“People who take Stemulite experience:

Deep REM Sleep
Increased Muscle Gain and Endurance
Increased Weight Loss and Fat Loss
Increased Wellness and Energy”

This Stemulite review will specifically explore Stemulite’s contribution to weight loss and help you know
what you might expect from this product.

Stemulite Ingredients

Stemulite comes in Men’s Formula and Women’s Formula; there is a Daytime and a Nighttime Formula for each. The following is the list of ingredients found in each formula.

Men’s Daytime Formula / Women’s Daytime Formula

Lipoic acid 300 mg / Lipoic acid 300 mg
Aminocarnithine 200 mg / Aminocarnithine 200 mg
Beta Glucan 50 mg / Beta Glucan 50 mg
SerraPeptase 50 mg / SerraPeptase 50 mg
Mexican Yam Extract 50 mg
Quercitin 50 mg / Quercitin 50 mg
Eggplant extract 10 mg / Eggplant extract 10 mg
Indium 5 mg / Indium 5 mg

+Mexican Yam Extract (25mg) in the Women’s Formula

Men’s Nighttime Formula / Women’s Nighttime Formula

Lipoic acid 300 mg / Lipoic acid 300 mg
Aminocarnithine 200 mg / Aminocarnithine 200 mg
Beta Glucan 50 mg / Beta Glucan 50 mg
SerraPeptase 50 mg / SerraPeptase 50 mg
Mexican Yam Extract 50 mg
Quercitin 50 mg / Quercitin 50 mg
Eggplant extract 10 mg / Eggplant extract 10 mg
Indium 5 mg  /Indium 5 mg
Melatonin 2 mg / Melatonin 2 mg

+Mexican Yam Extract (25mg) in the Women’s Formula

Carnitine is an amino acid which helps break down fats. Although Carnitine is included in many weight loss supplements, there is no clinical evidence that it contributes to weight loss. It does, however, play a large role in building muscle.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is a very common dietary supplement. It can be found in spinach, broccoli and potatoes. It is an anti-oxidant that first gained notoriety when it was found that it prevented symptoms of people deficient in Vitamins E and C. Alpha Lipoic Acid has also been used in cases of diabetes because it increases a cell’s uptake of glucose ((Henriksen EJ (2006). “Exercise training and the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid in the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes”. Free Radic Biol Med 40 (1): 3-12. PMID)).

A typical dose of Alpha Lipoic Acid ranges from 100-200 mg per day.  Many times diet pill manufacturer’s will include Alpha Lipoic Acid and claim that the body needs ALA for energy. While it’s true that ALA’s role in energy creation is crucial, the body creates enough ALA on its own to perform this vital function.

Melatonin is an antioxidant. It is also a stimulant to the immune system and promotes restful sleep.

Mexican yam extract is used to treat symptoms associated with menopause.

Stemulite Men’s Formula vs. Women’s Formula

The only difference between the Men’s and Women’s formula is the Mexican Yam Extract, which doesn’t seem make the pills any more women-specific anyway. It appears to be more of a marketing gimmick that anything.

Stemulite–to Autoship or not to Autoship?

Stemulite has a unique ordering feature–they allow you to decide whether you want Stemulite diet pills to be autoshipped or not. In other words, you can decide if you want Stemulite automatically sent every month (with your credit card automatically charged) or if you want to make a one time purchase. Stemulite gives customers a choice, so we don’t hold the autoshipping against them.

Stemulite Cost

Stemulite diet pills cost $59.95 per bottle. Although the label says to take 2 tablets per serving, the Stemulite website indicates to take one Daytime tablet and one Nighttime tablet per day. At this dosage, one bottle will last 30 days. This is fairly expensive considering there is no evidence that any of the ingredients in Stemulite actually contribute to weight loss.

Stemulite Conclusion

This Stemulite review concludes that Stemulite diet pills are nothing out of the ordinary. They do not contain ANY ingredients proven to contribute to weight loss. There is virtually no difference between the men’s and women’s formulas. We recommend looking for a supplement with proven ingredients in proven amounts.

Hydroxycitric Acid Update

On May 1, 2009 the FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop taking Hydroxycut-branded products. Over more than 7 years they have received 23 reports of health related issues with those taking Hydroxycut-branded products. The main health concern appears to be serious liver-related problems. Iovate Health Sciences Inc., the makers of Hydroxcut, have voluntarily recalled all of the products under question in the FDA’s report

Common symptoms of liver complications include:

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• brown urine
• light colored stools
• unusual tiredness
• stomach pain
• itching
• loss of appetite
• weakness
• vomiting

In light of the recent FDA warning concerning the possible dangers of Hydroxycut-branded diet pills, many believe that the associated health risks are likely due to the inclusion of the commonly used ingredient Hydroxycitric Acid, or HCA. And while according to the FDA, “The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts.” you can never be too cautious.

So, while further study and research is needed to confirm the link between HCA and the liver problems, until proven otherwise any products that contain HCA are no longer recommended on this website.

What are the ingredients in Thermadrol?

