Accelis is marketed as the " incredible new way to help you lose weight!" Claimed as a "a revolutionary new doctor-formulated weight-loss supplement containing a clinically proven and patented weight-loss ingredient in a softgel delivery system" that is stimulant free, and rapid release formula that will deliver accelerated weight loss. If you've paid any attention to Accelis at all, you've no doubt seen its claim of a 8 week clinical study where the subjects lost an average of 10.65lbs using the main ingredient of Accelis. The claims goes something like this:
"In an 8-week clinical study, subjects using the key ingredient in Accelis lost an average of 10.65 pounds, as compared to subjects using a placebo, who lost an average of only 5.87 pounds. Both groups followed a calorie-controlled diet."
There was no proper citation of the study - no title of the study, no names of the researchers, no published date, and no mention of any peer reviewed publications where this might have been published. Besides, this "study" wasn't even done on Accelis, but on one of its main ingredients Lagerstroemia Speciosa. I took some pains searching for this so called study, but did not come up with anything, although I did find various real studies done on Lagerstroemia Speciosa that are published in peer reviewed journals. More on that later.
It helps block the
cancer-promoting actions of carcinogens, ultraviolet light from
the skin, stomach, small intestine, liver or lung.
The polyphenols in
green tea extract shows promising results supporting weight
loss through increasing energy expenditure.
Wulong Tea and weight loss - With the many proven health benefits of Oolong tea, no wonder it's gained such popularity. But of course, I think the major attraction and selling point that's made Oolong tea so popular in the west is its weight loss benefits. There are many studies that have demonstrated the weight loss benefits of drinking Oolong tea regularly. But I can safely say that drinking almost any tea will convey similar weight loss benefits, not just Oolong tea. Regardless, it is noteworthy to mention some studies showing the weight loss benefits of Wulong tea.
In a study performed on female Japanese subjects, the effect of Oolong tea on energy expenditure was tested. The subjects consumed water, Oolong tea, and green tea, where their energy expenditures were measured afterwards. The study found that after 2 hours, the energy expenditure increased 10% for oolong tea, and 4% for green tea compared to control group [1].
Another study tested Oolong tea's effect on the increase in metabolic rate and fat oxidation in men. This study involved 12 men consuming 4 beverages: water, full strength tea, half strength tea, and water containing caffeine. The study found that energy expenditure increased by 3.4% for the full strength tea and fat oxidation increased by 12% [1].
The main ingredient in Accelis that has been so hyped about is Lagerstroemia Speciosa I. (Extract Standardized for 3% Corosolic Acid). As mentioned above, we could not find the study so often mentioned in Accelis advertising. However, we did come up with several studies done on this item.
Lagerstroemia Speciosa is a tropical tree native to south Asia that grows up to 20 meters tall. Its leaves are more commonly known as banaba, which have been used commonly in the Philippines to treat diabetes and kidney related diseases [3]. Banaba began attracting the attention of scientists in the 1990's, and there has been various studies performed on this herb since. Many different studies have confirmed the benefits of this herb for being anti diabetic [3], antioxidant and anti inflammatory [2], and anti adipogenic (anti fat producing) [3]. The only issue that I have with the studies is that they were mostly done on mice, and I had a tough time finding any studies that were performed on human subjects.
Free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L). Priya TT, Sabu MC, Jolly CI.
Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amala Nagar, Thrissur, 680 555 Kerala, India.
This was a in vitro study done to determine the antioxidant and anti inflammatory activity of the Lagerstroemia speciosa leaf extracts. Antioxidant activity was measured by lipid peroxidation, and anti-inflammatory activity was examined using the carrageenan-induced acute inflammation and formalin-induced (chronic) paw edema models. They concluded from their results that the anti-inflammatory activity is attributed to the free radical scavenging activities of the herb. [2]
Anti obesity activity of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves on female KK-Ay mice. Suzuki Y, Unno T, Ushitani M, Hayashi K, Kakuda T.
Central Research Institute, Itoen, Ltd., Shizuoka, Japan.
In this study, female mice showing remarkable body weight gain were used to examine the anti obesity effect of dietary banaba extract. The 5 week old mice were fed a control diet or a test diet containing an extract from banaba leaves for 12 weeks. They found that body weight gain and adipose (fat) tissue were lowered significantly in the banaba diet group compared to the control group. The banaba diet group had a significant decrease to 65% of the control level in total hepatic lipid content. The results of this study suggests that banaba extract has a beneficial effect on obesity. [4]
Dietary corosolic acid ameliorates obesity and hepatic steatosis in KK-Ay mice.
Yamada K, Hosokawa M, Yamada C, Watanabe R, Fujimoto S, Fujiwara H, Kunitomo M, Miura T, Kaneko T, Tsuda K, Seino Y, Inagaki N.
Department of Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
This was another study done on rats that investigated the inhibitory effects of banaba leaf extract (corosolic acid) on the development of obesity and hepatic steatosis in KK-Ay mice, a genetically obese mouse model. 6 week old mice were fed a high fat diet for 9 weeks either with a banaba extract, or without. The 9 week results showed that rats fed with banaba extract had 10% lower body weight, and 15% lower total fat compared to the control group. The treated group also displayed improved insulin sensitivity. The study concluded that treatment with banaba extract contributes to reduced body weight and body fat in mice.
There are plenty of similar types of studies done on Lagerstroemia Speciosa (corosolic acid) that show similar positive results for fat reduction and weight loss; however, these studies all involved mice, and I was unable to find studies involving human subjects. Despite the apparent lack of studies using human subjects, the current anecdotal evidence suggests that Accelis can be helpful in weight loss and reducing body fat. However, it's difficult to say if the user reported weight loss results are because of Lagerstroemia Speciosa, or the tea blend, but probably a combination of all the ingredients.
Instead of wasting money on another over hyped diet pill, why not spend much less and learn the true method of long term, healthy weight loss that will lead to permanent weight loss results.
Instead of spending money on another diet pill, why not spend much less and learn the true method of long term, healthy weight loss that will lead to permanent weight loss results.
1. J Nutr. 2001 Nov;131(11):2848-52.
Oolong tea increases metabolic rate and fat oxidation in men.
Rumpler W, Seale J, Clevidence B, Judd J, Wiley E, Yamamoto S, Komatsu T, Sawaki T, Ishikura Y, Hosoda K.
Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, MD 20705,
2. Inflammopharmacology. 2008 Aug;16(4):182-7.
Free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L).
Priya TT, Sabu MC, Jolly CI.
Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amala Nagar, Thrissur, 680 555 Kerala, India.
3. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2007 Dec;4(4):401-7.
Antidiabetes and Anti-obesity Activity of Lagerstroemia speciosa.
Klein G, Kim J, Himmeldirk K, Cao Y, Chen X.
College of Osteopathic Medicine, Edison Biotechnology Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Department of Biological Science and Department of Biomedical Science, Ohio University, USA.
4. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1999 Dec;45(6):791-5
Antiobesity activity of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves on female KK-Ay mice.
Suzuki Y, Unno T, Ushitani M, Hayashi K, Kakuda T.
Central Research Institute, Itoen, Ltd., Shizuoka, Japan.
5. Biol Pharm Bull. 2008 Apr;31(4):651-5.
Dietary corosolic acid ameliorates obesity and hepatic steatosis in KK-Ay mice.
Yamada K, Hosokawa M, Yamada C, Watanabe R, Fujimoto S, Fujiwara H, Kunitomo M, Miura T, Kaneko T, Tsuda K, Seino Y, Inagaki N.
Department of Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin-Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
