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.

Anadrox does contain several ingredients which have been clinically proven to contribute to weight loss at specific levels. However, like so many other diet pills, Anadrox fails to disclose how much of these ingredients are included. Thus, it is impossible to determine the effectiveness of Anadrox. This Anadrox review will explain just what this product includes and how it might affect you.

What are the ingredients in Anadrox?

The following ingredients are contained in one serving (4 capsules) of Anadrox diet pills

• Vitamin C (mg) 60
• Niacin (mg) 20
• Vitamin B6 (mg) 5
• Folate (mcg) 200
• Vitamin B12 (mcg) 250
• Copper (mg) 1
• Magnesium (mg) 1
• Chromium (mcg) 50
• *VasoTherm Pump mg 2638

*The Pump mg 1941
*The Burn mg 696

Ingredient Details:
The Pump – NitroFolin: (l-arginine HCl, citrulline malate, l-tyrosine, vanadyl sulfate, choline dihydrogen citrate, banaba leaf extract, n-acetylcysteine, taurine, NADH)

The Burn – Thermo Z7: Norephrine, Beta Agonist & Glyceral-3 CyInhibitors: (Advantra Z, 7-KETO, DL-Phenylalanine, kelp, guggulsterones E and Z) Purine Nucleoside & Phosphate dehydrogenase Inhibitors: (green tea and guarana seed extracts (providing 45mg EGCG and 200mg caffeine, theophylline & theobromine)…

Nitric oxide has been proven to contribute to weight loss. As you will note in this Anadrox review, the amount of nitric oxide in each serving is not disclosed.

7-KETO is a naturally occurring metabolite (metabolites break things down for use in the body) of the hormon dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA serves as a precursor for the sex hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. Studies have shown that 7-Keto is successful in promoting weight loss. There are no long-term studies available to show 7-KETO’s affect on humans. Some have concerns that it may cause heart palpitations. Others have even suggested maximum dosages of 5mg. Once again, Anadrox fails to disclose how much 7-Keto is contained in the product, leaving it impossible for this Anadrox review to determine whether the amount of 7-Keto is beneficial or even harmful.

Green tea is an ingredient that has been proven to contribute to weight loss. It is one of our favorite diet pill ingredients. Again, Anadrox diet pills fail to disclose how much green tea is contained in the product.

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 Anadrox is not disclosed.

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

Guarana has proven results, but only when combined with Yerba Mate and Damiana (both of which are not present in the

How much does Anadrox cost?

One bottle of Anadrox diet pills will cost you $41.99. One bottle contains 112 caplets. With the recommended dose of 8 caplets per day, one bottle will last 14 days. That is nearly $3 per day! This is extremely expensive. (Note: if you do want to try Anadrox, purchasing Anadrox through Bodybuilding.com gets you 224 caplets for $48.)

What are the side effects of Anadrox?

The side effects of Anadrox diet pills include increased heart rate, shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea, and weakness.

Anadrox Review Conclusion

This Anadrox review has found that Anadrox does include several proven weight loss ingredients. However, they fail to disclose how much of each ingredient is included. It could be a good product, but there is no way to be sure. Anadrox is extremely expensive. Save yourself money and possible disappointment by using a diet pill that is proven to work.

As you can see. Atro-Phex makes some pretty bold claims. Too bad there is little research to back them up. Like countless other weight loss supplements, Atro-Phex fails to disclose just how much of each ingredient is included so comparing it other weight loss supplements or even to clinical studies of individual ingredients is virtually impossible.

What are the ingredients in Atro-Phex?

The following is a list of the ingredients contained in one capsule of Atro-Phex:

• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCl) 6.25mg
• Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) 100mcg
• BSN Atro-Phex Extreme Multi-Action Rapid & Sustained Release Energy & Weight Management Tech
• Adipose Atrophy & Energy Stimulator Matrix
• Atro-EFX A Scientifically Engineered Ratio Of
  • B-Phenyethylamine,
  • B-Phenyethylamine Malate,
  • Hordenine HCl,
  • Methylxanthine (hello…this is just a source of Caffeine),
• IFAS50 (A Precise And Synergisctic Ration Of High Potency Fatty Acid Synthesis Inhibitors:
  • Green Tea,
  • Fleece Flower, and
  • Loranthus Parasiticus (yes, that means parasite. Butterflies eat it and you can find it just about anywhere. It’s a beast to get off of mango trees)
• DL-Phenylalanine,
• Razberi-K (4-[4-Hydroxyphenyl] Butan-2-One),
• Naringin 99%,
• Citrus Aurantium 30%,
• Bioperine,
• Yohimbe HCL Mood & Mental Performance Optimizers
• N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine-Ethyl-Ester Monohydrate,
• Vinburnine 99%,
• Vinpocetine 99%,
• Vincamine 99%) Aqua-Retic™ Matrix
• Juniperus Communis Extract,
• Isopimpinellin 10%,
• Isoquercetin,
• D-Myo-Inositol,
• 5-Triphosphate Hexasodium Insulin Support & Weight Management
  • Cinnulin PF (Aqueous Cinnamon Extract) Pro-Thyroid Amplifier
  • 7-Keto (3-Acetyl-7-Oxo-Dehydroepiandrosterone),
  • Dicana (A Patent Pending Diiodothyroacetic Acid Isomer)

