Posted on: Saturday, November 6, 2004
PRESCRIPTIONS
CortiSlim takes back unproven claims on cortisol, weight loss
By Amy Tousman
Q. Can Cortislim help me lose weight by controlling my response to stress?
A. CortiSlim, a widely advertised dietary supplement, claimed until recently to produce weight loss by blocking action of the hormone cortisol. Federal regulators have taken regulatory action against the marketers of Cortislim for false advertising.
Cortisol is a hormone released by the body in response to stress. Frequent stress causes cortisol levels to stay elevated. This may contribute somewhat to excess fat deposition in the stomach area and weight gain.
There's no evidence CortiSlim reduces cortisol or that lowering cortisol causes weight loss. No supplement can target fat specifically from the stomach area.
Even if cortisol is involved in weight gain, it's role is small. Inactivity and eating too much heavy food plays a far bigger role. With proper diet, exercise, and stress-management techniques, cortisol levels normalize and weight loss can be achieved.
Two of CortiSlim's ingredients, green tea extract and bitter orange, contain caffeine. Caffeine increases urine production, causing water-weight loss. Caffeine speeds up calorie burning slightly, and suppresses the appetite temporarily. This does not result in long-term weight loss.
Another ingredient in CortiSlim, magnolia bark, has a tranquilizing effect, but there's no research showing it controls cortisol. Chromium, banaba leaf and vanadyl have small effects on blood sugar levels. CortiSlim contains too little of these substances to be useful.
Based on complaints by dissatisfied consumers, the Federal Trade Commission has charged the marketers of CortiSlim with making false or unproven claims.
The allegedly false and unproven claims targeted by the FTC include promoting CortiSlim as the answer for anyone wanting to lose weight; blaming cortisol for all weight gain; claiming CortiSlim reduces cortisol levels, producing weight loss of 10 to 50 pounds in virtually all users; causes weight loss from the stomach and thighs; produces permanent weight loss; and is backed by 15 years of scientific research.
CortiSlim has agreed to stop making the claims alleged in the FTC complaint. Future ads will be limited to claims supported by scientific studies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is targeting unproven claims on CortiSlim's label and product literature. They include claims that CortiSlim eliminates cravings, controls appetite, burns calories more efficiently and diminishes stress eating.
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 questions to: Prescriptions, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; fax 535-8170; e-mail islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com. This column is not meant to provide medical advice.
