Dexatrim Max is a popular over-the-counter dietary supplement marketed as a weight loss product. Products contain high amounts of B vitamin, certain minerals and a herbal blend of several ingredients designed to help people lose weight. As with all dietary supplements, product claims have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and it is important to speak with a doctor before using Dexatrim.
Complex 7 Proprietary Herbal Blend
A single serving of Dexatrim Max contains 650 mg of an herbal blend of seven ingredients designed for weight loss. The blend includes green tea and oolong tea extracts, epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, caffeine, Asian ginseng root and 7-keto. EGCG is the primary active ingredient in green tea leaf extracts that acts as an antioxidant, protecting the body from oxidative and free radical damage and it may help in weight loss by promoting fat oxidation, according to the website phytochemicals.info. Green and oolong tea and Asian ginseng root may provide many health benefits, including weight loss promotion. Caffeine is a stimulant that increases metabolism, which may also assist in weight loss. 7-keto is a naturally occurring metabolite of the hormone DHEA, a hormone made in the body that is a precursor of male and female sex hormones. According to the University of Illinois Medical Center, 7-keto increases calories burned by the body through activation of liver enzymes.
B Vitamins
Dexatrim Max is rich in a variety of B vitamins including vitamin B-6 and B-12, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. B vitamins help keep the skin, hair, brain and immune system healthy and are required by the body for energy metabolism, red blood cell formation and new cell or neurotransmitter production. A single serving -- 2 capsules -- contains 1,000 percent of daily value of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B-12, based on a 2,000 calorie diet. A serving also contains 500 percent and 250 percent daily value of vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid, according to dexatrim.com.
Chromium
A single serving of Dexatrim Max contains 200 mcg or 167 percent daily value of the mineral chromium, based upon a 2,000 calorie diet, reports dexatrim.com. Chromium is important for blood glucose control as it enhances the activity of insulin and helps the body obtain energy from glucose, according to Harvard Health Publications.
Other Ingredients
The remaining ingredients in Dexatrim Max include microcrystalline cellulose, gelatin, silicon dioxide, stearic acid, titanium dioxide, magnesium stearate and FD&C Red #40 and Blue #1, according to dexatrim.com. These ingredients help to maintain the structural integrity of the capsules, add color and texture or act as preservatives to increase the shelf life of the product. FD&C Red #40 and Blue #1 are common coloring agents, used in a plethora of products.
References
- Dexatrim: Dexatrim Max Complex 7
- Harvard Health Publications: Listing of Vitamins
- University of Illinois Medical Center: 7-Keto: A Better Way To Take DHEA?
- Phytochemicals.info: Epigallocatechin gallate
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Asian Ginseng
- AdvoCare: Nutrient Glossary
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