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.

We will examine each of these three Metabolife varieties.

Metabolife Ultra

The Metabolife website claims,

“Metabolife Ultra® is a breakthrough appetite suppressant that is specially formulated for sustained energy, helping to keep you motivated and on track towards achieving your weight loss goals.”

In reality, this supplement contains the same ingredients as numerous other weight loss supplements; there is no “breakthrough” technology or ingredient in Metabolife Ultra. With the “proprietary blend”, the amount of individual ingredients is not disclosed. While SuperCitriMax can be effective in weight loss, we cannot be sure if it will be effective in Metabolife Ultra because we do not know exactly how much is included.

The following is the ingredient list for Metabolife Ultra

• Calcium (as hydroxycitrate) 140mg 14%
• Chromium (as chromium picolinate) 133mcg 110%
• Sodium 30 mg 1%
• Potassium 200mg 5%

Proprietary Blend 1736mg

• SuperCitriMax� Garcinia extract (fruit) (standardized for hydroxycitric acid)
• Caffeine
• Co-enzyme Q10

Each caplet contains 75mg caffeine (this is a weak amount, but we’ll get there).

Metabolife Green Tea

The Metabolife website states,

“Metabolife® Green Tea helps boost the body’s metabolism, making it easier to burn unwanted calories.”

This could be true. Green tea has been proven to promote weight loss. However, with the “proprietary blend”, the amount of green tea contained in Metabolife Green Tea is not disclosed, so we cannot be sure it will be effective.

The following is the ingredient list for Metabolife Green Tea:

• Calcium (as hydroxycitrate & dicalcium phosphate) 40mg 4%
• Copper (as sodium copper chlorophyllin) 300mcg 15%
• Chromium (as chromium picolinate) 133mcg 110%
• Sodium 20mg <1%
• Potassium 30mg <1%

Proprietary Blend 1032mg

• SuperCitriMax� Garcinia extract (fruit) (standardized for hydroxycitric acid)
• Green tea extract (leaf) (standardized for EGCG and total catechins)
• Guarana extract (seed) (standardized for caffeine)
• Yerba mate extract (leaf) (standardized for caffeine)

Metabolife Caffeine Free

The Metabolife website explains,

“Metabolife® Caffeine Free is a stimulant-free alternative for individuals seeking the weight-loss benefits of Metabolife Ultra® without additional energy enhancement.”

The following is the ingredient list for Metabolife Caffeine Free:

Thiamin (as thiamin mononitrate) 1.5mg 100%
Riboflavin 1.7mg 100%
Niacin (as niacinamide) 20mg 100%
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride) 5mg 250%
Pantothenic acid (as d-calcium pantothenate) 10mg 100%
Calcium (as hydroxycitrate) 140mg 14%
Chromium (as chromium picolinate) 133mcg 110%
Sodium 300mg 1%
Potassium 200mg 5%
SuperCitriMax® Garcinia extract (fruit) (standardized for hydroxycitric acid)

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
† Daily Value not established

Are the ingredients in the Metabolife supplements effective in promoting weight loss?

What does the research say?

In studies, Chromium Picolinate has shown conflicting findings. Some studies claim Chromium Picolinate reduces insulin resistance, promoting weight loss. Other studies have found this to be untrue. We remain neutral on chromium, with a slightly positively lean (how’s that for subjective?).

Garcinia Cambogia’s primary active compound is Hydroxycitric acid (HCA). Studies have shown taking HCA can promote weight loss. Study participants took 1.2 grams of HCA per day.

The amount of SuperCitriMax (Garnicia Cambogia) contained in Metabolife Ultra and Metabolife Green Tea is not disclosed; therefore, we cannot be sure it will be effective in promoting weight loss. The amount of SuperCitriMax in Metabolife Caffeine Free is more than the amount used in the studies. However, we prefer
SuperCitriMax when it is combined with other proven ingredients.

Green Tea is one of the few diet pill ingredients we stand by — backed by serious amounts of research over many, many years. Read our Green Tea review to see how we drew our conclusions.

Caffeine has been shown to be an energy booster. Knowing your caffeine tolerance is definitely important when evaluating different dietary supplements. The effects of caffeine vary from person to person based on any number of factors (body size, tolerance, etc.).

Studies have shown that Guarana can lead to fat cell reduction (when combined with conjugated linoleic acid). However, Metabolife Green Tea does not contain linoleic acid.

