Clinical Research

Clinical research has shown the following about TTA:

“The biological responses to tetradecylthioacetic acid include mitochondrial proliferation, increased catabolism of fatty acids, antiadiposity, improvement in insulin sensitivity, antioxidant properties, reduced proliferation and induction of apoptosis in rapidly proliferating cells and cell differentiation. These biological responses indicate that tetradecylthioacetic acid changes the plasma profile from atherogenic to cardioprotective. As a pan-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand, tetradecylthioacetic acid regulates the adipose tissue mass and the expression of lipid metabolizing enzymes, particularly those involved in catabolic pathways.” Adv Exp Med Biol. 1999;466:53-7

In every day language, TTA has been shown to break down fatty acids. It helps insulin to work more effectively. TTA has also been shown to be an anti inflammatory and to help in cancer patients.

Unfortunately, the research done on TTA has been done on rats and mice. More human research is needed to determine the effect of TTA on human weight loss.

Conclusion

TTA has shown impressive results in clinical trials, while showing no notable side effects. However, there is no human reseach to show the effects of TTA. TTA could be a great diet pill ingredient. Time and research will tell if TTA is the answer to your diet pill needs.

Phentermine Online

Phentermine has recently become available online. However, due to the serious nature of the possible side effects of Phentermine as well as the potential for dependency on Phentermine, we recommend ONLY USING PHENTERMINE WHEN PRESCRIBED BY A DOCTOR.

Phentermine Dosage

Your doctor will determine what dose of Phentermine is right for you. Phentermine should only be taken short-term (for up to 12 weeks). Be sure to closely follow your doctor’s orders when taking Phentermine. An overdose of Phentermine can be fatal.

Side Effects of Phentermine

Side effects of Phentermine include skin problems, insomnia, irritability, hyperactivity, hives, increased heart rate, chest pain, dizziness, headache, anxiety, increased blood pressure, dry mouth, and itching. You should report any side effects to your doctor.

Phentermine Warning

Phentermine may be habit forming. It is intended only for short-term use of 12 weeks or less. Be sure to follow your doctor’s orders closely while taking Phentermine. When you stop taking Phentermine you may experience symptoms of withdrawl. Discuss any withdrawl symptoms with your doctor, as this has the potential to turn into an addiction.

Phentermine can cause adverse reactions when combined with other medications. Be sure to discuss with your doctor ALL other medications you are taking to be sure they will not interfere with taking Phentermine.

Diet Pills Containing Phentermine

Phentermine is the main ingredient in the following diet pills as well as several others:

Adipex
Fastin
Ionamin
Obenix
Obephen
Pro-Fast
Weltmine

Phentermine Conclusion

Phentermine is a clinically proven diet pill ingredient which suppresses appetite. It can be very effective in promoting weight loss. However, strict heed must be paid to all doctors’ orders while taking Phentermine.

L-Arginine is one of the 20 nonessential amino acids, meaning that sufficient amounts are produced naturally in most people. Dietary sources of arginine include nuts, seeds, dairy, poultry, and seafood. According to Wikipedia, L-Arginine may have the following benefits (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-arginine):

• Improving immune function
• Reducing risk of heart disease
• Increasing muscle mass
• Decreasing blood pressure

Arginine helps produce nitric oxide and creatine and stimulates the body’s production of protein (Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/l-arginine/NS_patient-arginine).

Synonyms for Arginine listed on the Mayo Clinic’s website include 2-amino-5-guanidinopentanoic acid, dipeptide arginyl aspartate, HeartBars, ibuprofen-arginate, Sargenor, and Spedifen® (Source:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/l-arginine/NS_patient-arginine).

Arginine Clinical Trials

No studies could be found that gave evidence for a direct effect of arginine on weight loss in humans. One study tested whether L-Arginine increased muscle mass and decreased fat tissue in swine. Only 24 swine were used and were randomly assigned to the L-Arginine group (1% L-Arginine added to diet) or an L-Alanine group (2.5% L-Alanine added to diet). After 60 days, the swine in the L-Arginine group had significantly increased body mass and skeletal-muscle but decreased fat content (Source: Amino Acids, e-publication, Aug 6, 2008).

Another study found that arginine stimulated secretion of the growth hormone which may help increase muscle mass in humans (Source:Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 67(6), 1186-1189). However, the doses in the study were much higher than what is found in a typical supplement and were also administered in saline and through injection.

Conclusion

There is not enough concrete research to say if L-Arginine is effective as a diet pill ingredient. Also, it is unlikely that a supplement would provide a high enough dosage of L-Arginine to produce the effects found in a study.

