Weight loss supplements are everywhere. People who are overweight or obese can choose from a variety of weight loss supplements being offered in health stores and pharmacies. Some of them are prescription only medications while majority of these products can be purchased over the counter. Consumers can also decide what type of supplement to take such as weight loss pills, capsules, tonics, herbal concoctions or patches. But one of the common the questions asked by the consumer is, which of these weight loss supplements are effective?

Fish Oil as Weight Loss Supplement

The health benefits of fish oil was discovered 30 years ago and several studies have proven its effectiveness in controlling some diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and arthritis. It is also noted to reduce inflammation. The active compounds in fish oil are the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

The efforts to discover the other health benefits of fish oil, new studies have been conducted particularly its use in losing weight. There were previous studies showing the positive effects of omega-3 fatty acids in reducing weight in animals. This prompted a group of researchers to validate these results by conducting a study on humans.

Fish Oil Tested on Overweight and Obese

Researchers from The Cooper Institute in Dallas led by Dr. Laura F. DeFina studied the effects of fish oil on 128 overweight and obese individuals. Their findings were published in the December issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The 128 individuals were composed of men and women classified as overweight or obese. They were also required to undergo a diet and exercise program. The participants took 5 fish oil capsules every day for 24 weeks. Their daily intake of fish oil was equivalent to 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids. The other group was put on a placebo. Every participant was required to do at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week and 20 to 30 minutes of strength training at least twice a week.

The Findings

Dr. DeFina and her colleagues found out that the use of fish oil in weight reduction did not showed significant results. Though both groups lost weight after completing the study, the figures revealed that the amount of lost weight between those who took omega-3 supplement and those who took placebo capsules were almost in the same level. The omega-3 group lost an average of 5.2 kilograms while the placebo group lost 5.8 kilograms.

Those who completed the study lost at least 5 percent of their weight. The researchers noted an increase in omega-3 concentration in blood from those who took fish oil capsules. They said that, although it did not produce much benefit in weight loss, it also produced a positive effect in cardiovascular health of the individual. “Whereas one may not enhance weight loss by taking supplements with this level of omega-3 fatty acids, the protective cardiovascular effect should still be realized because of the sheer increase in blood concentrations of the fatty acids.” Dr. Defina also added that weight-loss programs associated with the use of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids seemed appropriate.

Other Benefits of Omega-3 in Fish Oil

Although fish oil may not be effective in accelerating your weight loss, there are other great health benefits that this supplement can give. Aside from helping ward off heard disease, it is also used for depression and psychological disorders. A UCLA study also noted that omega-3 fatty acids help prolong the lifespan of patients with coronary heart disease.

If you want to take natural omega-3 you can choose from salmon, bluefin tuna, mackerel, anchovies, herring, rainbow trout, crustaceans, and sardines. There are also Omega-3 capsules but be sure to buy only pure fish oil and with balanced DHA and EPA contents.

Most overweight people tend to try any weight loss product that they see in advertisements. These weight loss products often claims miracle cure to obesity problems and can offer fast weight loss effects. For those people who are not inquisitive may end up using these products which could pose serious health risks to them. Not all weight loss products available and offered in the market are safe to the consumers. In the previous years the FDA have been warning the public about the health hazards that can result from using weight loss products.

In the latest advisory of the FDA, people are discouraged from buying a popular slimming pill which is marketed as a pure herbal weight loss product. In the laboratory tests, the agency found out that the Slimming Beauty Bitter Orange Slimming Capsules from the Beautiful Health Inc. (formerly LL Health and Beauty) contains a prescription only ingredient. The regulatory agency was alarmed on the findings because the slimming pill was marketed as a natural weight loss supplement which can be taken by children. “The sample packet label is misleading because it indicates that it is a natural vitamin and calcium capsule for use in children as young as two years old,” said the FDA.

According to the agency, they have learned that there were several cases of serious side effects from the use of this product including elevated blood pressure, headaches, vomiting and insomnia. What makes this slimming pill a dangerous product? The FDA found out that there is an excessive amount of sibutramine in the product. The ingredient was not disclosed on its label. This ingredient has been used before by another supplement company but was later pulled out from the market because of adverse side effects to the users.