How much does Metabolife cost?

All three varieties come in bottles of 45 caplets; the bottles cost $24.99. The suggested dosage is 2 caplets 3 times per day. Thus, it will cost you $3.33 per day. This is very expensive, especially for a product that does not prove its effectiveness.

Metabolife Possible Side Effects

The side effects of Metabolife include increased heart rate, jitters, and anxiety.

Metabolife Review Conclusion

The three varieties of Metabolife might work, but without disclosing the amounts of individual ingredients, we cannot compare them with the clinical studies. These products are very expensive. Look for a supplement that discloses all ingredient amounts, includes clinically proven amounts of ingredients, and doesn’t try to rake you over on the pricing.

• BioSlim Ultra Vita/Min Plus
• BioSlim Ultra SlimTone Formula
• BioSlim Accelerator

We’ll work through these products as they relate to weight loss.

BioSlim’s Ultra Vita/Min Plus

This is basically a bit of pyruvate, some Green Tea (see my Green Tea review) and some Chromium (see my Chromium review).   Green Tea is an effective thermogenic, but things are still up in the air with chromium.  Some of the studies about chromium support it, others don’t support it at all.  I’m not opposed to chromium being present in a diet pill, but don’t like see it as the only primary active ingredient (such as seen in Thermocerin, Lipocerin, or Phenocerin).

BioSlim’s other ingredients such as CoQ10, and Vitamins B6 and C can be found in virtually every multivitamin (at a much cheaper price).

Pyruvate, another one of its popular ingredients, is said to promote the activity of cells, thus increasing your metabolic rate.  One study looked at the effects of obese women over a three week period.  The women were divided into two groups.  Each group adhered to a 1000-calorie liquid diet.  One group supplemented with 36g of pyruvate, while the other took a placebo.  At the end of the study, the group that had taken pyruvate lost 13 lb. while the placebo group lost only 9.5 lb. — a difference of 3.5 lb or 37%.

So Pyruvate’s great, right?  Well, did you catch the dosage?  The  pyruvate group took 36 grams of pyruvate.  That would mean you would be taking anywhere from 36-72 capsules of BioSlim’s stuff just to get the pyruvate dosage.

Ginseng can be bought cheap at any health food store, and the same goes for the rest of the herbs — they’re mainly just eye candy.  BioSlim will use words like “optimized”, “maximized”, and titles like “Accelerator” but the fact of the matter is that BioSlim isn’t offering anything new.  Their three ingredient combination is redundant in many ingredients and the pricing is overly expensive for the ingredients you’re getting.

BioSlim’s Supplement Facts

They don’t put them anywhere on the site.  At the end of the day you have no idea how much of any of these ingredients (even though we only care about the good ones) is in a BioSlim pill.  This makes evaluation of BioSlim’s products especially tough.

BioSlim’s Marketing Approach

BioSlim has done a great job of really trying to build a community around their products.  They also really push the “doctor” aspect of their program.  They state in the BioSlim about us page that BioSlim “began as a health program in a medical office in 1990.”  I don’t know exactly what that program looked like verses what BioSlim is now, but I can be fairly certain that things have changed significantly — especially considering the fact that many of these ingredients weren’t even readily available in 1990.

BioSlim offers a whole slew of information in their “Doctor’s Corner” discrediting the Atkins diet (as well they shoud) and letting you know that a doctor is behind all of this.  I can’t stand when diet pill companies throw doctors’ endorsements at you.  To me, as soon as a doctor endorses a diet pill that doctor has lost all credibility.  Why?  Because the doctor is always paid to do those types of diet pill endorsements and objectivity goes out the window.

BioSlim’s Complete Kit

What they really try and push is the BioSlim 2000 Complete Kit, which comes with their three BioSlim products mentioned above along with some videos and books.  This is a plain vanilla upsell.  They knew they could throw some books and videos into the mix and instantly charge twice as much for their product with very little attached variable cost to bring down their margin.  I’m certain there’s a lot of great information in the BioSlim books and videos, but the information will simply attempt to reenforce into your mind that you need to order their products again…and again…and again.

You can find plenty of helpful weight loss articles on the internet for free without forking over $90 for another sales pitch.

BioSlim Review Conclusion

Overall, BioSlim is simply a subpar diet pill, split into three pills with only slight variations, and packaged with a bundle of books so the company can boost revenue.  There isn’t anything that makes BioSlim even remotely stand out from the crowd.