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Natural Weight Loss Supplement: its Safety and Effectiveness have Lack of Scientific Evidence

Firstly there are those that really do nothing. They are just a nice tasting tea and boring harmless pill but nevertheless you have wasted your money on something that will not help you. Nowadays, whether you're in your local health store, drug store or just surfing the internet, you’re sure to come across herbal weight loss pills. Although each type of herbal weight loss pill contains different ingredients, there are some ingredients that are common to many brands.

Given the medical and psychosocial impact of being overweight, as well as the difficulty in making sustained improvements in diet and physical activity, it is not surprising that patients often turn to over-the-counter (OTC) proprietary weight-loss products containing single or multiple dietary supplements (e.g., herbs, vitamins, minerals, amino acids).In the UK, the complementary medicine market has grown by nearly 60% in the past five years, to an estimated $130 million.

Well-known complications of obesity include heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis and type 2 diabetes. However, few people are aware of the increased risk of cancers of the breast, colon and prostate, and even less know about the associations with infertility, delayed recovery from surgery and mental health problems such as depression.

What should I eat? How much exercise should I get? How often should I see the doctor for health checks? The classic case of such flip-flopping in nutrition is the butter-versus-margarine question. More than 30 years ago, as research began to suggest that saturated fat might be bad for the heart; recommendations were made that encouraged people to switch from butter, which is high in saturated fat, to low-saturated-fat margarine. However, further research showed that, in many cases, margarine contained a type of fat (known as trans fat) that's even worse for the heart than saturated fat. This seeming about-face led many people to throw up their hands in frustration and confused consumers going for natural supplement and others taking that chance.

A primary concern is that Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) does not require pre-market safety approvals for dietary supplements. Manufacturers are not required to disclose any information they have about the safety or alleged benefits of their supplement products.10 In one example, animal studies showed promise for the supplement hydroxycitrate, the active compound found in the Garcinia cambogia plant. However, a human trial11 found no benefit for weight loss. Nevertheless, hydroxycitrate is still being promoted for weight loss based on the animal studies.

Researchers warn that supplement could be a lack of data on herbal preparations that is putting many consumers in danger.
Ephedra was until recently included in a large number of best selling weight loss products in the US but after a long period of consultation the Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it will introduce a ban on the herb after a number of reports linking it to serious side effects.

Lack of scientific evidence:

The common perception that if medication is natural then it must be safe has recently come under fire from a research by a Consumer Reports magazine. The consumer publication found a dozen herbal supplements, some banned in Asia, Europe and Canada but widely available in the United States, may cause cancer, kidney or liver damage and even death. Aristolochia, has link to kidney damage and the onset of cancer. Yohimbe may have serious adverse effects, including renal failure, seizures and death .Bitter orange, similar to ephedra, the banned weight-loss supplement believed responsible for 155 deaths nationwide.

Chromium has been promoted to boost lean mass and decrease body fat. Several studies recently concluded that it could result in weight loss per week in some people. But other studies have found a loss of body fat and an increase in muscle tissue, with no change in weight.

A single dose of a dietary supplement containing ephedra and caffeine can increase blood pressure and cause a change that have the potential to affect heart rhythms, shown a new study by American researchers. Ephedra use is linked to heart attacks, palpitations, seizures and strokes; according to an FDA spokesperson.

Chitosan is supposed to help weight loss by binding with the fat you eat, blocking its absorption. But studies do not support this claim.

Spirulina is a rich source of nutrients, containing up to 70% protein, B-complex vitamins, phycocyanin, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and numerous minerals. Spirulina has been studied as a food supplement in infant malnutrition. Spirulina does not seem to give added benefit over traditional nutrition, is more costly and therefore is not recommended.

Black tea is a source of caffeine, for which multiple interactions have been documented. However, studies of black tea interactions with herbs and supplements are limited. It is commonly used in over-the-counter weight loss products, and may also be associated with other adverse effects, including abnormal heart rhythms, insomnia, anxiety, headache, irritability, poor concentration, blurred vision, and dizziness.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) in reducing body fat and increasing lean body mass, but it's not quite ready for primetime. None of the human studies have been recognized for long term use of CLA. Moreover recently animal studies at at Ohio State University shown that mice fed a CLA-supplemented diet lost weight very fast, but also accumulated excessive amounts of fat in their livers – a common side effect of rapid weight loss. Excessive fat accumulation in the liver is linked to insulin resistance, a hallmark of Type 2 diabetes.