• Green Tea Extract 600mg
• Advantra Z® (Citrus Arantium) 400 mg
• 5-HTP 5 mg
• HydroCitric Acid (Garcina Cambogia) 420 mg
• Bioperine® 6 mg
• L-Carnitine 150 mg
• L-Tyrosine 75 mg
• Vitamin B6 30 mg
• Vitamin B12 600 mcg
• Chromium Picolinate 120 mcg
• Yerba Mate 60 mg
• Apple Cider Vinegar 30 mg
• Caffeine Anhydrous 120 mg
• Fennel Seed 30 mg
• Licorice Root 30 mg
• Pantothenic Acid 9 mg
• Phenylalanine 30 mg
• Gymnema Sylvestre 225 mg
• Cayenne Powder 30 mg
• Hoodia Gordonii 20:1 30 mg
• Ginger Root 45 mg

Green tea has been proven to increase metabolic function, causing weight loss. Studies have shown that taking 300 mg of green tea per day will cause weight loss. The amount of green tea in Thermadrol diet pills is sufficient to cause weight loss.

Advantra Z is a patented extract of Citrus Aurantium (also called Bitter Orange). The active ingredient in Citrus Aurantium is Synephrine, which I reviewed in depth previously.

The short of it is that Advantra Z is one of the ingredients you’ll find in diet pills that is actually effective in aiding weight loss. Synephrine is a stimulant that does not cause the jitters of caffeine. Some make the claim that Syephrine is the “new ephedra”. There has been absolutely zero research documenting a synephrine effect equivalent to ephedra. Is Synephrine (Advantra Z) effective? Yes. But let’s not equate it to ephedra until we have some research to back it up.

5-HTP is an amino acid, a precursor to serotonin (serotonin modulates anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, and appetite, among other things). The main purpose for 5-HTP to be included in a diet pill is for its mood enhancing effects. Much of the excessive calorie consumption causing obesity is supposedly due to mood-induced eating.

What you really have to question is the effectiveness of Garcinia cambogia at all. According to one of my favorite sources, Garcinia cambogia’s “usefulness is unproven.” However, according to this study HCA “was also shown to exhibit concentration-dependent release of serotonin in isolated rat brain cortex, which may explain its appetite suppressive action.” The dosage for the study was 4.6 grams per day — clearly more than the 840 mg present in Thermadrol (with two servings per day). I’m not saying that a lesser dose is not effective, I’m just presenting all of the facts. The study used a much higher dosage.

Bioperine is an extract from the fruit Piper nigrum L (black pepper) or Piper longum L (long pepper). Both of these contain the active ingredient that you’re looking for: Piperine. They call it a “thermonutrient” because it “enhances the body’s natural thermogenic activity.”

Is it the real deal? The Bioperine website did cite one study on their website, that showed an increased absorption of beta-carotene, vitamin B6 and selenium (fat soluble, water soluble, and a mineral, respectively). I don’t know if the ability to absorb more nutrients will directly translate into lost weight, but the added health benefits of Bioperine should not be overlooked.

Carnitine is an amino acid which helps break down fats. Although Carnitine is included in many weight loss supplements, there is no clinical evidence that it contributes to weight loss.

Tyrosine (you’ll sometimes see it called 4-hydroxyphenylalanine) is one of the amino acids used by cells to synthesize proteins. You can find it wherever you find casein (a type of protein found predominantly in dairy products such as milk, cheese, or cottage cheese). Tyrosine is a building block for neurotransmitters, which are chemicals used to relay, amplify and modulate signals between a neuron and another cell ((http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotransmitter)).

L-Tyrosine is one diet pill ingredient that has quite a bit of support from actual research:
With L-Tyrosine, you want to look for daily dosage amounts of 500 to 1500 mg. Thermadrol does not have nearly enough Tyrosine to be effective.

Chromium, according to some studies, reduces insulin resistance, thus increasing weight loss. However, other studies find the opposite. The findings are too contradictory to be sure whether it is effective or not. We’re neutral with a slightly positive lean here.

Yerba mate contains mainly caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. These ingredients supposedly promote central nervous stimulation and help the body to shed water as well as suppress appetite. Additionally, caffeine, theophylline and theobromine appear to suppress appetite, and boost metabolism. However, there is not adequate research to support this. When you combine Yerba Mate with Guarana and Damiana, the effect is great — as shown by some interesting research. Thermadrol does contain Guarana but not Damiana, unfortunately.

Caffeine has been shown to increase metabolic function. Don’t be impressed with the wording Caffeine Anhydrous–it is just dried caffeine. Be sure to take into account your own reaction to caffeine before taking any product containing it.

Hoodia Gordonii is an ingredient that has gained popularity with diet pills. However, there is no scientific evidence that Hoodia actually contributes to weight loss.  All hype, no science.  I wish Thermadrol would’ve left this out — it’s a negative for us to have a diet pill containing this completel fad of an ingredient.

Does Thermadrol have a guarantee?

The Thermadrol website says “Try Thermadrol with QuadraBurn and its 21 Active Ingredients at no risk. If you don’t Lose at Least 10 Pounds AND see an amazing change in your body and energy levels…if friends aren’t raving about weight you’ve lost…If you are not 100% satisfied in any way…simply send back the empty container within 30 days for a full refund of the purchase price.”  This looks like a very solid guarantee.  No fancy wording or trickery.

What are the side effects of Thermadrol?

Side effects of Thermadrol diet pills include sleeplessness, nausea, or jitters. These side effects are actually listed on the Thermadrol website (our hat goes off again!). This is almost unheard of in the diet pill industry. Most companies claim their products have no side effects even if the side effects are known and documented.

