Leptopril, by Generix Labs, is marketed as a generic version of Leptoprin diet pills. According to the Leptopril website, the only difference between the two is price; Leptopril is $74.99 for a month's supply, and Leptoprin is $153 for a month's supply, as of 2010. Both pills are marketed as a highly powerful diet pill that is suitable only for people who are "significantly overweight," meaning they have at least 20 lbs. to lose. While it may sound like a "magic pill" on the surface, some facts about Leptopril may cause doubt as to the effectiveness and safety of the product.
The Pills
The Leptopril website does not list the ingredients of the pill, but a third-party website lists the ingredients from the actual pill label. The bulk of the formula consists of Leptopril's proprietary blend, which does not give the amounts of each individual ingredient. The blend is a mixture of herbs and extracts such as Kola nut, Yerba Mate, turmeric and Eucommia, but no evidence exists that definitively links any of these herbs to weight loss. The formula also contains Guarana and green tea, which are sources of caffeine, but additional caffeine is also listed as the fourth ingredient. Leptopril also contains a laxative in the form of Damiana. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the exact same pill is also sold as Anorex.
The Company
Leptopril is made by Generix Laboratories, which is a subsidiary of A.G. Waterhouse, which makes Leptoprin and Anorex. A.G. Waterhouse, in turn, is a subsidiary of Klein-Becker USA, which was named along with A.G. Waterhouse in a complaint by the US Federal Trade Commission. The complaint alleges that the effectiveness claims made by the companies are false, the research cited by the companies is faulty, and at least one person with the title of "Doctor" in advertisements is actually a Ph.D., not a medical doctor. In their response, the parent company denies all allegations, claiming that their statements of effectiveness contain language that is "inherently vague" and cannot be quantified. They do not defend or stand by their products, but only their statements.
The Study
According to Generix Laboratories, Leptopril is the exact same formulation as Leptoprin. According to the 2006 study by Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D., on the A.G. Waterhouse Leptoprin website, one of the main ways Leptoprin works is by delaying the emptying of the stomach after meals. During the study, participants were told to take the pill 15 minutes before each meal but not change their eating or exercise habits. After 45 days, the average weight loss was 11 lbs. The other way Leptorpin supposedly works is by increasing energy with a group of stimulants called methylxanthines. According to the study, Leptoprin contains several sources of methylxanthines, which produce "mental clarity" and stimulate the body to burn stored fat for energy.
Reality
According to a study by A. G. Dulloo and D. S. Miller published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 1986, methylxanthines do not trigger weight loss unless given in conjunction with ephedrine, which was banned in the U.S. in 2004. A study by H. Osswald and J. Schnermann in a 2011 edition of the "Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology" shows that methylxanthines may have a diuretic effect, which could account for a temporary loss of water weight when combined with the laxative Damiana. Mowrey's Leptoprin study cited a separate French study in touting the importance of delayed stomach emptying, but since Leptoprin itself was used in the French study, the results cannot be trusted as being impartial.
Buyer Beware
The main mechanism of Leptopril is that it makes you feel full longer after a meal and gives you energy by way of stimulants. Both effects can be achieved naturally. Eating a diet high in fiber will make you feel more full longer, and on less food. Eating a balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables can give you more energy by filling nutritional gaps left by an unhealthy diet. If you decide to try Leptopril anyway, consult your doctor first to make sure the pills will not interfere with any medications or medical conditions you may have.
References
- eVitamins: Leptopril™ by Generix Laboratories
- A.G. Waterhouse: Leptoprin
- Federal Trade Commission: Ads for Various Diet Supplements and Topical Gels Don't Cut the Fat, Says the FTC
- Generix Labs: Leptopril - FAQ's
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition": The Thermogenic Properties of Ephedrine/Methylxanthine Mixtures: Animal Studies; A. G. Dulloo, D. S. Miller; 1986
- PubMed.gov: Methylxanthines and the Kidney
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