Garcinia Cambogia from Garcinia cambogia fruit rind contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which supposedly curbs food intake, weight gain and storage of excess calories as fat. However, studies have failed to prove G. cambogia is an effective weight-loss aid.

Country mallow (heartleaf) seems to decreases appetite and increases the number of calories burned .But contains ephedra, which is dangerous. Dietary supplements that contain ephedra alkaloids (sometimes called ma huang) are widely promoted and used in the United States as a means of losing weight and increasing energy.

Several companies have already lined up contenders for ephedra's market share. Some new products use Citrus Aurantium (Bitter Orange); a herbal extract is a natural source of synephrine (a compound similar to ephedrine) and this supplement is close cousin of ephedrine and potentially just as dangerous. Because of the enormous demand for weight loss products, ephedra products may make a comeback once the publicity dies down, says Patrick Rea; research director of the Nutrition Business Journal. "The [warning] labels will have some impact, as they did on cigarettes," he says. "But people still smoke cigarettes."

Hydroxymethylbutyrate (HMB) is a natural byproduct of the breakdown of the amino acid leucine. A few small studies have suggested that HMB increases lean mass and decreases body fat when combined with weight training.

Guar gum may block the absorption of dietary fat and increases the feeling of fullness, which leads to decreased calorie intake. It is relatively safe, but unlikely to cause weight loss

Research on using fiber in the treatment of childhood obesity has focused on using fiber supplements rather than comparing low- and high-fiber diets. Supplementation for four months with 2 to 3 grams per day of a bulking agent called glucomannan, was effective in a group of obese adolescents in one controlled trial, but another controlled trial found no significant effect of 2 grams per day for two months.

Plantago Psyllium is proved to aid constipation not been proved as an effective weight-loss aid.

Pyruvate formulas seem to boast that they stimulate metabolism and reduce body fat. But the people in the studies also exercised and cut back on calories.

The Oklahoma Poison Control Center warns that many of the natural products used and advertised as diet aids are toxic in certain doses, can cause allergic reactions, and may react with prescription or over-the-counter medications. “Natural” or “herbal” does not equal safe.

"Diet pills, laxatives and teas used for weight loss can have serious side effects,” said Lee McGoodwin, managing director of the Oklahoma Poison Control Center. “Some herbal ‘dieter’s teas’ contain powerful laxatives or diuretics that have caused heart arrhythmias.”

Green tea extracts which has been claimed that it increase calorie and fat metabolism and decreases appetite .But also have limited evidence to support the claim.

Bitter Yerba mate tea is high in caffeine. Used in combination with like guarana and damiana, but no sufficient data to support it.

Hoodia may decrease appetite, but no conclusive evidence to support the claim.

What a lot of companies have been doing is putting sibutramine in their weight loss supplements but not informing the consumer that they are doing so. This is extremely dangerous as sibutramine can cause heart attacks if it is given to the wrong people and if it is not used properly. A change in the effect of a drug when taken with a certain other drug, a supplement or food. Its effect may increase or decrease or a side effect may occur.

Studies at Brown University indicate that Hoodia appears to work by interrupting or stopping the hunger mechanism in the brain. There is almost no research on the effectiveness of Hoodia as an herbal weight loss supplement, and no substantial information on its safety. These findings add to the growing debate over the regulation of drug and supplement markets and the role of direct-to-consumer advertising.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), passed in 1994, does not include an FDA requirement that manufacturers of herbs and other dietary supplements prove their products are safe or effective before they hit the shelves. The Act encourages disclosure of information to consumers, but the lack of research requirements gives herbal makers the freedom to make general health claims on their labels.

Losing weight is hard to do. Anyone who has tried knows it is true. For most of us, the thought of dropping that extra 20 or 30 pounds of padding seems like an insurmountable goal. Count how many calories you eat in one day. You have to reduce the number of calories, you can do this by becoming more active, exercising (in case you exercise you need more water), or by eating less. People leading moderately active lives need about 15 calories per pound to maintain their bodyweight.

Consumers need to be aware that dietary supplement products are considered neither food nor drugs from a legal standpoint. "Therefore, they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are solely responsible for product quality, and toxicity may be related to product impurities, contaminants, or high levels of active ingredients.

It's important to remember that only a licensed health care provider is qualified to give advice on weight loss. Always discuss your weight loss goals with your doctor before beginning any weight loss regimen. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's safe.