Hydroxycut Review

Hydroxycut Review

The combination of ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin is a widely documented nutritional method of inducing weight loss.

MuscleTech funded a study designed to assess the safety and efficacy of Hydroxycut (ephedra 20 mg, caffeine 200 mg, and salicin 15 mg) as a weight loss aid in addition to moderate aerobic exercise for 8 weeks. Subjects were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 supplemented with the recommended dose of Hydroxycut (a full dose taken 3 times per day) and performed aerobic exercise for 30 minutes 3 times per week; Group 2 consumed a placebo and followed the same exercise protocol; and Group 3 supplemented with the recommended dose of Hydroxycut but performed no exercise.

The subjects that used Hydroxycut and exercised experienced a significantly greater weight loss (3.8 kg) than the placebo group while subjects that used Hydroxycut without exercise showed a significant reduction in daily caloric intake of 680 calories. No changes in any safety parameters (blood pressure, EKGs, or hydration status) were found. Based on this Hydroxycut review, Hydroxycut helps reduce body weight and is an effective appetite suppressant.

For more discussion on what results you can expect when taking Hydroxycut, see Hydroxycut Results.

Numerous other studies have confirmed the effectiveness of the ingredients in Hydroxycut.

Hydroxycut Review: Ingredients In Hydroxycut

Ephedrine and Caffeine

Renowned weight-loss expert Arne Astrup, MD, and his associates performed a study with ephedrine at the University of Copenhagen and two Danish hospitals. Five young females were given 20 mg of ephedrine three times per day one hour before meals and were told to continue eating normally. Even though there was no dieting involved, the women lost an average of 2.5 kg of body weight after four weeks and 5.5 kg after 12 weeks. They also held onto their lean muscle, while their body-fat percentage dropped by 3.5% after four weeks and 5.2% after 12 weeks. Two months after the experiment stopped, they had only gained back 0.5 kg. The only side effect was a mild rise in blood pressure at the start of the experiment.

Two studies by the same Danish researchers indicate the benefits of combining ephedrine with caffeine. In both studies, the participants took a supplement with 20 mg of ephedrine and 200 mg of caffeine three times per day. They also followed a low-calorie diet. In the first study, the test subjects lost 16.2% of their body weight in 24 weeks, significantly more than the 13.4% loss by the placebo group. The second study confirmed that most of this loss was body fat. In that eight-week study, the E/C group lost 10.1 kg, compared to only 8.4 kg with the placebo. But the E/C group lost twice as much fat (9.0 kg vs. 4.5 kg) and much less fat-free mass (1.1 kg vs. 3.9 kg). Only mild side effects were reported.

The E/C combination has been extensively studied, but space limitations do not allow a detailed listing of the many studies that have showed benefits. All of this research, however, supports the effectiveness of the E/C stack and demonstrates the moderate level of side effects when you take appropriate dosages. (For information on side effects of Hydroxycut, see Hydroxycut Side Effects.)

A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that when green tea was taken instead of pure caffeine, the thermogenic effects were even stronger. This six-week study compared the benefits of pure caffeine (50 mg), green tea extract (with 50 mg of caffeine and 90 mg of EGCG) and placebo. The pills were given three times per day. The green tea group experienced a significant 4% increase in thermogenesis and a 4.5% boost in overall energy expenditure.

Willow bark

Several studies have shown that aspirin contributes to energy expenditure, particularly in obese individuals. It appears to do this by raising the body's internal "thermostat," so that the increased production of heat produced by E/C products does not trigger a response by the body. This allows fat burning to continue longer than it otherwise would. Although no study has compared the benefits of the E/C stack with and without willow bark, the effects are probably similar to those of aspirin.

Hydroxycitric acid (HCA)

A double-blind study published in the American Journal of Bariatric Medicine looked at HCA's effects. The two-month study gave 500 mg of Garcinia cambogia extract (equivalent to 250 mg of HCA) to overweight volunteers three times daily prior to meals. The subjects in the HCA group had an average weight loss of 5 kg, compared to a drop of only 1.8 kg in the placebo group. (A kilogram is 2.2 pounds.) No side effects were reported in this study, nor were any adverse effects noted in an earlier rodent study. HCA appears to be safe and effective.

L-carnitine tartrate

While carnitine is discussed in many different review articles as a factor in fat metabolism, there is little research on the benefits of carnitine supplementation. The number of studies on L-carnitine tartrate is even more reduced. One study at the University of Connecticut found that the nutrient reduces the muscle disruption that usually occurs during weight training by 41% to 45%. Since exercise should be an important part of your weight-loss strategy (both to build muscle and to increase caloric expenditure), L-carnitine tartrate appears to promote your fat-burning efforts by enhancing your recovery from the rigors of your workout program. No published studies have looked at the thermogenic potential of L-carnitine tartrate.

Chromium picolinate

The studies on chromium are all over the board. While it can be very helpful for diabetics, the demonstrated benefits (or lack thereof) for nondiabetics depend on the nutritional status of the participants and the amount and length of the supplementation program. One study that did show a benefit from the use of chromium picolinate was presented at the national meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in 2000. This study found a 40% increase in glucose uptake into muscle tissue compared to the placebo group.

Since insulin can also transport glucose to the fat cells for storage, these results suggest that chromium helps to shunt the glucose towards the active working tissues where it can be burned for energy. The end result could well be a loss in body fat, although this benefit was not measured. The bottom line is that chromium is an essential nutrient that is often deficient in most people's diets. Eliminating this deficiency should at a minimum increase your adherence to your diet by improving your energy levels and reducing mood swings.

To find out more about how Hydroxycut works, see Does Hydroxycut Work.

To compare Hydroxycut prices among several top on-line sources, see Cheapest Hydroxycut Online.