Bitter Orange Extract - Advantra Z
Advantra Z is a weight loss ingredient used in numerous diet pills. Its main ingredient is bitter orange extract along with some protein, carbs, omega 3 & 6, sodium and Vitamins A & C. Advantra Z is not a weight loss in itself, but it is used as an active ingredient in various diet pills. While Advantra Z is billed as a safe and effective alternative to ephedra, there's little scientific evidence to support this. Whether Advantra Z is an effective weight loss aid is debatable, especially since its main ingredient citrus aurantium (Synephrine) is still relatively unproven.
On the other hand, a University of California study done on Advantra Z and Xenadrine EFX found that Advantra Z had little to no cardiovascular stimulant actions. In this study, ten healthy adults participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, three arm crossover study involving Advantra Z, Xenadrine EFX, and a placebo for control. When the results were compared to placebo, the study found that only Xenadrine EFX increased blood pressure and heart rate. They stated that Ephedra-free weight loss supplements have significant cardiovascular stimulant actions, similar to ephedra, but these effects are not likely caused by citrus aurantium alone, where an eight fold higher dose of synephrine (Advantra Z) had no effect on blood pressure. They attributed this effect to caffeine and other stimulants. The aim of this study was not to test whether bitter orange is an effective weight loss aid, but whether it has health risks similar to ephedra. Based on their results, the only conclusion they could draw on was that Advantra Z had no apparent effect on blood pressure. [3] My interpretation of this is that while Advantra Z did not seem to have any effect on blood pressure, it's likely that it also has limited stimulant activities - as the study stated "...significant cardiovascular stimulant actions, similar to ephedra... are not likely caused by C. aurantium... but may be attributable to caffeine and other stimulants".
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Citrus Aurantium - Synephrine HCL Studies
Citrus
aurantium has a rare combination of 5 amines: synephrine,
N-methyltyramine, hordenine, octopamine, and tyramine,
which "stimulates beta-3 cell receptors"
that could lead to increase in your metabolic rate
without affecting heart rate or blood pressure.
In a clinical review of various studies done on citrus aurantium, the researchers reviewed numerous available clinical weight loss trials, physiological studies, and case reports of bitter orange. From their review of synephrine studies, they found some promising evidence for synephrine in treatment of obesity, but concluded that more rigorous studies are needed to draw adequate conclusions. [4] There are several such types of clinical reviews performed on citrus aurantium studies [5], and they all post similar conclusions of needing more studies to draw more concrete conclusions. I wonder why they did not just design a weight loss study themselves and test it out? Food for thought. =)
Below is another citrus aurantium study conducted by the department of physiology, medicine and pathology at the Georgetown university that had favorable findings
Citrus aurantium as a thermogenic, weight-reduction replacement for ephedra: an overview.
The theory that beta agonists, especially beta 3 agonists, can affect body weight and fat mass is well accepted. Ephedrine has proven time and time again that it is an effective weight loss agent through its ability to increase thermogenesis and quench appetite. However, the publicity concerning adverse reactions has led to its gradual withdrawal from use by many despite the perceived consequences of obesity. Many companies are now substituting Citrus aurantium for ephedra in their formulations.
Citrus aurantium, an agent containing beta agonists, has been reported to aid in weight loss in two studies and increase thermogenesis, at least to some extent, in three studies. Colker et al. (1999) reported that in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of Citrus aurantium, caffeine and St John's Wort, lost significant amounts of total body weight while on a strict diet and exercise. Those in the placebo and control groups who also were on the same restricted diet did not. However, intergroup analysis showed no statistical significance among the weight changes in the three groups. In contrast, the loss of fat mass in the test group was significantly greater compared to the placebo and control groups.
Jones describes an open labeled study performed on 9 women. The subjects showed a mean of 0.94 kg lost during the first week when no product was given and 2.40 kg during the second week when a Citrus aurantium product was taken. Body weight losses were statistically greater during the second week compared to the first week. Since most clinicians would agree that the most weight loss should occur initially coinciding with a greater fluid loss during the first week, these differences are even more remarkable. Three studies reported increased metabolic rates when ingesting Citrus aurantium products, however, at least two of these studies were acute. At present, Citrus aurantium may be the best thermogenic substitute for ephedra. However, more studies are needed to establish this definitively. [6]
There are also studies which found no evidence to show that bitter orange (synephrine) is an effective weight loss aid, and that synephrine is only effective at high doses. In a another Georgetown University study, the researchers concluded that: "there is little evidence that products containing C. aurantium are an effective aid to weight loss. Synephrine has lipolytic effects in human fat cells only at high doses, and octopamine does not have lipolytic effects in human adipocytes." [7]
Citrus Aurantium Synephrine Side Effects
Most of the marketing material you read about citrus aurantium and bitter orange will state that it is a safe replacement for ephedra with similar weight loss benefits, but little to no side effects. However this is not the case. In a severe (but rare) case, a 38 year old patient had a stroke associated with a diet supplement containing synephrine and caffeine. [1] Another study also reported a possible incidence of myocardial infarction (heart attack) associated with the use of citrus aurantium. It involved a 55 year old woman who was admitted to the emergency room for chest pains. The patient had ingested a diet pill containing 300mg of bitter orange. So there may be some cardiovascular risks from using synephrine. [8] Other studies have also found that consuming bitter orange synephrine led to a increase in blood pressure and heart rate for up to 5 hours after a single dose of bitter orange. [9]
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