Diet supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and botanicals that are purported to aid in weight loss. FDA regulations for diet supplements are much more lenient than those for drugs, so it is important for consumers to research the safety and efficacy of various diet supplements before using them.
Hoodia
Hoodia gordonii is a plant native to the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa that has been used by Kalahari Bushmen to suppress their appetites on long hunting treks. Dried hoodia extract is made into diet supplements and marketed as an appetite suppressant to aid in weight loss. According to the National Institutes of Health, no reliable studies exist that prove hoodia's effectiveness in weight loss and its safety profile is unknown.
Bitter Orange
Bitter Orange is a plant native to Africa, but is grown throughout the Mediterranean and temperate parts of the North America. Traditionally, bitter orange was used by indigenous people to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Today, the peel and dried fruit are consumed in capsules and extracts for weight loss. Bitter orange contains the chemical synephrine, which acts in a way similar to the chemical in ephedra. Ephedra is a weight loss ingredient that is banned by the FDA.
Ephedra (Ma Huang)
Ephedra, or Ma Huang, is a Chinese herb that stimulates the nervous system and cardiovascular system to provide users with increased energy and metabolism. Diet supplements containing ephedra were banned by the FDA in 2004, as evidence arose suggesting a link between ephedra consumption and cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. However, diet supplements containing ephedra are still marketed by many companies under the name ma huang.
Green Tea
Green tea is produced from the leaves of the camellia sinesis plant. It is purported to have a variety of health benefits, including increased weight loss. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that little scientific data exists to determine green tea's efficacy in weight loss, but any metabolism increase is probably due to the caffeine content in green tea. Green tea diet supplements can take the form of capsules or tea leaves for brewing and drinking.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Conjugated linoleic acid is not an herb, but rather an amino acid naturally found in animal products like meat and milk, and synthetically reproduced and marketed as a weight loss supplement. A 1999 study published in the American Journal of Physiology reported that conjugated linoleic acid supplementation in obese mice resulted in rapid weight loss, but also fat accumulation in the liver. According to Martha Belury, professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University, conjugated linoleic acid appears to decrease body fat in humans, but its safety profile is still undetermined. Consumers should talk with their health care providers before taking conjugated linoleic acid or any other diet supplements.
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