There are many weight loss supplements available, all of them with the promise of removing excess fats without extremely busy people having to spend a lot of time at the gym. There are naturally many safety caveats associated with weight loss supplements. One such supplement is Citrimax, which contains hydroxycitric acid or HCA. How safe is Citrimax, and does it work?
Overview
Citrimax is a popular weight loss supplement and is derived from the rind of an Indian fruit called Garcinia cambogia. Citrimax, says its makers, blocks excess carbohydrate absorption. Citrimax is popular in the fitness community.
How It Works
Excess carbohydrate absorption can lead to the rise of triglyceride levels in the blood, as well as the accumulation of fat. Citrimax prevents this from happening by increasing the rate of carbohydrate breakdown in the body.
A study shows that Citrimax blocks the action of ATP-Citrate lyase, and thereby slowed down the conversion of carbohydrates to fat deposits. In addition, Citrimax decreases appetite.
Manufacturer
Citrimax was first introduced in the early 1990’s by Interhealth, which allowed it direct competition against the then popular ephedra. Ephedra was eventually banned as a weight loss supplement over a decade later, and Citrimax was thereby marketed as a weight loss aid with fewer side effects. However, there were very few positive reported results for Citrimax, leading to lower sales. Interhealth finally came up with SuperCitrimax, which is more popular today.
Active Ingredient
Citrimax contains hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, as its active ingredient. HCA is derived from citric acid and is available in tropical plants. Research does not conclusively show any effects on weight loss due to HCA.
FDA
Concerns about HCA led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to issue warnings against some products containing high amounts of HCA. In 2009, within weeks of the warnings, one manufacturer removed 14 of its products from store shelves. But products containing Super CitriMax and its chief components, garcinia cambogia and HCA, can still be found in scores of products. The FDA lacks the authority to regulate herbs in weight loss supplements.
Side Effects
HCA has been shown to lead to severe damage of the liver, and some patients have even required liver transplants due to intake of HCA. There has also been one reported death in the United States due to HCA. There are also reported problems with the heart, nerves and brain, gastrointestinal tract, and lungs following intake of HCA. These problems have been reported with Super CitriMax, which has nearly 3000 mg of HCA. On the other hand, lower concentrations have not been shown to have serious side effects.
Price
Prices will differ across merchants, but on average, a bottle of about 90 capsules of Citrimax will cost $15. Citrimax itself is a patented formula, and is available as part of many different health supplements. Citrimax is available from major online retailers as well as licensed offline retailers. Online health and fitness-related pharmacies also sell it. Super Citrimax in particular is available in drug stores and health food outlets.
Effectiveness
A double-blind study on Citrimax’s effect on humans showed no significant differences between subjects who took a placebo and those who took Citrimax. However, SuperCitrimax, a newer version of Citrimax, was shown to have a significant effect on weight loss. Studies also show that Citrimax can lengthen the time that athletes exercise, but without building up toxic lactic acid in muscles.
Reviews
Reviews of Citrimax have been mixed. There are those who claim that it has allowed them to lose a lot of weight, but many also have mentioned how they have experienced headaches and upset stomach because of Citrimax. Users recommend a complete change in diet and a lot of exercise for Citrimax to work.
Dr Oz
Dr. Oz featured Citrimax on his show as a miracle weight loss supplement. On his show, testimonials were shown where people attested to how Citrimax was three times more effective than diet or exercise alone.
