Summary
Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions in our sedentary, fast food, hi-tech world. Many slimmers are looking for a quick fix, a pill that will burn off the fat with no effort entailed. Ephedra-based diet pills are top of their list and hugely popular. But are they safe? The FDA does not think so. Do they work? Thousands seem to think so. Read the real facts below.
Overview
With so many new diet pills hitting the market, competition to be recognized as the top product is intense. Dieters often move from one pill to the next in the hope of finding something that actually works. Certainly, in the field of ‘fat burners’ Ephedra-based pills are considered to be the most effective overall.
Although there are reported side effects from taking Ephedra-based products, these generally appear to have resulted from exceeding the recommended dose, or from prolonged usage.
For a variety of reasons many companies no longer manufacture health products containing Ephedra. Indeed, fat burners that do not incorporate Ephedra are becoming increasingly prevalent. There are now Ephedra-free versions of Hydroxycut, Metabolife, Stacker 2, Ripped Fuel, Trimspa and Xenadrine, to mention but a few.
What is the difference between Ephedra and Ephidrine?
Ephedra is the common name for three principal species: Ephedra sinica, Ephedra equisentina, and Ephedra intermedia. The active compounds in this herb are the phenylalanine-derived alkaloids Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Phenylpropanolamine (Norephedrine), and Cathine (Norpseudoephedrine). Alkaloid content (0.5% to 2.3% total) and composition vary by species and growth conditions.
Ephedrine, the most potent alkaloid, can make up 90% of the total alkaloid content. It is used as a medicinal drug, for example in surgery and the treatment of asthma.
For many centuries Ephedra has been used in Chinese herbal medicines to treat lung related diseases. Today this herb can be found in diet pills such as MeTrim, Lipodrene, Metabothin B56, Metabolife and Natural Trim, among many others. In combination with caffeine, or other compounds containing caffeine, these pills can boost the body’s metabolic rate and thermogenesis, and suppress appetite. Ephedra diet pills and Ephedra-based weight loss supplements are also used by bodybuilders to enhance energy release and improve performance.
At present, the use of Ephedrine is carefully regulated and monitored in the United States and many other countries. Ephedra (containing significant levels of Ephedrine) have now been banned in the United States.
How does Ephedra work?
Ephedrine in Ephedra stimulates the central nervous system, increases blood pressure, elevates heart rate and dilates lung tissue. These effects promote thermogenesis.
Ephedrine promotes lipolysis by enhancing noradrenaline (NA) release from sympathetic nerve terminals. This increase in noradrenaline activates adrenergic receptors which boost cAMP levels in fat and muscle cells. The overall effect is to increase lipolysis in fat cells and protein synthesis in muscle tissue. Caffeine has the ability to inhibit phosphodiesterase activity and interfere with the adenosine receptor. This increases the effectiveness of Ephedrine. Aspirin has also been demonstrated to accentuate the effectiveness of Ephedrine, probably due to its action as a prostaglandin inhibitor.
Ephedra may also function as an appetite suppressant by acting on the satiety center in the hypothalamus.
Are Ephedra fat burners effective?
Many slimmers looking to loose weight are seeking a rapid solution, without having to alter their lifestyles, or unhealthy diets. While many have testified that Ephedra-based fat burners can be effective, the best results are usually achieved through changes to diet and exercise patterns.
Despite the advertising hype, few diet pills have proved to have the fat burning potential of a good Ephedra-based formulation. Ephedra has powerful appetite-suppressing characteristics. It also stimulates the release of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter, and activates alpha and beta–adrenergic receptors boosting the body’s fat burning action. Ephedra’s effectiveness appears to be enhanced when combined with caffeine, and can be boosted further by aspirin.
There have been over 40 clinical studies that have evaluated Ephedra and Ephedrine alkaloids used in combination with other compounds for weight loss. The use of Ephedrine, Ephedrine plus caffeine, or diet pills containing Ephedra and herbs with caffeine, was associated with a statistically significant increase in weight loss. Both Ephedrine plus caffeine, and Ephedra plus herbs containing caffeine, were somewhat more effective than ephedrine alone in promoting weight loss. Only one study compared Ephedra plus herbs (but without caffeine) with a placebo. The Ephedra-containing product was associated with a weight loss of about 2 pounds/month; more than was associated with a placebo, for up to 3 months of use.
No studies assessed the long-term effects on weight loss; the longest published follow-up has been 6 months.
Ephedra Side Effects
In the last ten years, the FDA has received reports of over 150 deaths and 16,000 complaints associated with the use of the Ephedra-based diet pills.
Ephedrine in Ephedra can aggravate underlying medical conditions. Traditional contraindications for taking Ephedra include general poor health, high blood pressure, nervousness, insomnia, cardiac arrythmias, heart disease and gastrointestinal problems. Ephedra should not be used during pregnancy because it may cause contraction of the uterus.
When ephedrine is combined with other stimulants like caffeine or guarana, its potency is increased, and so are the risks of side effects. These can include headaches, tremors, nervousness, anxiety, hyperactivity, insomnia, nausea, excessive sweating, psychoses, high blood pressure, rapid and irregular heart beat, chest pain, seizures, stroke, and heart attack.
Suggested guideline for the use of Ephedra
- Consult a health care professional before taking Ephedra and use as directed.
- Do not take products that contain both Ephedra and caffeine, and then continue to drink coffee or other drinks with caffeine.
- Do not take products that have more than 10 milligrams of Ephedra per dose.
- Do not take more than 24 milligrams in 24 hours.
- Do not use Ephedra if you have heart disease, hypertension, thyroid disease, diabetes, enlarged prostate, anxiety, glaucoma or are pregnant.
- Use Ephedra diet pills in cycles. Take the diet pills for one month, followed by a one month brake. The body can adapt to prolonged use of Ephedra pills, making them less effective.
Why should athletes avoid Ephedra?
Ephedra diet pills should be avoided at all costs by individuals engaged in competitive sports. Ephedrine is a prohibited performance enhancing drug.
The Future for Diet Pills with Ephedra
Diet pills containing Ephedra have come under close scrutiny by regulatory bodies, such as the FDA, because of the high risk of potential adverse side effects. The FDA has been issuing warnings related to Ephedra containing slimming pills since the early 1990’s.
In April 2004, the FDA banned the sale of Ephedra based products due to concerns about the potential health risks. A suit by an Ephedra manufacturer was upheld by a Federal District Court judge in Utah on April 14, 2005, because it was found that the FDA had not provided sufficiently robust scientific evidence to justify a ban. The FDA appealed this ruling, and on August 17, 2006 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld the FDA’s ban on Ephedra. The sale of Ephedra-containing diet supplements remains illegal in the United States.
The bottom line on Ephedra
Ephedera, particularly in combination with caffeine, is widely considered to be the best fat burner currently available. Used at the recommended dosage, many slimmers consider that the benefits outweigh the risks. Sales of Ephedra-based diet pills remain very strong. It is highly recommended, however, that a medical practitioner be consulted before taking Ephedra.
Common misspellings: Ehedrine, Ephendra, Ephendrin, Ephendrine, Efedra, Efedrine, Ephredra
