National Institutes Of Wellness Dietary Supplements For Weight Loss
Thursday, October 20, 2011
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Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss
Fact Sheet for Consumers Have a question?
Ask ODS: ods.od.nih.gov/contact
Ask ODS: ods.od.nih.gov/contact
What are weight-loss dietary supplements too what do they do?
The proven ways to lose weight are eating healthful foods, cutting calories, too existence physically active. But making these lifestyle changes isn’t easy, too so you lot powerfulness wonder if taking a dietary supplement that’s promoted for weight loss powerfulness help.This fact canvass describes what’s known nigh the security too effectiveness of many ingredients that are commonly used inwards weight-loss dietary supplements. Sellers of these supplements powerfulness claim that their products assist you lot lose weight past times blocking the absorption of fatty or carbohydrates, curbing your appetite, or speeding upwards your metabolism. But there’s footling scientific evidence that weight-loss supplements work. Many are expensive, some tin interact or interfere amongst medications, too a few powerfulness live on harmful.
If you’re thinking nigh taking a dietary supplement to lose weight, beak amongst your healthcare provider. This is peculiarly of import if you lot receive got high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, or other medical conditions.
What are the ingredients inwards weight-loss dietary supplements?
Weight-loss supplements incorporate many ingredients—like herbs, fiber, too minerals—in unlike amounts too inwards many combinations. Sold inwards forms such every bit capsules, tablets, liquids, too powders, some products receive got dozens of ingredients.Common ingredients inwards weight-loss supplements are described below inwards alphabetical order. You’ll larn what’s known nigh whether each element works too is safe. Figuring out whether these ingredients actually assist you lot lose weight safely is complicated, though. Most products incorporate to a greater extent than than i ingredient, too ingredients tin piece of employment differently when they’re mixed together.
You powerfulness live on surprised to larn that makers of weight-loss supplements rarely send out studies inwards people to detect out whether their production works too is safe. And when studies are done, they ordinarily involve only pocket-sized numbers of people who accept the supplement for only a few weeks or months. To know whether a weight-loss supplement tin assist people lose weight safely too hap it off, larger groups of people request to live on studied for a longer time.
Common ingredients inwards weight-loss dietary supplements
INGREDIENT | DOES information technology WORK? | IS information technology SAFE? |
---|---|---|
African mango African mango seed extract is claimed to curb the formation of fatty tissue. | Does it work? African mango powerfulness assist you lot lose a really pocket-sized amount of weight. | Is it safe? African mango seems to live on safe, but its security hasn’t been good studied. It tin campaign headache, sleeping problems, flatulence, too gas. |
Beta-glucans Beta-glucans are soluble dietary fibers inwards bacteria, yeasts, fungi, oats, too barley. They powerfulness wearisome downwardly the fourth dimension it takes for nutrient to go through your digestive system, making you lot experience fuller. | Does it work? Beta-glucans don’t look to receive got whatsoever final result on trunk weight. | Is it safe? Beta-glucans look to live on prophylactic (at upwards to 10 grams [g] a 24-hour interval for 12 weeks). They tin campaign flatulence. |
Bitter orange Bitter orangish contains synephrine (a stimulant). It’s claimed to post away calories, increment fatty breakdown, too decrease appetite. Products amongst bitter orangish ordinarily also incorporate caffeine too other ingredients. Bitter orangish is inwards some weight loss dietary supplements that used to incorporate ephedra, some other stimulant-containing herb that was banned from the U.S. marketplace inwards 2004 (see the department on Ephedra). | Does it work? Bitter orangish powerfulness slightly increment the number of calories you lot burn. It powerfulness also trim your appetite a little, but whether it tin assist you lot lose weight is unknown. | Is it safe? Bitter orangish powerfulness non live on safe. Supplements amongst bitter orangish tin campaign breast pain, anxiety, headache, musculus too os pain, a faster center rate, too higher blood pressure. |
Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant that tin build you lot to a greater extent than alert, gain you lot a boost of energy, post away calories, too increment fatty breakdown. Often added to weight-loss dietary supplements, caffeine is constitute naturally inwards tea, guarana, kola (cola) nut, yerba mate, too other herbs. The labels of supplements that incorporate caffeine don’t ever listing it, too so you lot powerfulness non know if a supplement has caffeine. | Does it work? Weight-loss dietary supplements amongst caffeine powerfulness assist you lot lose a footling weight or gain less weight over time. But when you lot exercise caffeine regularly, you lot acquire tolerant of it. This tolerance powerfulness lessen whatsoever final result of caffeine on trunk weight over time. | Is it safe? Caffeine is prophylactic for most adults at doses upwards to 400‒500 milligrams (mg) a day. But it tin build you lot experience nervous, jittery, too shaky. It tin also comport on your sleep. At higher doses, it tin campaign nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, too seizures. Combining caffeine amongst other stimulant ingredients tin increment caffeine’s effects. |
Calcium Calcium is a mineral you lot request for salubrious bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, too many of your body’s functions. It’s claimed to post away fatty too decrease fatty absorption. | Does it work? Calcium—either from nutrient or inwards weight-loss dietary supplements—probably doesn’t assist you lot lose weight or preclude weight gain. | Is it safe? Calcium is prophylactic at the recommended amounts of 1,000 to 1,200 mg a 24-hour interval for adults. Too much calcium (more than 2,000–2,500 mg a day) tin campaign constipation too decrease your body’s absorption of Fe too zinc. Also, also much calcium from supplements (but non foods) powerfulness increment your conduct chances of kidney stones. |
Capsaicin Capsaicin comes from chili peppers too makes them sense of savour hot. It’s claimed to assist post away fatty too calories too to assist you lot experience total too eat less. | Does it work? Capsaicin hasn’t been studied plenty to know if it volition assist you lot lose weight. | Is it safe? Capsaicin is prophylactic (at upwards to 33 mg a 24-hour interval for four weeks or four mg a 24-hour interval for 12 weeks), but it tin campaign breadbasket pain, burning sensations, nausea, too bloating. |
Carnitine Your trunk makes carnitine, too it’s also constitute inwards meat, fish, poultry, milk, too dairy products. In your cells, it helps intermission downwardly fats. | Does it work? Carnitine supplements powerfulness assist you lot lose a pocket-sized amount of weight. | Is it safe? Carnitine supplements look to live on prophylactic (at upwards to 2 g a 24-hour interval for 1 yr or four g a 24-hour interval for 56 days). They tin campaign nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, too a fishy trunk odor. |
Chitosan Chitosan comes from the shells of crabs, shrimp, too lobsters. It’s claimed to bind fatty inwards the digestive tract too so that your trunk can’t absorb it. | Does it work? Chitosan binds only a tiny amount of fat, non plenty to assist you lot lose much weight. | Is it safe? Chitosan seems to live on prophylactic (at upwards to fifteen g a 24-hour interval for vi months). But it tin campaign flatulence, bloating, mild nausea, constipation, indigestion, too heartburn. If you’re allergic to shellfish, you lot could receive got an allergic reaction to chitosan. |
Chromium Chromium is a mineral that you lot request to regulate your blood refined saccharify levels. It’s claimed to increment musculus volume too fatty loss too decrease appetite too nutrient intake. | Does it work? Chromium powerfulness assist you lot lose a really pocket-sized amount of weight too trunk fat. | Is it safe? Chromium inwards nutrient too supplements is prophylactic at recommended amounts, which gain from xx to 45 micrograms a 24-hour interval for adults. In larger amounts, chromium tin campaign watery stools, headache, weakness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, too hives. |
Coleus forskohlii Coleus forskohlii is a works life that grows inwards India, Thailand, too other subtropical areas. Forskolin, made from the plant’s roots, is claimed to assist you lot lose weight past times decreasing your appetite too increasing the breakdown of fatty inwards your body. | Does it work? Forskolin hasn’t been studied much. But too so far, it doesn’t look to receive got whatsoever final result on trunk weight or appetite. | Is it safe? Forskolin seems to live on prophylactic (at 500 mg a 24-hour interval for 12 weeks), but it hasn’t been good studied. It tin campaign frequent bowel movements too loose stools. |
