PRESCRIPTIONS
Diet pills' caffeine can be tricky
By Amy Tousman
Q. Will taking an ephedra-free fat-burning pill help me lose weight?
A. With the recent death from multiple organ failure of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Belcher, concerns about the safety of food supplements containing ephedra are making headlines. Ephedra is found in many products claiming to be "fat burners," including the one Belcher was taking. The Food and Drug Administration has documented 100 deaths and more than 1,400 adverse events involving people who were taking supplements containing ephedra. These events included heart attacks, strokes, seizures and psychotic episodes.
Advertisements for many fat-burning supplements say these products help you lose weight by increasing your metabolism so that you burn calories faster. While fat burners containing ephedra should be avoided, this does not mean those without ephedra are safe.
Products such as Hydroxycut EFF and Go Lean are ephedra-free but make the same fat-burning claims as products containing ephedra.
The key ingredient here is caffeine: One dose of Hydroxycut EFF has 200 mg of caffeine in the form of guarana extract. That's equivalent to two cups of coffee — and the recommended dose is three times daily, akin to drinking six cups of full-caffeine coffee. The product also contains hydroxycitric acid, which may temporarily prevent calories from being stored as fat. Problem is, it's toxic in some animals. Toxicity in humans has not been studied.
Go Lean is also loaded with caffeine, extracted from guarana seed extract and black tea leaves.
Although caffeine's stimulant effect causes these "fat burners" to suppress the appetite, the supplements can have side-effects, including nervousness, sleeplessness, irritability, irregular heartbeat and stomach upset. Coffee increases these effects. This can be dangerous, especially for those with high blood pressure.
Caffeine can help burn fat in marathoners while they are running. Unfortunately, it does not help the rest of us burn fat.
Ephedra-containing products such as Xenadrine and ephedra-free products have something else in common. Their labels state that for "best results, use as part of a reduced-fat diet and exercise program." Of course, healthy eating and exercise will result in some weight and fat loss without taking these products.
You are safer losing weight by making lifestyle changes that benefit your health as well as your waistline. Combining low-calorie, healthful foods with exercise will give you energy and help you lose weight. If you like the stimulate effects of caffeine, enjoy a a cup of Kona coffee.
Amy Tousman is a registered dietitian with the Health Education Center of Straub Clinic and Hospital.
Hawai'i experts in traditional medicine, naturopathic medicine and diet take turns writing the Prescriptions column.
Send your questions to: Prescriptions, Island Life, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; fax 535-8170; e-mail islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com. This column is not intended to provide medical advice.
