Marketing claims for fat burners promise to help you burn more calories, enhance metabolism, increase energy levels, melt fat and lose weight. Combinations of ingredients such as bitter orange, green tea extract, caffeine and others may appear in a product. Fat burner herbal components can cause hypertension, bleeding problems and damage to the heart or blood vessels, and they can increase your risk of stroke or heart attack. Please consult a doctor before using fat burners.
Bitter Orange
Fat burner product labels may refer to bitter orange as Citrus aurantium or its active chemical synephrine. Bitter orange supplements may increase blood pressure and heart rate, and cause heart attack or stroke. Caffeine combined with bitter orange increases these risks. Fat burners may contain additional sources of caffeine such as guarana or yerba mate. Read product labels to avoid the combination of bitter orange and caffeine. Effectiveness of bitter orange for weight loss remains uncertain and the supplement may not be safe. The synephrine content and dosages of bitter orange products vary widely. Many dangerous drug and supplement interactions occur with bitter orange. Seizures may occur if combined with MAOI antidepressants. Consult a doctor before taking this supplement.
Green Tea Extract
Green tea extract, derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, is a source of caffeine and the polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Manufacturing claims suggest that green tea extract combined with a dose of 400 mg epigallocatechin-3-gallate plus caffeine may help burn more fat and calories. According to MedlinePlus.com, insufficient evidence exists to rate effectiveness for the use of green tea for weight loss. Caffeine in green tea stimulates the central nervous system and heart, and together with bitter orange may cause heart damage, stroke or heart attack. Green tea extract adversely interacts with drugs and supplements, so people with certain medical conditions should not take green tea. Consult a doctor before use.
Ephedra
The plant Ephedra sinica contains the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Internet advertisements for the sale of ephedra weight loss products continue to appear online although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of ephedra supplements in 2004. The FDA ban was prompted by serious adverse health effects reported from ephedra use. Ephedra supplements are linked to seizures, heart attack, stroke and death. Your doctor can share with you details on the dangers of ephedra.
Dietary Supplements
The FDA does not analyze dietary supplements for safety, effectiveness, purity nor quality prior to marketing. Safety assurance of supplements is the responsibility of the manufacturer. The manufacturer also decides dosages for supplements, which also does not require FDA approval. Other than the manufacturer's responsibility to ensure safety, no law limits a serving size or amount of a nutrient in dietary supplements. For these reasons, it is important to consult with your doctor before taking any supplements.
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