Xanthinol Nicotinate is categorized as a vasodilator which is supposed to increase blood flow, thus improving memory and cognition (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic). It is a form of Niacin that is also being studied as a treament for lipid disorders and high cholesterol. It may be included in dietary supplements because of possible benefits of increased blood flow for performance. It may have uncomfortable side effects such as flushing (Source: http://ep.physoc.org/cgi/reprint/54/4/385).

Clinical Studies for Xanthinol Nicotinate

While studies have been done to assess how Xanthinol Nicotinate affects memory, brain function, and lipid levels in the blood, only one study discussed any effect of Xanthinol Nicotinate on weight. The study administered 50mg of Xanthinol Nicotinate per kg of body weight to subjects with lipoprotein disorders.  Results showed that lipid levels in the blood temporarily decreased and LDL increased but there was no reduction in weight (Source: Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift, 1976, 101(39), 1413-1417). No other studies found even mentioned effects of Xanthinol Nicotinate on weight.

Conclusion

Studies have shown that Xanthinol Nicotinate can improve memory (Source: Psychopharmacology, 1985, 87(4), 390-395). However, this review concludes that is not an effective ingredient in diet pills due to a lack of evidence showing any effect on weight.

Cayenne, (Capsicum annuum or frutescens or red pepper) is a pepper that can be eaten raw or cooked but it is commonly dried, ground, and then used as a spice or for medicinal purposes, especially in Indian and Asian cultures. Often used to improve circulation or digestive problems it is also used for pain relief. Research has found that the effective ingredient in Cayenne pepper is capsaicin . Cayenne also has Vitamins A and C and some antioxidant properties (Source:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/cayenne-000230.htm).

Cayenne can be taken in powder or capsule form although powder is supposed to be more effective and can be stirred in to foods or juices.

Clinical Research

As with most herbal supplements, more research still needs to be done to determine if cayenne helps with weight loss (Source:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/cayenne-000230.htm). One clinical experiment found that energy expenditure in men increased immediately after eating a meal that included 10 grams of red pepper (Source: Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 1995, 41(6), 647-656). An experiment in women found similar results (Source: British Journal of Nutrition, 1998, 80(6), 503-510).

Another study has shown that cayenne in a meal may help to decrease energy and fat intake if the level of cayenne is at the maximum tolerable dose (Source: British Journal of Nutrition, 2004, 91(6), 991-995). In this study, the dosages were only described as moderate or strong; exact amounts were not given. Also, participants were not randomly selected which may have affected results.

According to a study cited in the Medical Journal of Australia, cayenne (or capsaicin) powder when added to an entree may reduce food intake but cayenne as a supplement does not have evidence to support its effectiveness (Source: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/171_11_061299/egger/egger.html#refbody15). A standard dose in experiments that have shown positive results is 10 grams.

Conclusion

According to evidence, adding cayenne pepper to a diet may help with weight loss by lowering food intake and increasing the body’s short term energy use. Exact dose and type of ingestion needed to achieve results still requires more research so accept claims of diet pills cautiously.

Vinpocetine is an extract from the periwinkle plant that is used to increase blood flow to the brain. It may also help protect against memory loss, specifically due to aging. For bodybuilding, vinpocetine is used to increase exercise performance. Because studies of vinpocetine are still relatively rare and side effects are largely unknown, it is recommended that initial dosages remain between 2 and 5 mg (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinpocetine).

What about Vinpocetine and weight loss?

Exactly. No clinical trials studying vinpocetine and weight loss could be found for mice, rats, guinea pigs, or humans. Any direct effect on weight has not been demonstrated. Effects on exercise enhancement have not been established either. According to Wikipedia:

No studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of vinpocetine on performance enhancement during exercise.

Conclusion

Basically, vinpocetine might help you remember to take your diet pills, but it probably won’t contribute to their effectiveness. And chances are high that a diet pill with a “proprietary blend” won’t contain a high enough dosage to have an effect anyway.

Ginseng is a plant whose roots are used for benefits such as improving the immune system, lowering blood sugar, increasing overall well-being, and enhancing physical and mental performance. The berries of this plant have also been studied for health benefits. The major active ingredients are ginsenosides.

Ginseng in dietary supplements can be tricky to identify because of its almost endless variations.  The most common forms are Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (P. quinquefolius L.) (Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-ginseng.html). Siberian ginseng does not have the ginsenosides that are thought to be beneficial in the other forms.

Clinical Research

Evidence for ginseng contributing to weight loss is difficult to summarize because of its many variations and range of quality. Studies for ginseng helping with weight loss have been inconclusive according to the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-ginseng.html).

