Muscletech Hydroxycut Advanced Review

Hydroxycut Advanced Review

Muscletech's Hydroxycut line of fat burners has been one of the most popular weight loss supplements. Originally based on the ECA stack, the original Hydroxycut had contained an effective, but potentially dangerous ingredient ephedra. When the FDA eventually banned ephedra, Muscletech had reformulated their ever popular diet pill and marketed "ephedra free" Hydroxycut. More Hydroxycut products were introduced including Hydroxycut Hardcore, and Hydroxycut Max (a diet pill just for women). However, in May of 2009, Muscletech made voluntary recall of their line of Hydroxycut diet pills. See more about the Hydroxycut Recall here.

The list of Hydroxycut diet pills recalled include:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

Basically, they recalled their entire line of Hydroxycut products. One would be foolish to think that Muscletech (Iovate) would let their popular line of Hydroxycut diet pills die off after the recall. After all the marketing dollars they've put into Hydroxycut, you would expect a quick new Hydroxycut to hit the market - combined with massive marketing of course. Barely a few months after the recall, Muscletech released newly formulated versions of their Hydroxycut fat burner including Hydroxycut Advanced, Hydroxycut Hardcore X, and Hydroxycut Max Advanced, which is a formula made for women.

Old Hydroxycut
Serving Size 2 Capsules
Servings Per Bottle 50
Calcium (as hydroxycitrate) 156mg
Chromium 133mcg
Potassium (as hydroxycitrate) 218mg
*Hydroxagen Plus 1.3g
**Hydroxy Tea 414mg

*Hydroxagen Plus 1.3g

• Garcinia cambogia extract
• Gymnema sylvestre extract
• Soy phospholipids
• Rhodiola rosea extract
• Withania somnifera extract

**Hydroxy Tea 414mg

• Green Tea extract
• Caffeine anhydrous
• White Tea Extract
• Oolong Tea Extract

Hydroxycut Advanced
Serving Size 2 Rapid-Release Capsules
Servings Per Bottle 75
Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 350 mg 
Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) 200 IU 
Zinc (as zinc oxide) 10 mg 67%
Hydroxycut Proprietary Blend 562 mg 

*Hydroxagen

• Cissus quadrangularis extract
• Goji extract
• Acerola extract
• Zeaxanthin 

**HydroxyPlus

• Caffeine anhydrous
• Pomegranate
• Blueberry
• Hibiscus
• Bilberry extract

Looking at the ingredients, you'll see that it is an entirely new formula consisting of all new ingredients, with the exception of caffeine anhydrous, as mentioned earlier. This formula should also last much longer as well - it only requires two servings per day, while the old formula required three servings per day. Gone are calcium, chromium and potassium, and now replaced with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Zinc. The proprietary blend has also gone under major changes as well. The old formula consisted of 1.7g of proprietary blend (Hydroxagen Plus and Hydroxy Tea). The Hydroxycut Advanced formula consists of a 562mg (or 0.562g) proprietary blend. Quite a difference indeed.

Hydroxagen plus is now simply "Hydroxyagen", and Hydroxy Tea is now "HydroxyuPlus". Looking at the ingredients, other than Caffeine anhydrous, the Hydroxycut Advanced formula has all new ingredients including: cissus quadrangularis extract, goji extract, acerola extract, zeaxanthin, pomegranate, blueberry, hibiscus, bilberry extract. In fact, I think it looks kind of fruity!

Hydroxycut Advanced Review

If you've used this diet pill, please share your Hydroxycut Advanced reviews and feedback here. One of the key new ingredients that you see mentioned quite often is Cissus quadrangularis. It is a medicinal plant indigenous to Asia and Africa. It has been used to treat many ailments. Cissus quadrangularis is found to have anti-inflammatory effects, and it is used to treat hemorrhoids and reduce pain, inflammation, and size of hemorrhoids [1]. The plant also has bone fracture healing properties, where it is found to help speed up bone healing and promote bone growth. [2]

Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) is being promoted as the new key ingredient in Hydroxycut Advanced that helps promote weight loss. Indeed, there are several clinical studies that have found CQ to have beneficial weight loss properties. In a 10 week randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study, 72 obese or overweight subjects participated. They were divided into three different groups and each group assigned to either a placebo, a Cissus quadrangularis formula, or Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination formula. The formulations were taken twice daily before meals. Aside from this, there were no changes made in diet or exercise of the subjects. Body weight, body fat, waist size, cholesterol, fasting blood glucose level were all taken at start, 4, 8, and 10 weeks. By the ned of the study at 10 weeks, the study found that the two active groups showed significantly improvements in all the measured variables compared to the placebo group. The study concluded that "the Cissus quadrangularis-only group showed significant reductions on all variables compared to the placebo group, and the Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination resulted in even larger reductions." [3]

Other studies had similar findings. In another CQ study, 168 overweight or obese individuals participated. They were given either a placebo or a Cissus quadrangularis formulation. No changes were made to diet or exercise. This study found that CQ has antioxidant properties, and also induced significant reductions in body weight, body fat, cholesterol, and triglycerides. It is also worth noting that while LDL (bad) cholesterol levels decreased, HDL (good) cholesterol levels increased significantly. The study concludes that CQ may have a mechanism for controlling appetite and promotes the increase of lean muscle mass, and it also supports weight loss and improves cardiovascular health. [4] Another study involving 123 overweight or obese individuals also had similar findings where CQ formulations was found to be useful in management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome. [5]

Looking at these clinical studies of CQ, it is clear the CQ is a beneficial ingredient for promoting weight loss, and along with caffeine anhydrous, forms the key weight loss combo of Hydroxycut Advanced. Looking beyond weight loss, Cissus quadrangularis also appears to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cholesterol lowering, and bone fracture healing properties. Speaking of antioxidants, Hydroxycut Advanced also comes with various other ingredients with antioxidant properties such as Goji, Acerola, Pomegranate, Blueberry, and more.

Comparing Hydroxycut Advanced to the previous version, the only thing the two has in common is their name and one ingredient - caffeine anhydrous. Everything else has been reformulated.

>> Click here for Hydroxycut Hardcore X
>> Click here for Hydroxycut Max Advanced for Women

1. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Mar 21;110(2):264-70. Epub 2006 Sep 26
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and venotonic effects of Cissus quadrangularis Linn.
Panthong A, Supraditaporn W, Kanjanapothi D, Taesotikul T, Reutrakul V.

2. Chopra SS, Patel MR, Gupta LP, Datta IC. Studies on Cissus quadrangularis in experimental fracture repair: effect on chemical parameters in blood Indian J Med Res. 1975 Jun;63(6):824-8.

3. Lipids Health Dis. 2008 Mar 31;7:12.
The use of a Cissus quadrangularis/Irvingia gabonensis combination in the management of weight loss: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.
Oben JE, Ngondi JL, Momo CN, Agbor GA, Sobgui CS.

4. Lipids Health Dis. 2007 Feb 4;6:4.
The effect of Cissus quadrangularis (CQR-300) and a Cissus formulation (CORE) on obesity and obesity-induced oxidative stress.
Oben JE, Enyegue DM, Fomekong GI, Soukontoua YB, Agbor GA.

5. Lipids Health Dis. 2006 Sep 2;5:24.
The use of a Cissus quadrangularis formulation in the management of weight loss and metabolic syndrome.
Oben J, Kuate D, Agbor G, Momo C, Talla X.

Oct 2009