Experts often urge caution when seeking supplements to aid in weight loss.
WebMD said not much science backs up the claims of companies selling supplements, some of their products pose health risks, and the FDA has “cracked down” on some supplements that failed to note on their label that their ingredients included prescription drugs.
Still, ConsumerLab.com, an independent health and nutrition product evaluator, reported after testing the quality of more than 50 products that while no supplement has a large weight-loss effect, “certain ingredients may have a modest, short-term effect equating to 1 to 3 pounds lost in a month.”
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Here are six supplements ConsumerLab and/or Authority Nutrition indicate may have a weight loss or slimming effect.
1. Hydroxycut, one of the world’s most popular weight loss supplements, was shown by one study to bring about 21 pounds of
weight loss over three months, said Authority Nutrition.
2. 7-keto DHEA is the only supplement that passed 100 percent of ConsumerLab’s quality tests. ConsumerLab said the product “may provide additional weight loss in overweight people on calorie-reduced diets.”
3. Garcinia cambogia extract became popular after Dr. Mehmet Oz featured it on his TV show in 2012, according to Authority Nutrition. That website said a 2011 review that looked at 12 studies on the supplement concluded it brought about an average weight loss of about two pounds over several weeks. ConsumerLab concluded garcinia cambogia extract may cause modest weight loss, adding that it “appears to work better in women than men and when the person is not markedly obese.” The supplement passed 46 percent of ConsumerLab’s quality tests.
4. CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid, “may help with slimming by increasing portion of lean body mass to fat,” Consumer Lab said. The supplement passed 75 percent of ConsumerLab’s quality tests.
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5. Green tea extract “may aid weight loss and protect against weight gain,” ConsumerLab said. The product passed 75 percent of ConsumerLab’s quality tests.
6. Green coffee bean extract “may cause modest weight loss,” Consumer Lab said. The product passed 50 percent of ComsumerLab’s quality tests.
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