Atro-Phex Employs Shock Factor as Marketing Tactic

Considering Atro-Phex’s target market, it’s no wonder that they simply throw out anything possible to impress the aspiring 13-year-old bodybuilder (who weighs a buck twenty-five soaking wet). What you’re seeing here is the employment of the relatively new shock factor. A diet pill shock factor is increased when the quantity of ingredients listed is increased to an (at that time) unbelievable amount. Notice that I’m not talking about the quantity or potency of each ingredient, just the length of the list.

Imagine baking a cake where you included one grain of pepper, one piece of rosemary, a few grains of cinnamon, and one single piece of parsley, sage, and thyme.

What would be the effect on the cake? Probably absolutely nothing. But then you could go around to your friends and say there were six “secret” ingredients in the cake to make it special.

This is essentially what Atro-Phex is doing here with their ingredients.

Now, if I were to take my secret cake ingredients and hide them inside new words, that would add even more to my cake’s shock factor.

• Pepper -> Schwarz Pfefir Extract (extract is overused, because for some reason everyone thinks it’s fancy)
• Rosemary -> Fat Disodator
• Cinnamon -> Cinni-plex Isolate (isolate’s a lot like extract, but less used)
• Parsley -> Petroselinum crispum (if you’re having a hard time coming up with a fancy name, you can just use the latin term for it — this is done all the time)
• Sage -> Leucophyllum frutescens
• Thyme -> Tymianek Extract (Tymianex means Thyme, but in Polish)

This is exactly what Atro-Phex has done. Don’t fall for it (especially at their price). I’ve bolded the terms that are simply fluff (or that made me laugh out loud).

Atro-Phex hiding (as usual) behind “Proprietary” Blends

You will notice specific amounts are listed only for the vitamins. None of the other ingredients have the amounts listed. This is typical for weight loss supplements because they don’t want you to know what a small amount of the effective ingredients is included.

Even at a dosage of four capsules, this ingredient list is cleary heavy on the list and light on the potency (and potency is what matters).

A Look at some Atro-Phex ingredients in depth

Studies show raspberry ketones (Razberi-K as listed above) induced weight loss in mice with a diet containing 2% of the total diet as raspberry ketones. No studies have been done on humans. Once again, Atro-phex does not disclose how much of this ingredient is included. (Notice that 2% of the total diet would be 40 calories based on a 2,000 calorie diet (if you’re an Atro-phex customer target, it would likely be more. It would be physically impossible for them ton include the same, or even close to the same ratio of raspberry ketones for you). ((http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15862604))

We like green tea as a diet pill ingredient, as it’s been proven effective in aiding weight loss. However, the actual amount of green teac contained in Atro-Phex is not disclosed, so we cannot determine whether it will provide any weight loss benefits.

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 material.

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.” The Bioperine website did cite one study on 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 with Atro-phex, but the added health benefits of Bioperine are obvious.

Yohimbe comes from the bark of an African evergreen tree. It has been shown to increase fatty acid mobilization. It is also used to treat erectile dysfunction. We’re lacking in research on Yohimbe (we meaning Criticalorie, not necessarily the medical community), so we take a neutral stance on it until we’ve done more research.

7-KETO is a naturally occurring metabolite (metabolites break things down for use in the body) of the hormon dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA serves as a precursor for the sex hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. In one study, participants exercised thee times per week for 45 minutes each time, ate an 1,800 calorie per day diet and was given either a placebo or 100mg of 7-KETO twice daily. After eight weeks, the KETO group lost an average of 6.34 pounds compared to the placebo group’s loss of 2.13 pounds. There are no long-term studies available to show 7-KETO’s affect on humans. Some have concerns that it may cause heart palpitations. Others have even suggested maximum dosages of 5mg (obviously much lower than the study cited above). As always, it is up for you to decide if you are comfortable supplementing with 7-KETO.

Dicana is a metabolic regulator that allegedly burns stored fat as while sparing muscle tissue. It promotes thermogenesis by boosting the body’s temperature and increasing oxygen consumption. There is no research to back up these claims.