• One study showed that ginseng berry extract decreased blood glucose and body weight in mice. The mice received 12 daily injections of the ginseng in doses of 150 mg/kg of body weight. Mice treated with the extract showed a weight loss of about 9 grams over the 12 day period (Source: Phytomedicine, 2002, 9(3), 254-258).
• A second study showed that the active ingredient in ginseng root administered at 10mg/kg body weight reduced body weight and total food intake in male rats (Source: Appetite, 2007, 49(1), 303).
• No studies showing direct effects of ginseng on weight loss in humans could be found, although studies do exist showing that ginseng may affect carbohydrate metabolism (Source: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20041101/1731.html).

Conclusion

Ginseng may have some health benefits, but it is too early to say that one of them is weight loss.  This claim also cannot be made since research on humans is lacking that shows any effect on weight loss. Also, effects have not been shown when ginseng is administered orally and this would be the common form for dietary supplements.

Raspberry ketone is a chemical compound from, you guessed it, raspberries. Since it doesn’t occur naturally in high amounts, it is often produced industrially (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_ketone). Apparently the substance has a chemical structure similar to capsaicin, which is found in red pepper and believed to burn fat (Source: http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Raspberry-the-fat-busting-fruit).

Clinical Studies 

The one study that could be found looked at whether or not raspberry ketone could prevent obesity and activiate lipid metabolism in mice. In this 2-part study, one group of mice was fed a high-fat diet with .5, 1, or 2% raspberry ketone for 10 weeks. A second group was fed a high-fat diet for 6 weeks and then for the next 5 weeks was fed the same diet with 1% raspberry ketone. According to the study,

 RK prevented the high-fat-diet-induced elevations in body weight and the weights of the liver and visceral adipose tissues.

The study concluded that raspberry ketone can not only prevent but also improve obesity (Source: Life Sciences, 2005, 77(2), 194-204).

Conclusion

Since results of only one study could be found (and remember, it was conducted using mice), this review is staying with a neutral conclusion regarding the effectiveness of raspberry ketone on weight loss. Until studies are conducted in humans, there isn’t any conclusive evidence for raspberry ketone.

Ginger, also called African ginger, Jamaican ginger, or zingiber officinale, has been used in Asian cultures to help digestion for the last 2000 years.  Its most common use is to help with nausea. Recently, a small amount of evidence suggests that ginger is effective in improving arthritis and heart disease (Source:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginger-000246.htm). It is often included in dietary supplements because of claims that ginger stimulates cell activity.

Clinical Studies: Ginger and Weight Loss

This was a near fruitless search. One study showed reduced body weight in mice fed a high-fat diet and ginger solution compared with mice not given the ginger solution (Source: Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, 2005, 125(2), 213-217). The effect was thought to occur because absorption of fat was inhibited in the intestines. However, a study of a dietary supplement (Dose=300 mg) containing rhubarb, ginger, astragulus, red sage, and turmeric, together with gallic acid, resulted in an opposite finding (Source: Journal of Medicinal Food, 2007, 10(1), 184-188):

The [supplement dose] at all concentrations was well tolerated, but was ineffective in causing weight loss or in suppressing food intake.

No study of ginger by itself and weight loss in humans could be found. The Mayo Clinic states that more study is needed to know ginger’s effect on weight loss Source:http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ginger/NS_patient-ginger).

So can ginger help you lose weight? 

Results are inconclusive.  Since existing studies of mice say yes, but trials in humans say no, this review has to remain neutral.  

Creatine is one of 20 essential amino acids. 50% of the amount in our bodies is created in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. The other half comes from food such as red meat (Source:http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/creatine-000297.htm). It is typically used to improve muscular performance during high intensity activities that require short bursts of energy, such as weight lifting. 

Can Creatine help weight loss?

Typical dosage in clinical studies for creatine is around 20 grams/day during a “loading period” after which 2 grams/day is taken.  Studies have shown that a common side effect of using creatine supplements is actually weight gain. This is caused by water retention in the muscles, however, and may stop when supplementation stops. (Source:Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(3), 706-717).  In one controlled study, the following results were found 6 weeks after the loading period (Source: Clinical Science, 104(2), 153-162):

Increase in body mass following creatine loading was maintained after 6 weeks of continued supplementation…our findings suggest that problonged creatine ingestion induces an increase of fat-free mass.

Evidence is still conflicting about the long-term safety of creatine supplements, but most trials suggest that creatine has benefits for increasing muscle performance when taken in the proper dosage (Source: Sports Medicine, 35(2), 107-25).  Since most trials have been done in college-age male athletes evidence is still pending regarding efficacy of creatine on other populations, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. 

Creatine Review Conclusion 

In short, no, you won’t lose weight by using creatine. There is not currently any evidence to support that claim.  And most diet supplements, such as Noxycut or TestoRipped, do not include the 2-5 grams daily that will give you the improved muscular performance seen in clinical studies.  As a result, you may not see the weight gain that has occurred in clinical studies, but you won’t see weight loss either.