How much does Thermadrol cost?

A bottle of 120 capsules costs around $30 and lasts 20 days. At $1.50 per day, they are relatively inexpensive as diet pills go.

Thermadrol’s Unusual Marketing

I was very happily surprised with Thermadrol’s website. It included testimonials, but unlike countless other diet pill companies, the testimonials were simple and quiet believable.

In addition to Thermadrol diet pills, you also receive free exercise software and a free short-term gym membership (wow).

As already noted in this Thermadrol review, Thermadrol actually lists the side effects on their website. This is another unusual move by a diet pill company.

Thermadrol does not autoship their product. In other words, you have to re-order the product if you want more. They do not automatically ship it to you, as many diet pill companies do.  Another plus.

Best of all, Thermadrol tells you how much of each ingredient is included in their formula. This is the ONLY way to know how effective a diet pill actually is.  Thermadrol impresses us yet again.

Thermadrol conclusion

This Thermadrol review finds that Thermadrol is a legitimate diet pill. It contains several proven ingredients, most in proven amounts. We appreciate the upfront marketing. The inclusion of Hoodia adds nothing and we wish the guarantee were for more than 30 days. However, we do not doubt that Thermadrol diet pills can facilitate weight loss.

Hydroxycitric Acid Update

On May 1, 2009 the FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop taking Hydroxycut-branded products. Over more than 7 years they have received 23 reports of health related issues with those taking Hydroxycut-branded products. The main health concern appears to be serious liver-related problems. Iovate Health Sciences Inc., the makers of Hydroxcut, have voluntarily recalled all of the products under question in the FDA’s report

Common symptoms of liver complications include:

• jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• brown urine
• light colored stools
• unusual tiredness
• stomach pain
• itching
• loss of appetite
• weakness
• vomiting

In light of the recent FDA warning concerning the possible dangers of Hydroxycut-branded diet pills, many believe that the associated health risks are likely due to the inclusion of the commonly used ingredient Hydroxycitric Acid, or HCA. And while according to the FDA, “The agency has not yet determined which ingredients, dosages, or other health-related factors may be associated with risks related to these Hydroxycut products. The products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts.” you can never be too cautious.

So, while further study and research is needed to confirm the link between HCA and the liver problems, until proven otherwise any products that contain HCA are no longer recommended on this website.

What are the ingredients in Animal Cuts?

The following is the (lengthy) list of ingredients, according to the Animal Cuts website.

Serving Size 1Pack
Servings Per Container42

Amount Per Serving % DV

• Niacin(as Niacinamide) 15mg 75%
• Vitamin B6(as Pyridoxine HCL) 2mg 100%
• Synephrine *
• Octopamine *
• Tyramine *
• Eqigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG)
• L-Theanine *
• PEA (Phenylethylamine) *
• Choline Citrate *
• Betaine HCL *
• Inositol Monophosphate *
• Guarana (22% Caffeine) *
• L-Carnitine *
• Dandelion Extract (Taraxol, Taraxerol) *
• Uva Ursi Extract (Arbutin, Methyl-Arbutin) *
• Guggul (2.5% Guggulsterones) *
• Soy Isoflavones *
• Insulin Potentiators 100mg
• Alpha-Lipoic Acid *
• Chromium Polynicotinate *
• Chromium Picolinate *
• Nucleotide Regulators 300mg
• Phosphate *
• Inosine *
• Phosphatidylcholine *
• Neurotransmitter Regulators 250mgSt.
• John’s Wort (0.3% Hypericin) *
• Tyrosine *
• Citrilene%u2122 (Hydroxycitric Acid) *
• Grapefruit Extract (Naringin, Naringenin) *
• White Willow (Bark) *
• Phenylalanine (As L-Phenylalanine) *
• Ginger Root Extract (Gingerols, Shoagols) *

What do the ingredients in Animal Cuts do?

Synephrine–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 lipolysis 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 material ((J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2008 Dec;53(6):547-51.)).

PEA (Phenethylamine) is an alkaloid that functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Some people call Phenetyhlamine “The Love Drug” because it is included in chocolate but the question arises as to the validity of that claim because Pheneythlamine is metabolized so quickly, it’s doubtful that any significant amount would reach the brain quickly enough to cause an effect. More human research is needed on phenethylamine.

Carnitine is an amino acid which helps break down fats. Although Carnitine is included in many weight loss supplements, there is no clinical evidence that it contributes to weight loss.

Gugglesterones are supposed to increase thyroid function to promote weight loss. However, studies have had varying results.

Chromium Picolinate (chromium + picolinic acid) is pushed by companies as an aid to losing weight. It is known that small quantities of chromium are “needed for glucose utilization by insulin in normal health, but deficiency is extremely rare in developed nations.”

Do you have a chromium deficiency? Probably not. However, some studies are finding that Chromium Picolinate reduces insulin resistance, thus leading to weight loss. Other studies claim to find the opposite.

L-tyrosine has proven to contribute to the ability to work out more effectively and burn more calories. You guessed it–the amount of L-tyrosine in Animal Cuts is not disclosed.

Green tea is a very effective ingredient in increasing metabolic function when used in the appropriate amount. However, Animal Cuts does not disclose how much green tea is contained in their formula.

