The True Role that Diet Supplements Play in Weight Loss

The use of dietary supplements to aide weight loss has become appealing to many overweight people. More than 50 dietary supplements, and more than 125 commercial combination products are available to help with weight loss. Chromium is one of the most popular weight loss supplements, but its efficacy and long-term safety are unknown. Other dietary supplements include guar gum and chitosan, which have been proven to be ineffective, and are not usually recommended by a doctor. Patients are also discouraged from using other dietary supplements, such as conjugated linoleic acid, ginseng, green tea, psyllium, St. John’s Wort, because of conflicting evidence on their efficacy.  However, patients are able to use these supplements when a physician closely monitors them.

Most diets are initially effective for achieving weight loss, but the weight is often regained after the diet, because the weight loss usually consists primarily of water and lean muscle tissue. Using dietary supplements will help decrease fatty tissue and increase the ratio of lean muscle. There are certain dietary supplements that can improve the body’s efficiency in metabolizing fats in the diet and supplements that increase caloric expenditure. Dietary supplements that may aide in weight loss are divided into three categories, which are, fat blocking, fat metabolizing, and lipogenisis inhibitors. Chitosan is one of the most popular dietary supplements that can be categorized as “fat blocking.”

The supplement Chitosan is an extract from the outer shell of shellfish. It has a positive electrical charge that draws negatively charged materials to it. Fats and bile acids are negatively charged, so they are attracted to Chitosan, which bounds them before they are able to enter the bloodstream. Fat metabolizing supplements include L-Carnitine, Gamma linolenic Acid, and many other lipotropics. Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) is a fatty nutrient that has been proved to assist weight loss. GLA increase brown fat activity, which burns the fat for fuel. Lipogenesis inhibitors are substances that slow the production of fats from the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins.  Hydoxycitric Acid(HCA) is a common lipogenesis inhibitor that has demonstrated the ability to inhibit the production of fats from carbohydrate calories.

There are many dietary supplements that are able to increase satiety. Certain dietary supplements contain sources of soluble fiber, which can absorb water within the gut, causing increased satiety and lower caloric intake. Guar gum is another supplement that may be able to increase satiety. The supplement can help individuals maintain weight loss, if four grams per day are taken. There are also many dietary supplements that may increase fat oxidation or reduce fat synthesis. Hydrocitric acid has the ability to inhibit mitochondrial citrate lyase, which can lead to an increase in acetyl coenzyme A production, and decreased fatty acid synthesis. HCA has been reported to cause weight loss when it is taken once daily.

Green tea is a supplement that increases fat oxidation and thermogenesis. However, green tea has not been found to cause significant weight loss when taken on a regular basis. Pyruvate causes weight loss when overweight individuals take six grams per day. There are many other dietary supplements that may be effective for weight loss. The dandelion supplements have been reported to increase water elimination.

The supplement has diuretic activity and cascara that acts like a common laxative. However, the supplement can have serious adverse effects if taken over an extended period of time. If an overweight person believes that dietary supplements may help in their weight loss process, it is best for them to consult a physician first. Most dietary supplements should not be taken, unless under the supervision of a doctor. A doctor will be able to help patients find the supplements that are safe and effective.