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) CLA is a fatty constitute mainly inwards dairy products too beef. It’s claimed to trim your trunk fat. | Does it work? CLA may assist you lot lose a really pocket-sized amount of weight too trunk fat. | Is it safe? CLA seems to live on prophylactic (at upwards to vi g a 24-hour interval for 1 year). It tin campaign an upset stomach, constipation, diarrhea, loose stools, too indigestion. |
Fucoxanthin Fucoxanthin comes from chocolate-brown seaweed too other algae. It’s claimed to assist amongst weight loss past times burning calories too decreasing fat. | Does it work? Fucoxanthin hasn’t been studied plenty to know if it volition assist you lot lose weight. Only i study inwards people included fucoxanthin (the other studies were inwards animals). | Is it safe? Fucoxanthin seems to live on prophylactic (at 2.4 mg a 24-hour interval for xvi weeks), but it hasn’t been studied plenty to know for sure. |
Garcinia cambogia Garcinia cambogia is a tree that grows throughout Asia, Africa, too the Polynesian islands. Hydroxycitric acid inwards the fruit is claimed to decrease the number of novel fatty cells your trunk makes, suppress your appetite too so trim the amount of nutrient you lot eat, too confine the amount of weight you lot gain. | Does it work? Garcinia cambogia has footling to no final result on weight loss. | Is it safe? Garcinia cambogia seems to live on fairly safe. But it tin campaign headache, nausea, too symptoms inwards the upper respiratory tract, stomach, too intestines. |
Glucomannan Glucomannan is a soluble dietary fiber from the origin of the konjac plant. It’s claimed to absorb H2O inwards the gut to assist you lot experience full. | Does it work? Glucomannan has footling to no final result on weight loss. But it powerfulness assist lower total cholesterol, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, triglycerides, too blood refined saccharify levels. | Is it safe? Most forms of glucomannan look to live on prophylactic (at upwards to 15.1 g a 24-hour interval for several weeks inwards a pulverisation or capsule form). It tin campaign loose stools, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, too abdominal discomfort. |
Green java edible bean extract Green java beans are unroasted java beans. Green java edible bean extract is claimed to decrease fatty accumulation too assist convert blood refined saccharify into unloose energy that your cells tin use. | Does it work? Green java edible bean extract powerfulness assist you lot lose a pocket-sized amount of weight. | Is it safe? Green java edible bean extract seems to live on prophylactic (at upwards to 200 mg a 24-hour interval for 12 weeks). It powerfulness campaign headache too urinary tract infections. Green java beans incorporate the stimulant caffeine, which tin campaign problems at high doses or when it’s combined amongst other stimulants (see the department on Caffeine). |
Green tea too light-green tea extract Green tea (also called Camellia sinensis) is a mutual potable all over the world. Green tea too light-green tea extract inwards some weight-loss supplements are claimed to trim trunk weight past times increasing the calories your trunk burns, breaking downwardly fatty cells, too decreasing fatty absorption too the amount of novel fatty your trunk makes. | Does it work? Green tea powerfulness assist you lot lose a pocket-sized amount of weight. | Is it safe? Drinking light-green tea is safe, but taking light-green tea extract powerfulness non be. Green tea extract tin campaign constipation, abdominal discomfort, nausea, too increased blood pressure. In some people, it has been linked to liver damage. |
Guar gum Guar paste is a soluble dietary fiber inwards some dietary supplements too nutrient products. It’s claimed to build you lot experience full, lower your appetite, too decrease the amount of nutrient you lot eat. | Does it work? Guar paste in all probability doesn’t assist you lot lose weight. | Is it safe? Guar paste seems to live on prophylactic (at upwards to thirty g a 24-hour interval for vi months) when it is taken amongst plenty fluid. But it tin campaign abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea, nausea, too cramps. |
Guarana (see the department on Caffeine) | ||