This long list of ingredients can be intimidating. Companies often include dozens of ingredients in micro
amounts so you think you are getting something different and effective. Don’t be fooled. The proof is in how much of each ingredient is included. You will notice the ingredients in Animal Cuts are included in a “complex”. In other words, they don’t want you to know how much of each ingredient is included in the formula. Therefore, it is virtually impossible for this Animal Cuts review to determine the true effectiveness of this product.

How much do Animal Cuts diet pills cost?

A bottle of Animal Cuts diet pills costs around $30 and has 42 packs (servings). If you take the recommended 2 packs a day, one bottle will last you 21 days. While this isn’t especially expensive for a diet pill, there is no way to know how effective it is (which essentially makes it infinitely expensive).

What are the directions for taking Animal Cuts?

The Animal Cuts website gives the following directions:

“Take two Animal Cuts packs everyday for three consecutive weeks. Follow a cycle consisting of three weeks on and one week off. After your one week off cycle, you can repeat another three week on cycle until you reach your goals. Take on an empty stomach.”

Animal Cuts’ in-your-face marketing

Let’s just say Animal Cuts marketing isn’t your typical diet pill marketing. Their website uses any language you can imagine and doesn’t apologize for doing so. They show pictures of bulging biceps, obviously catering to the teenage crowd.

Animal Cuts conclusion

This Animal Cuts review finds that, despite their claims, Animal Cuts diet pills are really not that different from typical fat burners. Like so many other diet pills, Animal Cuts leaves you in the dark about how much of each ingredient is included in the formula. This is a tell tale sign that there is not enough of the proven ingredients to be effective. Try using a diet pill that is honest in the amount of each ingredient included.

What are the ingredients in Levorex?

Ingredients per serving:

• Acetyl-l-carnitine 400mg NV
• Acetyl-l-tyrosine 50mg NV
• Green tea extract 98% (50% egcg) 180mg NV
• Rhodiola rosea (3% rosavins) 25mg NV
• Grape seed extract 98% 50mg NV
• Bioperine� 4mg NV
• EvoPure (Pure evodiamine) 20mg NV
• Vinpocetine 4mg NV
• Tyramine base 10mg NV
• Pyroxidal-5-phosphate 3mg 150%
• Calcium pantothenate 10mg 100%

L-Carnitine is known for stimulating the burning of fatty acids. Research findings are mixed. Levorex claims Acetyl-l-carnitine is even better than l-carnitine. Research found that old rats fed Acetyl-l-carnitine plus lipoic acid showed increased metabolism. (http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/99/4/1870)
However, Levorex does not contain lipoic acid. Also, because this study was done on rats and not humans, this Levorex review cannot determine exactly how effective the Acetyl-l-carnitine in Levorex might be.

Tyrosine (you’ll sometimes see it called 4-hydroxyphenylalanine) is one of the amino acids used by cells to synthesize proteins. Even an effective ingredient,backed by research, is ineffective if there isn’t enough of it. With L-Tyrosine, you want to look for daily dosage amounts of 500 to 1500 mg. The amount in Levorex isn’t enough to be effective.

Green tea has been proven to be effective in contributing to weight loss.

Bioperine is an extract from the fruit Piper nigrum L (black pepper) or Piper longum L (long pepper). Both of these contain the active ingredient that you’re looking for: Piperine. They call it a “thermonutrient” because it “enhances the body’s natural thermogenic activity.” I don’t know if the ability to absorb more nutrients will directly translate into lost weight, but the added health benefits of Bioperine should not be overlooked.

In a clinical study, evodiamine was given to mice as .02% of their diet. These mice did lose more weight than the mice given placebo. ((http://www.thieme-connect.com/ejournals/DOI/10.1055/s-2001-17353)) We’d like to see more research done on evodiamine before we can endorse it as an ingredient to be included in diet pills.

Vinpocetine is used to treat age-related memory problems (increases blood circulation to the brain). You should only take 2-5 mg of vinpocetine to make sure you don’t react negatively to it.

How much does Levorex cost?

One bottle of Levorex diet pills contains 360 capsules and retails for $79.95 (although you can find it online for $36.99). If you take the maximum dosage of 12 capsules per day, one bottle will last 30 days.

What are the side effects of Levorex?

The side effects of Levorex include increased heart rate, nausea, anxiety, and dizziness.

Liporexin/Levorex–why the name change?

Levorex was previously known by the name Liporexin, but the name has recently been changed. There could be several reasons for this. There are other diet pills with the name of Liporexin; perhaps they wanted to be able to distinguish their product from the others. Or perhaps they wanted to leave behind their past and try to start over. There is very little information online about the manufacturer, AvaPharm, or Anafit, the company that represents them.

Levorex conclusion

Levorex is a diet pill which prides itself on not using stimulants; we like this. We also like the use of green tea. However, more research needs to be done on most of the ingredients in Levorex. This Levorex review recommends finding another diet pill until more research can back up the claims made by Levorex.

What are the ingredients in the Pink Patch?

The Pink Patch contains a “Proprietary Formula” of the following ingredients:

Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
5-HTP
Guarana
Zinc Pyruvate
Yerba Mate
Flaxseed Oil
Lecithin
L-Carnitine

Fucus Vesiculosus, also known as brown algae, is added because of its iodine, which improves thyroid performance, helping to increase energy. No studies have been done on how fucus vesiculosus contributes to human weight loss.

