The statement by the manufacturers that Avesil, a relative newcomer to the diet pill market, has been studied in two clinical studies is bogus. Equally worrying, the contact address given on the Avesil website is actually a home furnishing store in Miami. According to the product advertising, Avesil is a safe, effective weight control formula made from ingredients supported by substantial published scientific research. The manufacturers claim that users can use Avesil to boost energy, reduce appetite, burn fat and lose weight.
Losing weight can be a daunting task. The weight loss industry has become so big that it can be difficult to discern the effective products from ones that are little better than placebos. That is why it is worth checking consumer rating sites, which score products based on effectiveness, cost and safety. So far, Avesil has not been rated highly by consumers on these sites.
Avesil ingredients
One of the core problems with the Avesil formula is the absence of a high performing thermogenic agent, which can help the body burn fat more effectively. Avesil does contain green tea extract, which is a mild fat burner, but most dieters need more from their chosen weight loss product. Experts often suggest looking for products that contain proven fat oxidizers like Advantra Z or Yerba Mate, which have delivered positive results in clinical weight loss studies. The fact that Avesil is deficient in this area is an issue consumers have brought up on ratings sites and blogs, where it has scored poorly due to lackluster weight loss results.
There are 4 primary ingredients (Avesil also contains 150 mg of calcium and 210 mg of potassium per serving). A single serving (2 capsules) provides:
1. 150mg green tea extract
2. 50mg caffeine anhydrous
3. 133mcg chromium polynicotinate (ChromeMate)
4. 900mg Super Citrimax
All four ingredients are proven constituents in weight loss supplements. Super Citrimax and ChromeMate play a lead role in Avesil, as they are purported to boost energy levels, as well as increase the body’s ability to burn more fat. Super Citrimax, which is a patented version of hydroxycitric acid, is also believed to be able to augment lipid metabolism.
Looking at the ingredients in greater detail:
Green tea extract: There is evidence to indicate that green tea offers benefits to slimmers. Studies have shown that the tea can elevate metabolism and inhibit the action of the enzyme amalyse. Research has demonstrated that it is one essential catechin, EGCG, in combination with caffeine that are the main active ingredients in the green tea extract.
Caffeine: This compound is a thermogenic agent with clinically proven benefits for weight loss (e.g. Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97).
Chromium polynicotinate (ChromeMate): Chromium plays an important role in insulin production, which is key to the regulation of blood sugar levels. Chromium is also involved in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. As such, the inclusion of chromium in any weight loss product could potentially be beneficial. However, the clinical studies that have been performed on chromium have given variable results; some have demonstrated that it has a subtle effect on weight reduction, and others have shown that it has no effect at all. ChromeMate is a patented form of chromium, consisting of a combination of three different variants of chromium: chromium nicotinate, chromium polynicotinate and niacin bound chromium. Chromium has been suggested to be able to help increase energy levels and promote fat loss by balancing blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, ChromeMate does not contain GTF chromium. This form of chromium has been shown to be one of the most effective forms. In fact, may experts suggest looking for formulas that contain GTF chromium to significantly boost weight loss.
Garcinia cambogia fruit extract (SuperCitrimax): A single serving of Avesil provides 900 mg of SuperCitrimax. A full day’s dosage of 6 capsules (2,700 mg) is close to the amount used in one positive clinical study (see J Med. 2004;35(1-6):33-48). However, subjects involved in this study were restricted to 2,000 calories per day. They also walked for 30 minutes per day, 5 days out of 7. Considered overall, the limited clinical data on SuperCitrimax indicates it can promote weight loss, but not dramatically.
Avesil pros
- Avesil contains two patented ingredients
- The ingredients in the formula have undergone clinical trials
- The company encourages a sensible diet and regular exercise
- A FAQ section is provided on the website.
- Telephone helpline
Avesil cons
- Avesil is expensive
- Limited information about the product on the website
- Avesil contains no proven appetite suppressant
- The free trial automatically signs the consumer up for the auto-ship program
- Avesil contains low level thermogenic agents
- Avesil does not contain a high quality herbal appetite suppressant
- Avesil has performed poorly on a number of consumer websites
- Avesil does not contain clinically proven dosages of ingredients
- Privacy Policy indicates Avesil manufacturer may sell your personal information to third parties.