What is the cost of Atro-Phex?

Atro-Phex costs $64.99 for 98 capsules. The recommended dosage is 4 capsules per day, with a warning not to exceed 8 capsules per day. At the recommended dosage, one bottle will last about 25 days. This is very expensive considering there is no research showing the product actually works.

Expense is an interesting thing with diet pills because, at times, it can show the manufacturer is actually including the necessary quantity of these ingredients to be effective. When I first saw the (very) high price for Atro-phex I thought, “Well hey, maybe the quantity is actually sufficient!” Then I noticed that Bodybuilding.com, one of the main distributors, sells it for $39.99. The $64.99 is just a fake “retail” price to make you feel good about wasting your money on Atro-Phex.

What are the side effects of Atro-Phex?

Side effects include cramping, burping, gas, sweating, nausea, headaches, and rashes. The Atro-Phex website explains that the product should be cycled through, with the optimal length being 12 weeks of taking Atro-Phex followed by 4 weeks off. My gut tells me Atro-Phex is heavy on shock appeal and light on results

Atro-Phex Review Conclusion

Atro-Phex does contain some ingredients that have been proven to promote weight loss. However, like so many other weight loss supplements, Atro-Phex fails to disclose the amount of each individual ingredient included in the product. This makes it impossible to determine whether enough of the ingredient is included to be effective. This product is too expensive considering they cannot prove their claims. (And the Atro-Phex website wins the Flashy Website award.)

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.

Cytolean’s Ingredient Profile

Cytolean contains some effective ingredients:

• Green Tea Extract (though it’s only 60% EGCG). Green Tea is an effective ingredient for diet pills, increasing your metabolic rate. I reviewed green tea extensively previously.
• Phenylalanine is an effective appetite suppressant (see the phenylalanine review)
• Caffeine has been proven effective time and again as an effective thermogenic.
• L-Tyrosine has been shown to increase focus during stressful periods. I reviewed tyrosine as well.

Cytolean also contains some ingredients that are mainly just eye candy when it comes to weight loss:

• Phenylethylamine, which I’ve reviewed, doesn’t have enough research to justify the claims.
• Gingko Biloba is there to aid in “improving your personality” according to the sales copy…but aren’t we trying to lose weight? Ginkgo Biloba is best known for supporting memory function.

With an ingredient lineup like this (even including the eye candy), you’d think I’d jump on the bandwagon recommending Cytolean. Well, I can’t. The Cytolean “proprietary blend” comes to a total of 667 mg…hardly enough to pack all of these ingredients in there with any sort of punch. Remember, for a diet pill to be effective it must do two things: have the ingredients, and have them at at least the minimum amount. Cytolean fails with the latter.

Cytolean’s Science

In their less-than-impressive website, they link to Cytolean Science and this is typical garbage behavior from some companies. They throw together that document with margins thin and line-spacing even thinner, using a font that crams letters together. The result is to throw a document at you that appears science-y but doesn’t actually deliver any real clinical results. Most casual shoppers will see the Cytolean science document and 1) be impressed that there’s “science” behind the pill while also being 2) intimidated by its presentation. This accomplishes Cytolean’s desires of looking like there’s research behind Cytolean while not actually having to present any research.

And if Cytolean did have research behind them, you can bet they would have known that the effective dosages of the ingredients they included are actually much higher than what they’re giving their customers.

The “Feel Good” Cytolean Gotcha!

Cytolean is in a great position with their marketing because they’re really trying to push Cytolean as a pill that does help you burn fat, but also helps you “feel good” (that’s why the phenylethylamine is in there, the “love drug” from chocolate). A lot of the other ingredients in there are supposed to support the absorption of phenylethylamine into the blood stream. The gotcha! comes because “feeling good” is hardly measurable and if it’s not measurable, it’s also not manageable. A diet pill can make the claim “Lose 7 pounds in 2 weeks” and that’s measurable. But how can a customer measure how good they’re feeling compared to how they were feeling before? And please define “good”, “very good”, “great” etc.

Cytolean’s basically making a claim that can’t be verified (until they decide to have some double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized, peer-reviewed studies done to support their claim. And even then, how will the study evaluate if a person is feeling good? I suppose they’ll be able to monitor brain activity and go from there.

Until then Cytolean gets a pass.

Cytolean Review Conclusion

Strong ingredients but there aren’t enough in there to make something happen in all likelihood. The “feel good” effect isn’t measurable, which makes it very hard to verify. Overall, Criticalorie is going to pass on Cytolean until some research is done to determine its effectiveness. At the moment, given the aggregate size of their proprietary blend, it’s fairly safe to assume that its effects would be mediocre at best.