Yerba mate contains mainly caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine. These ingredients supposedly promote central nervous stimulation and help the body to shed water as well as suppress appetite. Additionally, caffeine, theophylline and theobromine appear to suppress appetite, and boost metabolism.

However, there is not adequate research to support this. When you combine Yerba Mate with Guarana and Damiana, the effect is great — as shown by some interesting research. The Pink Patch does contain Guarana but not Damiana, unfortunately.

5-HTP is an amino acid, a precursor to serotonin (serotonin modulates anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, and appetite, among other things). The main purpose for 5-HTP to be included in a diet pill is for its mood enhancing effects. Much of the excessive calorie consumption causing obesity is due to mood-induced eating.

Lecithin is supposed to help to break down fat and flush it out of the body. Research does not support this claim. Lecithin has not been proven to contribute to weight loss.

Carnitine is an amino acid which helps break down fats. Although Carnitine is included in many weight loss supplements, there is no clinical evidence that it contributes to weight loss.

You will note the Pink Patch includes ingredients which have not been proven to promote weight loss. They also do not tell you how much of each ingredient is included. This Pink Patch review finds that these two points combined make it quite clear that this is not an effective weight loss product.

The effectiveness of a patch in general

You’ll note that we like caffeine as it relates to diet pills — also 5-HTP is useful to varying degrees; but any research done on any of these ingredients was not done with the delivery method being via a patch — so it all basically goes out the window.

The patch approach by diet pill companies is basically a way to spin things so the appeal is in how “easy” using the supplement is. Unfortunately, they can’t sell it on how “effective” it is, because then it would never sell.

What are the side effects of the Pink Patch?

Side effects include headache, dizziness, and nausea.

Does the Pink Patch have a guarantee?

The Pink Patch has a money-back guarantee within 30 days of placing your order. You have to send your USED and unused portions. According to the Pink Patch website, you should receive your refund (minus shipping and handling) in 10-15 days from when the product is received by the company.

How much does the Pink Patch cost?

The Pink Patch costs $49.95 for a one month supply.

The Pink Patch Review Conclusion

This Pink Patch review finds this weight loss method is misleading and ineffective. The ingredients included are not proven to be effective in promoting weight loss, nor do they disclose how much of each ingredient is included. Don’t be fooled–weight loss will not come from a sticker–at least not this one.

What is in LipoTrim?

• L-Carnitine (as L-Carnitine Tartrate) 100 mg †
• L-Methionine 500 mg †
• Inositol 1 g †
• Choline (as choline bitartrate) 1 g †
• Chromium (as Chromium Picolinate) 200 mcg 170%
• Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine HCI) 10 mg 500%
• Taurine 250 mg †

†: Daily value not established.

L-Carnitine is known for stimulating the burning of fatty acids. It is rare for a well-nourished person to be deficient of carnitine. Studies on L-Carnitine have shown mixed results, and those with positive results came when using at least 4 times the amount contained in 3 tablets of LipoTrim.

Methionine assists in the breakdown of fats and assists with the digestive system. By helping remove heavy metals from the body, it detoxifies the liver. It is not recommended that you supplement l-methionine unless directed by a professional physician.

Inositol is also a fat-solublizing agent that helps to transport fat from the liver. It is mainly used to help treat depression, ADD, Panic Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder.

Choline is found in many nutritional supplements which claim to reduce body fat, but there is little to no evidence to prove that it has any effect on reducing excess body fat.

Supporters of chromium picolinate claim it reduces insulin resistance, thus leading to weight loss. Again, the jury is still out on this one. Studies show opposing conclusions.

Vitamin B6 helps in the maintaining of balanced blood sugar levels.

Taurine is an organic acid that helps generate nerve impulses. It is often added to energy drinks; studies have shown it does not affect energy.

Is there any proof that LipoTrim really works?

Like many other weight loss supplements, LipoTrim has not had research conducted on it specifically. As mentioned above, studies are contradictory or inconclusive on many of the individual ingredients. There were some studies done on the effects of methionine and choline used together. The subjects lost 26 percent of their body weight in 21 days of taking these two supplements. However, the subjects were mice. ((http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/abstract/M600198-JLR200v1?ck=nck))
Another study showed taurine supplementation prevented obesity in mice fed a high-fat, low-calorie diet. ((http://endo.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/147/7/3276))

Although these results are positive in mice, who knows what the results would be in humans. In addition, there is no good way to compare the amounts used in mice and derive proper amounts to be used in humans.

LipoTrim (Now) Review Conclusion

There are just too many unknowns with LipoTrim. It could potentially be a good product, but until more research is done on humans, we recommend taking something else. Look at our list of recommended supplements.

Leptitrex is a weight loss supplement that claims by taking it you will “Lose 7 Pounds Every 7 Days Effortlessly”. The first thing you will notice about Leptitrex is lengthy list of ingredients; there are about 50 ingredients in this supplement. Leptitrex claims it will not only help you lose weight but it will also detox your body, eliminate acne, feel euphoric, suppress appetite, and build muscle. That is great if you are looking for all of those things, but what if you just want to lose weight?

Just what is in Leptitrex?