- Avesil has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration
- The quality and concentrations of Avesils’ ingredients has not been certified by an independent laboratory
Clinical studies with Avesil
On the official Avesil website it is claimed that two clinical studies have been undertaken on Avesil [Preuse, H et al. (2004) Nutr Res. 24(1):45, and Preuse, H et al. (2004) Diabetes Obes Metab. 6(3):171]. These studies are said to have demonstrated that subjects taking Avesil lost 300% more weight than those on diet and exercise alone. Unfortunately for potential Avesil customers no such studies exist. The name of the lead author has been altered on the Avesil website, and is in reality HG Preuss. In both studies the key ingredients used were hydroxycitric acid (Super CitriMax) and a combination of HCA-SX plus niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract. Avesil uses only two of these ingredients and the manufacturers did not sponsor either study. The Avesil formulation does not use the same amounts of the ingredients that were used in the clinical studies. The clinical studies were carried out using a combination of:
1. 200mcg ChromeMate
2. 1,555mg Super CitriMax
3. 200mg Gymneme Sylvestre (Avesil does not contain this ingredient)
Preuss demonstrated that supplementation with the above formulation had an appetite suppressing effect and increased the rate at which weight was lost in test subjects (Preuss et al., 2004; Roy et al., 2004).
Avesil’s free trial
The manufacturers of Avesil use a “free trial” sales technique. You must pay $5.95 s&h. Why? This gives the company your credit card information – And 14 days after trying Avesil they will bill your credit card $89.95 every 30 days, unless you remember to cancel promptly.
Avesil website
There are numerous typos on the Avesil website – always something of a red flag. The website discloses a limited amount of information regarding the product. The manufacturer exhibits news program emblems that have seemingly featured the key ingredients of Avesil – but not the product itself. While there are some testimonials on the site, they do not refer to Avesil directly, and are very vague.
How does Avesil work?
Avesil is claimed to work along the principles of thermogenesis and lipolysis. Thermogenesis raises the rate at which the body metabolizes and burns fat and carbohydrates, while lipolysis involves the breakdown of fat that is stored in fat cells. Combined, these two factors can lead to significant weight loss, as well as an increase in energy and lean muscle mass.
Side effects of Avesil
Mild headaches or increased heart rate are possible when taking Avesil. The manufacturer recommends that Avesil should not be taken with prescription (or pharmaceutical) drugs. People with: high blood pressure; cardiovascular disease; liver disease; thyroid disease; psychiatric diseases; diabetes; anemia; anxiety; depression; seizure disorder; stroke; difficulty in urination due to prostate enlargement are advised not to take Avesil.
Avisil manufacturer details
The manufacturer of Avesil is Green Bracket LLC, Miami Beach, Florida. The Customer Care address for Avisil is given as:
Avesil Customer Care
330 NE 62nd Street
Miami, Florida 33138
Tel: (866) 730-3330
This address is actually listed for Tizhan Bazaar, a home furnishing store – another red flag for potential purchasers of Avisil.
Avesil guarantee
The Avesil website says they offer a “no-questions-asked 100% money-back guarantee.” The website gives no other information on the guarantee other than that you have to have a Return Merchandise Authorization in order to return Avesil. They do not specify how long you have to return the product.
Avesil conclusion
It is clear that Avesil contains beneficial ingredients, but the formula is pretty basic. The ingredients are backed by published clinical research studies, but crucially, no actual clinical study on the weight loss characteristics of Avesil have been carried out.
There are far better diet pills currently available. Avesil is extremely expensive—$89.95 for a one month’s supply. There is nothing in this formula to justify this price. For example, at many reputable online retailers it is possible to buy potent versions of every ingredient in the Avesil formula for under $40 total (for one month’s supply), and combine them together.
There is no way to order this product other than through the “free trial” offer presented on the website. Such a selling approach, involving the combination of outrageous cost, ordinary formula and “free trial” offer should be viewed with extreme caution.
What is the dosage for Avesil?
Two capsules of Avesil taken 3 times per day to a total dose of 450 mg green tea extract, 150 mg caffeine, 399mcg ChromeMate and 2700 mg Super Citrimax.
How long does each bottle of Avesil last?
Each bottle of Avesil contains 180 capsules and lasts 30 days (6 capsules/day).
Manufacturers’ recommendations
This product was designed to be taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise. Please consult with your health care practitioner before taking Avesil. You should never take a double serving of Avesil. If you do miss a serving, simply take a regular serving at your next scheduled time. Always carefully read the label in its entirety before taking Avesil or any other dietary supplement. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not take Avesil. Do not take Avesil if you are under 18 years of age. Individuals with pre-existing health conditions should consult with a physician or licensed, qualified health-care professional prior to using Avesil or starting any weight loss regimen.
Common misspellings: Avisil; Avisel; Avesile; Avasil
