss) effects of Satsuma mandarin orange (Citrus unshu Mark) peel on the fat cells of rats (I know, it’s always rats). A high concentration of Synephrine was present in the peel and lipoloysis effects were present. The overall conclusion:
These results suggest that the segment wall, an edible fraction, from Satsuma mandarin orange might be useful as a functional food, especially as a fat-reducing material1.
Another study, done in 2004 states that the required dose of Synephrine necessary to promote fat loss in humans is very high and that such a high dosage would have harmful side effects (mainly cardiovascular because of the increased blood pressure that Synephrine supplementation can cause).2
One study done looked at the anti-obesity effects of raspberry ketones and it was mentioned that the chemical structure is similar to Synephrine.3 Frankly, I don’t know how someone could have the gall to cite this study as supporting the effectiveness of Synephrine, but also we’ve seen worse. (Raspberry ketones are included in a iSatori’s diet pill aimed at women. Read my review of Curvelle.)
I would tend to lean toward the most recent study as it showed the direct action of Synephrine on fat cells (even if they were rat fat cells). The only weakness in this study is that we don’t know how much synephrine was actually used. In a 2005 statement issued by Robert E. Brackett, a director at the Food and Drug Administration before the House of Representatives he mentioned that they had found a 4% concentration of Synephrine in citrus aurantium while other times finding a concentration of chemical Synephrine of up to 90%. I suppose if you were just going for weight loss, you’d hope yours had the 90% concentration.
This starts to make anecdotal evidence on Synephrine almost desirable. There is plenty of research still to be desired when it comes to Synephrine, but I’m not closing the door on its effeciveness. From what I can gather, it will most likely promote fat loss. Your task would then be to make sure you were purchasing from a company that didn’t throw it in their proprietary blend, but actually showed you the amount you were getting. Hopefully more research will present itself so I can make a proper conclusion.