Hoodia Hoodia is a works life from southern Africa, where it’s used every bit an appetite suppressant. | Does it work? There hasn’t been much enquiry on hoodia, but it in all probability won’t assist you lot eat less or lose weight. Analyses showed that some “hoodia” supplements sold inwards the past times contained really footling hoodia or none at all. It’s non known whether this is truthful of hoodia supplements sold today. | Is it safe? Hoodia powerfulness non live on safe. It tin campaign rapid center rate, increased blood pressure, headache, dizziness, nausea, too vomiting. |
Kola (or cola) nut (see the department on Caffeine) | ||
Mate (see the department on Caffeine) | ||
Probiotics Probiotics are microorganisms inwards foods, such every bit yogurt, that assist keep or restore beneficial bacteria inwards your digestive tract. | Does it work? Probiotic supplements look to receive got footling to no final result on weight loss, but they haven’t been good studied. | Is it safe? Probiotics are prophylactic but may campaign gas or other gastrointestinal problems. |
Pyruvate Pyruvate is naturally acquaint inwards your body. Pyruvate inwards weight-loss supplements is claimed to increment fatty breakdown, trim trunk weight too trunk fat, too better do performance. | Does it work? Pyruvate inwards supplements powerfulness assist you lot lose a pocket-sized amount of weight. | Is it safe? Pyruvate seems to live on prophylactic (at upwards to thirty g a 24-hour interval for vi weeks). It tin campaign diarrhea, gas, bloating, too rumbling noises inwards the intestines due to gas. |
Raspberry ketone Raspberry ketone, constitute inwards reddish raspberries, is claimed to live on a “fat burner.” | Does it work? Raspberry ketone has only been studied every bit a weight-loss assist inwards combination amongst other ingredients too non alone. Its effects on trunk weight are unknown. | Is it safe? Raspberry ketone hasn’t been studied plenty to state if it’s safe. |
Vitamin D Your trunk needs vitamin D for skillful wellness too potent bones. People who are obese tend to receive got lower levels of vitamin D, but at that spot is no known argue why taking vitamin D would assist people lose weight. | Does it work? Vitamin D doesn’t assist you lot lose weight. | Is it safe? Vitamin D from foods too dietary supplements is prophylactic at the recommended amounts of 600‒800 IU a 24-hour interval for adults. Too much vitamin D (more than 4,000 IU a day) tin live on toxic too campaign nausea, vomiting, pitiable appetite, constipation, weakness, too irregular heartbeat. |
White kidney bean/bean pod White kidney edible bean or edible bean pod (also called Phaseolus vulgaris) is a legume grown only about the world. An extract of this edible bean is claimed to block the absorption of carbohydrates too suppress your appetite. | Does it work? Phaseolus vulgaris extract powerfulness assist you lot lose a pocket-sized amount of weight too trunk fat. | Is it safe? Phaseolus vulgaris seems to live on prophylactic (at upwards to 3,000 mg a 24-hour interval for 12 weeks). But it powerfulness campaign headaches, soft stools, flatulence, too constipation. |
Yerba mate (see the department on Caffeine) | ||
Yohimbe Yohimbe is a West African tree. Yohimbe extract is an element inwards supplements used to better libido, increment musculus mass, too process manly someone sexual dysfunction. Yohimbe is also constitute inwards some weight-loss supplements too is claimed to increment weight loss. | Does it work? Yohimbe doesn’t assist you lot lose weight. | Is it safe? Yohimbe powerfulness non live on prophylactic (especially at doses of xx mg or higher). Use it only amongst guidance from your healthcare provider because the side effects tin live on severe. Yohimbe tin campaign headaches, high blood pressure, anxiety, agitation, rapid heartbeat, center attack, center failure, too death. |
Ephedra, an element banned from dietary supplements
Ephedra (also called má huáng) is a works life containing substances that tin cause your nervous system, increment the amount of unloose energy you lot burn, increment weight loss, too suppress your appetite. In the 1990s, ephedra was a pop element inwards dietary supplements sold for weight loss too to heighten athletic performance. In 2004, the U.S. Food too Drug Administration (FDA) banned ephedra inwards dietary supplements, in conclusion that it isn’t safe. Ephedra tin campaign nausea, vomiting, anxiety, mood changes, high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat, stroke, seizures, heart attack, too death.How are weight-loss dietary supplements regulated?