The list is long and we could probably write a book with information on each ingredient. Leptitrex contains 6 “Keys” which, according to their website, are:

1. Vitamins & Mineral blend – Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Chromium Polynicontinate, Selenium

2. Motivation & Hunger – Chocamine, Di-Caffeine Malate, Rhodiola Rosea, St. John’s Wort, L-Tyrosine, Picamilon, Phenylalanine, hops, Phenylethylamine (PEA), Synephrine, Ginkgo, Siberian Ginseng, Ginger, 5-HTP, and Vinpocetine

3. Superfoods – Barley, Garlic, Cayenne, Buckwheat, Soybeans, Flaxseed, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Wheatgrass, Acai, and alfalfa. These ingredients supposedly help in eliminating acne.

4. Lean Muscle Matrix – Forslean, L-Glutamine, Creatine Monohydrate, L-Arginine, Avena Sativa, Mucuna Pruniens, Ipriflavone, Ecdysterone

5. Body & liver detox – dandelion root, milk thistle, licorice, cranberry, uva ursi, and sage

6. Anti Aging matrix – green tea, DMAE, acetyl-L-Carnitine, and alpha lipoic acid

While the ingredients are all listed, there are no specific amounts listed for any of the ingredients. This is your standard “proprietary blend” that we see a lot in the diet pill industry. It’s completely out of the ordinary for companies not to use a proprietary blend these days, so we have a hard time making it count against anyone. (That being said, there are a few companies that disclose everything, so we do give special consideration to those).

Because Leptitrex contains a whole slew of ingredients, you’re going to be dealing with multiple pills. Don’t let this be a huge deterrent to you unless you have a hard time swallowing pills. What would worry me more is if Leptitrex were to list all of these ingredients and then only require one or two pills as the dosage…that would smell like a scam.

What does the Research say about Leptitrex?

Well, there has been no research done on Leptitrex itself, only on some of the individual ingredients. Several of the ingredients have been proven effective in weight loss, specifically Forslean and green tea. However, many of the ingredients are a bit disputed in their effectiveness, including 5-HTP and DMAE. Many of the other ingredients have not been researched enough to determine their effectiveness. Although some ingredients do have clinical backing, it is impossible to say whether or not these ingredients are effective in Leptitrex because the amounts of the ingredients are not disclosed.

Several ingredients are included as mood enhancers (including PEA and DMAE). PEA has been clinically proven to promote energy and elevate mood. ((http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/7/1/6))

The Leptitrex Website Claims:

“Recent Clinical studies prove the Effectiveness of 2 ingredients in the Leptitrex Lean Muscle Matrix:

1) Seventy-eight highly trained athletes were given either placebo, protein, or a key ingredient in Leptitrex + protein. The combination of Leptitrex’s ingredient and protein resulted in up to a 13% reduction in body fat and a 6% to 7% increase in muscle tissue. This was within a period of only 10 days.

2) University study on another PATENTED ingredient in Leptitrex shows test subjects lost 9.9 lbs of body FAT on average in the course of 12 weeks. They were also able to GAIN Lean Muscle Tissue thus greatly increasing their metabolic rate and likelihood of long term success.”

It is interesting that not only does Leptitrex fail to say which ingredients were tested, but they also fail to give any concrete evidence on when the studies were done or who conducted the studies.

Leptitrex Marketing

Leptitrex does most of the marketing by word of mouth. This is actually a very positive sign, since you can be assured that consumers won’t refer their friends to an ineffective product. They do not have a customer service phone number, only an email address. On the up side, they do have a “Lifetime Money Back Guarantee”. All you have to do is return your empty bottle (because they want you to try an entire bottle before returning it) and any unopened bottles for a “quick refund” minus shipping and handling.

How Much Does Leptitrex Cost?

Leptitrex normally costs $99.95 per bottle (a one month supply), but if you “BUY NOW before it’s Too Late!” you can get a discount.

Leptitrex Review Conclusion

Leptitrex is trying too hard to cover all the bases. By focusing on fewer ingredients they could do more research and be sure to include proper amounts of effective ingredients. They may have spread themselves a bit thin. With a lifetime moneyback guarantee, it may be worth a shot but, of course, that’s ultimately up for you to decide.

That’s quite the name: Advanced, Thermogenic and Super…we’ll find out if that’s true. As far as how Lipovarin has tailored their formula to your highly sensitive needs? I have no idea seeing as how they’re truly trying to appeal to the masses.

Lipovarin Ingredient Formulation

Lipovarin claims that all of their ingredients are the “premium grade” but they’re just blowing smoke. In all likelihood, they derive their ingredients from the same sources as 90% of all diet pill companies. Exactly what does Lipovarin contain? While they don’t provide supplement facts at all on their website (more on that later), their sales copy lists the following as ingredients:

• Green Tea Extract – thumbs up on this ingredient. Green Tea is a proven metabolic enhancer backed by mounds of research.
• 5-HTP – thumbs up on this ingredient as well — not for weight loss — as a mood enhancer.
• Carnitine – I haven’t yet studied this amino acid in-depth, so I’ll stay neutral on it for now.
• Metabromine – this is derived from cocoa and cocoa is popular in several fat burning formulations (especially in the trademarked form of Chocamine). I personally haven’t found a whole bunch of research linking cocoa or its derivatives to fat loss, however.
• Calcium – while calcium is great for the bones, its use in aiding fat loss is questionable (to put it nicely).

But How Much is in Lipovarin Exactly? Guess.

Lipovarin mentions in their “How it Works” section that Lipovarin also includes Advantra Z (also knowon as Citrus Aurantium, bitter orange, and synephrine) and caffeine. Further down on the Lipovarin sales page they then mention the ingredients I already discussed above. The key question to ask with all of this is how much of each of these ingredients is actually in there?

We don’t know. Well, at least they’re not forthcoming on their website. I actually called their number (1-866-850-3170) and spoke with a rep. He went and grabbed a bottle and read the ingredients and amounts to me. I’m impressed with the fact that the phone was answered so quickly. I’m not impressed that they don’t list their supplement facts on their site — but force you to call.

Listen to the Lipovarin call here.

The key points: 350 mg of AdvantraZ ((keep in mind, that synephrine, the active ingredient, isn’t extracted from AdvantraZ, so a comparable amount of synephrine would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 15-20 mg. Diet pill companies such as Lipovarin put Advantra Z on there because 350 mg sounds a lot more impressive than 15 mg even though the end result is the same)), 100 mg of Green Tea (that’s small), 200 mg of caffeine (that’s pretty good), 15 mg of 7 Keto (that’s small, because 7-Keto is expensive).

Lipovarin’s Marketing

Besides not listing their supplement facts, Lipovarin pulls a few more things that I don’t prefer. They use the dumb “As Seen In” trick where they fan out some magazines to make you think Lipovarin has been featured in those magazines. That’s not true.

Their website has some amateur mistakes that cast doubt on the company’s ability to really put together a weight loss solution and which actually make Lipovarin look like some fly-by-night operation. For instance, when you click on the link for “today’s DISCOUNT OFFER!” you’re taken to liveperson.com — the provider of the chat software Lipovarin uses. Of course, their live person is always gone because I’ve been to the site during all sorts of hours of the day and it always only has the option to leave a message.

Their website design overall looks like they had some teenager whip it together in one afternoon.

Finally, their link to the “Rapid Weight loss System” (note the inconsistent uses of CaPiTaL letters) doesn’t go anywhere. It’s a dead link.

The Lipovarin site doesn’t exactly exude professionalism.

Lipovarin’s “Testimonials”

Don’t get me started on their testimonials. Suzy Bruce isn’t the same person, neither is Wendi P or Lissett A. Peter D. could just as easily been sticking his gut out in one picture and sucking it in the next — after a haircut. Toni Walden looks like she lost weight using a revolutionary new weight loss system called Adobe Photoshop. I could go on and on. I have my doubts that the before and after testimonial pictures for Lipovarin from Mikey R. are really the same person.

Fake testimonial pictures aren’t a new thing. This company likes to use the same pictures for different products.

Lipovarin Review Conclusion

Lipovarin had a shot at being a great product. Their ingredient profile is a great start, they just went a little bit weak in a few areas. What really makes me avoid recommending Lipovarin is that they don’t include their supplement facts, and they use dishonest marketing practices. Also, they don’t appear to offer any sort of moneyback guarantee, which is a shame, considering there are some diet pill products now that offer lifetime moneyback guarantees.

There are diet pills available out there from more reputable companies for the same or even a cheaper price.

Our Video Review of Miracleburn

MiracleBurn Ingredients

We’ll work through each of their ingredients as pitched on their (at the time of this writing) productinfo.htm page. Their first major heading says, “The MiracleBurn Difference” and they mention how the herbs contained in their supplement are “grown by top producers” that are “extremely expensive because of the care that went into growing them. The difference is the way they feel. What? What are they talking about? They’re just blowing smoke.

Miracle Burn also mentions that they have a “proprietary” manufacturing process that “uses only herbal extracts that are concentrated many times their normal strength.” Ignoring the grammar, I can assure you that this is just more smoke.

Miracleburn’s first mistake is including a worthless ingredient called Hoodia (read the full review for more info). Hoodia wins the Most Hype without Actual Results Award. Don’t be fooled. The only legitimate study done for Hoodia (with rats) drew the researcher to the conclusion that it would probably be impossible to take a dose high enough to have any appetite suppressing effects ((Morris, Joan. “Little research behind claims that hoodia is safe, effective for losing weight”. Seattle Times, March 9, 2006)).

Advantra-Z is their other flagship ingredient. While a patented ingredient, as a rule of thumb, usually fares better in clinical studies (there’s a reason the company wants it patented), that doesn’t necessarily mean the ingredient will provide the results you’re expecting. Synephrine is the main active ingredient found in Advantra-Z. Synephrine is being touted as an effective ephedrine alternative (with the same side effects as well). In an article in the Mayo Clinic Journal ((Gange, Ca, C Madias, Em Felix-Getzik, Ar Weintraub, and Na Estes. “Variant Angina Associated with Bitter Orange in a Dietary Supplement.” Mayo Clinic Proc. 81 (2006). Pubmed.)), Synphrine was implicated in a case of variant angina. With any stimulant, you run these types of risks. I would especially be leery of a company pushing that it’s an ephedrine alternative (though I didn’t find Miracleburn explicitly stating that in their materials).

One study found that Synephrine did have significant stimulant abilities, demonstrated by increased blood pressure, heart rate, etc ((Haller, Ca, Nl Benowitz, and P Jacob Iii. “Hemodynamic Effects of Ephedra-Free Weight-Loss Supplements in Humans.” American Journal of Medicine 118 (2005).)). I’m not contending the fact that Synephrine is an effective stimulant, only that its side effects may outweigh the benefit.

From MiracleBurn’s sales pitch:

In a placebo controlled clinical study involving fourteen females and nine males, blood pressure and heart rate were measured following Bitter Orange consumption. All of the individuals had not conducted exercise for 24 hours before the trial started and they had an overnight fast of no food. The results of the study indicated that that Bitter Orange increases an individual’s resting metabolic rate.*

What I found particularly interesting was the asterisk (*) they included at the end of their statement about a placebo-controlled clinical study. While you would think the asterisk would maybe bring you to a citation of the actual study, where a serious reader could perhaps read the study (or at least an abstract), they bring you to a disclaimer that “MiracleBurn may not be for everyone.”

The ingredient list also includes:

• Yerba Mate
• GTF Chromium
• Iodine
• White Willow Bark and
• L-Carnitine

Unfortunately they don’t list the amount of these ingredients that each pill contains, so it’s anyone guess if the dosage is sufficient enough to produce the desired results.

MiracleBurn’s Before and After Pictures

My favorite aspect of the Miracle Burn pitch has to be the Before and After photos on their customerpictures.htm page. At the end of each summary they include a statement saying “Results not typical.” You can say that again.

At the very top of the page they show a rather hefty lady, and then a muc thinner lady, also blonde, but with straight hair and — conveniently enough — sunglasses. Why the sunglasses? I don’t know. Maybe because these two women are two different people? Just a thought. See for yourself:

Are these women the same person? Miracleburn thinks they are. I could go and on with these pictures. Actually, I will. Each “Case Study” is numbered, and if I use the case number to refer to it, they’ll probably switch them around on me. But they use the classic tactics: bland clothing, push out your gut, stand slouched with the light shining directly on you, giving you a pasty look and also an appearance of not having any muscularity. For the after photo they’ll have the person suck in their gut, smile, get a tan, and give some nice cross-lighting to give the illusion that the person has lost weight. Hydroxycut has become (in)famous for this. For some reason, Miracleburn also decided to have a lot of the people dye their hair from one photo to the next? I’m not sure why.

A classic example of these tactics is with this photo:

The guy looks like he’s maybe lost a few pounds, or at least dehydrated himself for a while. But the real difference comes from the tan, the cross-lighting, and the fact that he’s sucking in and flexing his abs in the second picture, while he’s totally pushing out his gut in the first and standing as relaxed as possible.

One more example that I just couldn’t pass up:

Besides the obvious difference in setting (going from somewhere cold and snow-laden to the beach, watching the tide roll in), what the heck happened to the first girl’s face in that Before shot? It’s like they bleached it or something. It makes it *cough* very hard to tell if they’re actually the same person. Did Suzana really lose 40 pounds? I guess we’ll never know.

Miracle Burn’s “Free Trial” a Customer Nightmare

Miracleburn masks this nightmare as a “complimentary Auto-Ship service…you’ll automatically and conveniently receive a new box of Miracleburn every month for as long as you’d like.”

Autoship programs are moneymakers for companies and headaches for consumers. They’re confusing, full of loopholes (that only the company is aware of) and simply a gimmick 99% of the time. I was really floored when Miracleburn laid this out:

The Auto-Ship Service is not only FREE – you will receive complimentary insurance on every shipment. If for any reason you do not receive your order, we will replace it free of charge.

They try and make the consumer feel like they’re doing them some sort of favor by offering an autoship for FREE? Please. “Hi, I’m going to set you up with a contract, where you’ll have to jump through a few hoops to cancel, and for that, I’m going to have you buying my high-margin product every month!” What a joke.

The “Free Trial” needs to be taken with a grain of salt. If you give them your credit card information, Miracleburn will only charge you for the shipping ($7.95 at the time of writing). They’ll send you a 7-day supply. The cost to them of sending the seven-day supply? Extremely cheap. Mine hasn’t arrived yet, but it’ll probably arrive in a cheap plastic wrapping that costs them nothing to make. Since the entire bottle probably cost only a few dollars to manufacture, you can guess that 7-day supply is nothing to them. Add that to the fact that they’re charging $7.95 to ship something that should cost around $1 to ship domestically, and you can see why they’re so anxious to get you to sign up for the free trial. They’ll make about $5 on the sale.

But wait, there’s more. Now that you’ve signed up, you’re also locked into their authoship program, so in 7 days, be looking for a charge of $39.95 for the product plus another $7.95 for the shipping. To be clear, you can cancel before that shipment comes in, but you better act fast because 14 days isn’t a whole lot of time to evaluate the efficacy of Miracleburn now is it?

Frankly, we will be puzzled if you decide to not try your FREE 7-day sample of Miracleburn.

No Mr. Miracleburn, you shouldn’t be puzzled.

Miracleburn Overall Conclusion

Miracleburn is just another diet pill, with a mixture of ineffective ingredients (Hoodia Gordonii) and probably-effective, but also probably-dangerous ingredients (Synephrine) mixed with some other potentially good ingredients whose actual dosage amounts are hidden (for whatever reason). This diet pill is marketed using questionable (to put it nicely) before and after photos