Meratol is being marketed as one of the best natural weight loss supplements to be released in years, and there appear to be numerous celebrity fans. However, no clinical studies appear to have been carried out on Meratol itself – only on individual ingredients. The Scottish manufacturer, Advanced Health Ltd, does not reveal the source references for all of these clinical weight loss trials. According to the official website, Meratol simultaneously boosts metabolism, burns calories and inhibits the intake of carbohydrates. This diet pill is a propriety blend so it is difficult to determine if the key ingredients are present in high enough concentrations to be optimally effective.

Is Meratol effective?

Meratol was recently featured in the British Daily Express newspaper where it was praised for aiding weight loss without side effects, or the need to change exercise and eating habits. However, at the time of writing, there are only two testimonials posted on the official website. As there have apparently been no actual clinical studies on Meratol itself, it is difficult to judge how effective this diet pill really is. The manufacturer claims that “if you have more than 14lbs to lose you can expect to lose up to 4lbs in the first week, reducing to 1-2lbs a week thereafter”.

Meratol side effects

Meratol contains natural ingredients. However, it is not suitable for vegetarians and vegans because the capsules contain gelatine. There is no evidence presented by the manufacturer that clinical studies have been carried out on the safety of Meratol itself. Brown seaweed extract, an ingredient in Meratol has been reported to cause nausea and diarrhea in some individuals, particularly at higher doses. This extract has a high iodine content which could lead to thyroid problems at high doses. On the official Meratol website, the manufacturer states that no iodine related side effects have been seen, but again the manufacturer presents no evidence that Meratol itself has been clinically tested. In addition, the effects of potential interaction between the various ingredients in Meratol have not been clinically evaluated

The manufacturer recommends that the following groups do not take Meratol, or consult a doctor first:

• Pregnant women (consult a doctor first)
• Breastfeeding women
• Cardiovascular patients (consult a doctor first)
• Children (consult a doctor first)

Meratol pros

• The ingredients in Meratol have been individually tested in clinical trials and are believed to be safe
• The company does not endorse automatic enrollment programs
• The manufacturer is well established and has a good reputation in the industry

Meratol cons

• Meratol is a propriety blend. Are there high enough doses of the active ingredients present for optimal effect?
• No clinical studies have been carried out on the Meratol diet pill itself, so the weight loss claims of the manufacturer cannot be scientifically verified
• The official product website has few testimonials
• Meratol does not come with a money back guarantee

How does Meratol work?

Meratol has been designed to:

• Enhance calorie burn
• Suppress appetite between meals
• Speed up metabolism
• Cut carbohydrate intake

During digestion of food the alpha amylase enzyme converts carbohydrates into glucose, which if not used for energy can subsequently be converted into unwanted fat. Meratol helps block carbohydrate digestion by inhibiting alpha-amylase enzyme activity, and thus lower amounts of carbohydrates are absorbed. In addition, reduced carbohydrate absorption leads to a drop in blood glucose levels, and this in turn can result in reduced insulin secretion. When this happens, hunger-pangs and food cravings are diminished.

Meratol combines four clinically evaluated extracts:

Brown seaweed extract: Brown seaweed has been shown clinically to reduce the intake of carbohydrates.

Capsicum extract: Capsiplex-capsicum is proprietary thermogenic agent that has been demonstrated clinically to boost calorie burn.

Cactus extract: Cactus extract promotes the normalisation of blood sugar levels which has the effect of reducing appetite and food craving.

Prickly pear cactus: Opuntia ficus indica, or prickly pear cactus as it is commonly known, has been shown in clinical studies to accelerate metabolism.

Meratol dosage

Meratol is taken once a day (two tablets) in the morning before breakfast. There are 60 capsules in a bottle, which is 1 month’s supply.

Meratol ingredients

Prickly pear cactus: This plant is part of the diet in Mexican and Mexican-American cultures. Prickly pear cactus is also used in herbal medicine. A species called Opuntia ficus-indica is frequently used as an extract in diet pills. It is composed of soluble and insoluble dietary fibers. These fibers are claimed to bind dietary fat and thus prevent it from being absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical study supporting this claim was very small and only involved 10 subjects. The participants in this study received 4800 mg of Opuntia (NeOpuntia) daily. A capsule of Meratol only contains 1000 mg of total ingredients, so that the amount of prickly pear cactus included in this formula will fall short of the dose shown to be effective –even when the full serving of two capsules is taken.

Brown seaweed extract: Because it is an excellent source of iodine, brown seaweed extract can improve thyroid function, potentially increasing metabolism and energy, and decreasing weight gain. The iodine, calcium and other minerals in brown seaweed extract are readily absorbed by the body, assisting digestion and correcting relevant mineral deficiencies.

Cactus extract: This extract is beneficial in reducing cholesterol levels and promoting weight loss. Cactus extract also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, and may even ease hangover symptoms.

Capsicum extract: Red hot chilies or capsicum extract is the principal ingredient in Capsiplex (a weight loss product also made by Advanced Health Ltd which is included in the Meratol formulation) while caffeine, black pepper extract (piperine) and niacin are also present. To minimize the side effects of concentrated red hot capsicum extract, the tablet has a specially designed coating. Capsicum has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or purity. Capsicum contains capsaicinoids, which are the family of compounds that cause the intense heat experienced when consuming chili peppers. Capsanicinoids help to promote thermogenesis, carbohydrate oxidation and stimulate fat oxidation. Capsanicinoids also have strong antioxidant properties. Numerous clinical trials support the effectiveness of capsicum in promoting weight loss. However, it appears that very high doses are required for it to be effective.

Clinical studies on Meratol ingredients

Again it is important to note that no clinical studies have so far appear to have been carried out on Meratol itself – only on separate ingredients.

Brown seaweed extract: ID-alG™ is made from brown algae by a company called Bioserae. ID-alG™ has been shown to inhibit two of the main digestive enzymes, lipase and amylase, by more than 50%. A monocentric, randomized, placebo controlled parallel double-blind clinical study sponsored by Bioserae was conducted on 60 overweight women, with a daily dose of 400 mg of ID-alG™ over 2 months. This clinical study demonstrated significant (p=0.047) weight management properties of ID-alG™ in women with BMI (Body Mass Index) ? 30. The study showed a 2.8 kg average weight loss after 2 months of treatment compared to placebo (+0.9 kg). No side effects were reported.

Prickly pear extract: A six-week trial was sponsored by Bioserae involved 68 female participants with metabolic syndrome and body mass index between 25 and 40. Many overweight and obese individuals suffer from metabolic syndrome. Half of the participants received 1.6 ml of prickly pear extract (NeOpuntia) per meal in the form of capsules, and the other half received a placebo. After 3 days, subjects taking NeOpuntia had a 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol compared to only 3% in those taking the placebo. In addition the HDL cholesterol levels were seen to improve in the NeOpuntia group, a factor for reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. At the end of the 6-week period 60% of the women taking NeOpuntia were diagnosed as being free from metabolic syndrome, whereas 30% of those solely on the well-balanced diet and placebo were metabolic syndrome free.

Cactus extract: In 2003 a double blind, placebo-controlled study suggested that cactus extract could increase fat excretion by 27%. In another clinical study in 2007 cactus extract significantly reduced the number of subjects (women aged 45 years or over) with metabolic syndrome (Linares E. Advances in Therapy. 24 (5); 2007).

Where To Buy Meratol?

Meratol is not currently available in stores. It can be purchased from the official Meratol website: www.meratol.com. The manufacturer ships word-wide.

Meratol conclusion

Meratol is made by a reputable company, Advanced Health Ltd, in Scotland, which has previously launched the popular diet pill Capsiplex and the carbohydrate blocker C-Plex60. The manufacturers of Meratol are open about its composition, so that it is possible to research the ingredients beyond the information provided on the website. However, there are no clear-cut quantities of the ingredients contained in this formula listed on the website. It is therefore impossible to evaluate if there are enough of any of the ingredients to be effective as a weight loss supplement at the recommended daily dose. In addition the manufacturer does not back its weight loss claims for Meratol with clinical trial data on the product itself, only on individual ingredients (from studies carried out by other companies or research groups).

Meratol contact details

Address: Meratol, Advanced Health Limited, 18 Payne Street, Port Dundas, Glasgow
Scotland, G4 0LF.

Telephone: 0844 855 2350 or +44 118 904 0349
Website: meratol.com