The FDA is the federal means that oversees dietary supplements inwards the United States. Unlike over-the-counter too prescription drugs—which must live on approved past times the FDA earlier they tin live on sold—dietary supplements don’t require review or blessing past times the FDA earlier they are set on the market. Also, manufacturers don’t receive got to furnish evidence to the FDA that their products are prophylactic or effective earlier selling these products.When the FDA finds an unsafe dietary supplement, it tin withdraw the supplement from the marketplace or enquire the supplement maker to think it. The FDA too the Federal Trade Commission tin also accept enforcement activity against companies that build fake weight-loss claims nigh their supplements; add together pharmaceutical drugs to their supplements; or claim that their supplements tin diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent a disease.
For to a greater extent than data nigh dietary supplement regulations, run into the Office of Dietary Supplements publication, Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know.
Can weight-loss dietary supplements live on harmful?
Weight-loss supplements, similar all dietary supplements, tin receive got harmful side effects too powerfulness interact amongst prescription too over-the-counter medications. Many weight-loss supplements receive got ingredients that haven’t been tested inwards combination amongst i another, too their combined effects are unknown.Tell your healthcare providers nigh whatsoever weight-loss supplements or other supplements you lot take. This data volition assist them piece of employment amongst you lot to preclude supplement-drug interactions, harmful side effects, too other risks.
Fraudulent too adulterated products
Be really cautious when you lot run into weight-loss supplements amongst tempting claims, such every bit “magic diet pill,” “melt away fat,” too “lose weight without diet or exercise.” If the claim sounds also skillful to live on true, it in all probability is. These products powerfulness non assist you lot lose weight—and they could live on dangerous.
Weight-loss products marketed every bit dietary supplements are sometimes adulterated amongst prescription drugs or controlled substances. These ingredients won’t live on listed on the production label, too they could harm you. The FDA puts out public notifications nigh tainted weight-loss products

Interactions amongst medications
Like most dietary supplements, some weight-loss supplements tin interact or interfere amongst other medicines or supplements you lot take. If you lot accept dietary supplements too medications on a regular basis, live on certain to beak nigh this amongst your healthcare provider.
Choosing a sensible approach to weight loss
Weight-loss supplements tin live on expensive, too they powerfulness non work. The best way to lose weight too hap it off is to follow a salubrious eating plan, trim calories, too do regularly nether the guidance of your healthcare provider.As a bonus, lifestyle changes that assist you lot lose weight powerfulness also better your mood too unloose energy grade too lower your conduct chances of center disease, diabetes, too some types of cancer.
Where tin I detect out more?
- For full general data on weight-loss dietary supplements:
- Office of Dietary Supplements Health Professional Fact Sheet on Weight-Loss Dietary Supplements
- Weighing the Claims inwards Diet Ads
, Federal Trade Commission
- For publications nigh weight control, obesity, physical activity, too nutrition:
- The Weight-control Information Network
, National Institute of Diabetes too Digestive too Kidney Diseases, NIH
- Weight Control
, MedlinePlus, NIH
- The Weight-control Information Network
- For to a greater extent than advice on buying dietary supplements:
- Office of Dietary Supplements Frequently Asked Questions: Which brand(s) of dietary supplements should I purchase?
- For data nigh edifice a salubrious diet: