ULTRA BURN
April 1, 1999
Label Review
April 1999; Volume 1: 40
ULTRA BURN
| Label Information | ||
"All Natural Diet and Exercise Plan" |
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| Suggested Use | ||
As a dietary supplement take 2 caplets with a full glass of water 1 hour before lunch and dinner. This product is intended to be used in conjunction with a well-balanced diet and exercise plan. |
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| Supplement Facts | ||
| Serving size: 2 caplets |
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| Chromium (niacin-bound) |
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| Garcinia cambogia fruit extract (50% hydroxycitrate) |
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| Ginseng root standardized extract (Panax ginseng) |
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| Proprietary Herbal Blend |
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(contains naturally occurring caffeine) |
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Daily value not established Each serving contains the approximate caffeine equivalent of one cup of coffee Ultra Burn is a trademark of Thompson Medical Co, Inc, PO Box 024408, West Palm Beach, FL 33402-4408 |
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| ____________________________________________________________________________ | ||
Price: $6.75, 30 caplets
Analysis by Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD
Chromium: Two of three clinical studies of chromium and weight loss demonstrate improvements in body composition in terms of improved lean body mass, but clinically significant weight loss attributable to chromium has not been demonstrated.1 Studies of the effect of chromium on body composition have used doses of 200-400 mcg/d, so the dose in this supplement is low in comparison.
Garcinia: A recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 135 overweight adults treated with hydroxycitric acid (active ingredient in Garcinia cambogia) 1000 mg tid ac x 12 weeks found that patients in both groups lost weight, but there were no significant differences between the two groups in weight loss.2 Previous trials (most published in non-peer-reviewed journals) have been mixed.
Ginseng: There is no evidence that ginseng facilitates weight loss.
Guarana and green tea: Guarana and green tea both contain caffeine, a common ingredient in weight-loss products, but there is no evidence that caffeine facilitates weight loss.
Comments
What a mixed message—the statement on the label that the caplets should be used with a diet and exercise plan despite the caveat that "The dietary supplement in this plan is for nutritional use only and does not contribute to loss of weight or body fat" reminds me of the children’s story in which a woman claims to be able to make soup from a stone, then proceeds to make a delicious offering from ingredients wheedled one by one from villagers as flavorings for the magic "stone" soup.
The diet and exercise plan enclosed, if followed, would be expected to result in weight reduction; it is a perfectly reasonable version of the weight-loss plans in "women’s magazines," largely unchanged from the 1950s. (OK, rice cakes and salsa are modern touches.)
References
1. Anderson RA. Effects of chromium on body composition and weight loss. Nutr Rev 1998;56:266-270.
2. Heymsfield SB, et al. Garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid) as a potential antiobesity agent. JAMA 1998;280:1596-1600.
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