Sibutramine is a stimulant and should only be given to patients with valid prescriptions. This is used to promote and maintain weight loss in obese patients. Sibutramine should only be used under medical supervision because of its side effects. Obese patients under sibutramine medication should also undergo a reduced calorie diet and appropriate exercise program. Not all people can use sibutramine. It can be given to people with body mass index equal to 30kg/m2, or BMI equal to 27kg/m2 with other risk factors.

Unsupervised use of Slimming Beauty Pill Bitter Orange can lead to other serious side effects. Aside from the high blood pressure and stroke or heart attack risks, the ingredient in this weight loss product may also interact with other drugs. The active ingredient Sibutramine is contraindicated with MAO’s; medicines for colds, sinus, and breathing difficulties; medicines for anxiety, depression or other mental problems; and other weight loss drugs. It can also interact with some herbal medications.

The product is currently being sold in online stores and widely promoted in local community events making it accessible to any user. The FDA recommended that consumers should immediately discontinue the use of Slimming Beauty Pill Bitter Orange weight loss capsules. They have to contact their health care provider if they experience adverse side effects as a result of using the slimming product. The agency also urge the consumers to report to the FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program any side effects or health problems that the consumer experienced while using this weight loss product.

It is a fact that most of us are taking supplements to have a better health condition and a better life. These supplements may be taken to lose weight, increase stamina and strength, to build muscles or to enhance sexual performance. Regardless of its specific purpose, some of these may cause serious side effects because of the harmful ingredients included in these supplements.

The craze for dietary supplements is evidenced by the total number of consumers and the amount of money they spent for these products. According to the Nutrition Business Journal, more than half of the adult Americans have taken a form of supplement. Most of them even avoid taking prescription medications. In 2009 alone, it was estimated that $26.7 billion was spent on dietary supplements. There is no doubt that it also attracted more companies to produce and sell dietary supplements to the public.

And the problem is, some companies are not concerned on the welfare of its consumers. There are dietary supplement ingredients that are not safe for human consumption but still being included and marketed as an effective muscle enhancer or weight loss pill. Since the FDA has little control on supplements manufacturers, every product sold in the market have not been tested for its safety and effectiveness. Consumers only rely to the claims by the manufacturers which are usually overrated and biased. According to Consumer Report only 1/3 of the more than 54,000 supplements are proven safe.

In a TV interview, Consumer Reports editor Nancy Metcalf and NBC Doctor, Nancy Snyderman revealed that there at least 12 dangerous ingredients that the consumers may not be aware of. These can be very dangerous to the health of the users which according to them can cause serious health problems like heart diseases, liver and kidney problems. Most of these ingredients have little studies to back up its purported benefits and some of them have already been identified by the FDA as a possible health risk. “The real concern is that they have never been known to be beneficial but they may be harmful,” said Snyderman.

Out of 1,100 ingredients usually included in dietary supplements, the group identified 12 ingredients that are considered to be potentially harmful and linked to serious side effects based on clinical studies and case reports. They also found out that these supplement ingredients are included in products which are widely available in health stores and on online stores.

The 12 dangerous ingredients according to the Consumer Reports are aconite, bitter orange, chaparral, colloidal silver, coltsfoot, comfrey, country mallow, germanium, greater celandine, kava, lobelia, and yohimbe. Most of these were already identified by the FDA as potentially harmful ingredient many years ago but they were not able to remove products containing these substances from the market. In fact, most health stores are willing to cooperate with the FDA if there will be prohibitions or restrictions imposed for these substances.

In the weight loss industry, the FDA was able to at least ban one dangerous ingredient, the ephedrine alkaloids. Ephedra was used as a weight loss product but it resulted to many adverse side effects and complications including death. Two years ago, the agency issued warnings on several herbal weight loss pills. However, as long as the regulatory agency can’t enforce tight regulation on the dietary supplement industry, dangerous ingredients will always be a problem. For example, an overweight or obese person who wants to try quick solutions to their health problems would turn to dietary supplements rather than consulting a doctor for a weight loss prescription drug such as phentermine.