Originally posted by: Fausto1
Originally posted by: pdtUCI
id be curious to know how many of you have actually tried these supplements. i was very skeptical too until i tried them, they dont work by themselves, you still have to change your diet and exercise, but they can help you lose more weight than diet and exercise alone. And unless you just dont follow the directions on the bottle or youre just a complete idiot and dont check your medical history for heart problems, theyre not going to kill you. All im saying is that if this guy does want to lose the weight it is possible and not as hard you might think. Go for it!
Read a few peer-reviewed journal articles....they don't do jack aside from raising your blood pressure and killing your appetite.
Here's a few summaries from the first page of journal articles that popped up on PubMed:
Nutrition and sports supplements: fact or fiction.
Lawrence ME, Kirby DF.
BACKGROUND In an age of highly competitive sports, whether it be the high school student, the weekend warrior, or the professional athlete, more individuals are using "performance-enhancing" nutritional supplements. Many feel they are gaining a "competitive edge," without thinking of the potential consequences. Consumers are inundated with claims of strength, weight loss, and improved body definition, but they are rarely given information on the potentially harmful side effects. There are few large, multicenter, randomized trials of these various nutritional supplements that look at the purported claims and potential side effects.STUDY We reviewed the available studies, including case reports, and researched data on five of the most popular performance-enhancing supplements, including androstenedione, creatine, chromium, ephedra, and protein and amino acid supplements.CONCLUSIONS Of the reviewed supplements, only creatine may be marginally beneficial. The potential benefit would probably only be useful to the professional athlete and not the average person. All of the supplements reviewed have potentially harmful side effects; however, certain supplements clearly show harmful effects, and use should strongly be cautioned. In addition, ephedra should be withdrawn from the marketplace. At this time, without better-designed studies, these agents cannot be recommended.
Ischemic stroke in a user of thermadrene: a case study in alternative medicine.
Kaberi-Otarod J, Conetta R, Kundo KK, Farkash A.
Department of Medicine, Flushing Hospital and Medical Center, NY 11355, USA.
A case of a young user of Thermadrene (SportPharma USA, Inc, Concord, Calif), an herbal remedy for weight loss, was studied. We believe that Thermadrene can cause serious complications such as ischemic stroke. Because these remedies are available over the counter and are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration or similar organizations, there is a need for critical scrutiny of their content and side effects, as is performed for other pharmaceuticals.
[Ephedrine and ephedra in weight loss products and other preparations]
[Article in Dutch]
van der Hooft CS, Stricker BH.
Inspectie voor de Gezondheidszorg, sectie Geneesmiddelenbewaking, Postbus 16.119, 2500 BC Den Haag.
Ephedrine is a sympathicomimetic agent that stimulates the central nervous and cardiovascular systems and causes bronchodilatation. It is one of the alkaloids in the herb Ephedra which is the basis of several over-the-counter herbal products, among which a number of popular weight-loss products. The Dutch Inspectorate for Health Care has received reports of adverse reactions presumably associated with Ephedra-containing weight-loss products. These adverse reactions comprised mainly palpitations, stress, headache and insomnia. The Ministry of Health in Canada has recently requested a market recall of some ephedrine-containing herbal products in response to a large number of adverse reactions reported in association with these products. The adverse reactions included stroke, heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures and psychotic disorders. The voluntary recall concerns especially products that were marketed without approval and contain Ephedra in combination with caffeine or other stimulants. In the Netherlands, the status of Ephedra-containing products is currently reconsidered.[/b]
Seizure activity and unresponsiveness after hydroxycut ingestion.
Kockler DR, McCarthy MW, Lawson CL.
Department of Pharmacy Services, Drug Information Center, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville 22908-0674, USA.
A 22-year-old man was hospitalized after unexplained seizure-like activity and unresponsiveness. A urine toxicology screen was negative for salicylates, acetaminophen, alcohol, and drugs of abuse. Medical history was insignificant with the exception of recent (within 2 wks) ingestion of Hydroxycut is a dietary supplement purported to be energy enhancing, muscle building, and fat burning. The agent contains ephedra alkaloids and caffeine, which are both central nervous system stimulants; the etiology of seizure was attributed to their consumption. Due to a significant number of reported adverse events, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed regulations for dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids and requested an independent review of case reports linked to these products. Because herbal products are not subject to the same rigorous FDA regulations required for prescription and over-the-counter products, consumers unknowingly risk adverse effects when taking these products. Questioning patients about consumption of herbal products should be part of routine medical visits.
There are a gazillion more like these. At best, they do very little....at worst, you keel over. I'll have a salad, thanks.
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