Forskolin is the active compound of Coleus forskohlii, a member of the mint family. The extract from this Asian plant is a common active ingredient in weight loss supplements.
It is native to India and has been used to treat heart disease, colic and respiratory disorders in ancient medicine. Forskolin is thought to release stored body fat to make it more available for use as energy. The evidence shows that effects are different between men and women. Men have shown some weight loss on a trial of forskolin while women on a similar trail did not have any changes in weight. At the moment, the evidence is inconsistent, and results from taking this supplement can be unpredictable. The evidence regarding men is showing promise as a weight loss supplement, but it is not strong enough to recommend.
Chitosan
Chitosan is made from the powdered shells of crabs, shrimp, and lobsters. It is thought that chitosan soaks up some of the fat in the stomach and stops it from being digested and absorbed into the body. Chitosan passes though the body without being absorbed (just like fibre!). The soaked up fat in the chitosan is also expected to pass straight though the digestive system. Preventing the body from absorbing fat may also prevent absorption of important nutrients such as vitamin A, E, D and K. There is little evidence surrounding chitosan and it has not been proven to be effective in weight loss. It may also lead to further health conditions if your body is unable to absorb nutrients properly.
Chromium picolinate
Chromium is an essential nutrient used in the breakdown of carbohydrate, fat and protein into particles small enough for the body to absorb. Chromium is known to increase the activity of insulin and improve glucose metabolism, which can assist the management of diabetes. Chromium is included in weight loss supplements as it is thought to stimulate the production of heat by the body and decrease appetite. Chromium picolinate is one of the several forms of chromium sold as a weight loss supplement. At this point in time, the evidence for using chromium picolinate as an effective weight loss supplement is insignificant and inconsistent.
Saffron (Satireal®)
Satiereal® is a chemical that is derived from an extract of saffron. Saffron is thought to have an effect on mood by increasing serotonin (the happy hormone). Serotonin is believed to be linked with carbohydrates. In theory, eating carbohydrate stimulates the release of serotonin which makes you less likely to crave carbohydrate at your next meal time. For example, if you ate two pieces of bread at lunch, serotonin will be released to make you feel happy and satisfied, because of these feelings you are unlikely to crave more bread or carbohydrate dense foods over the afternoon.
It is expected that saffron will cause the same effect on serotonin as carbohydrate. The antidepressant-like effect is expected to improve mood and reduce snacking or desire to eat. Controlling frequency of snacking may then result in better control of body weight. Currently, there is little evidence to show that there is a connection between saffron extract and weight loss.
Research showed that women have had some success taking Satiereal® as a weight loss supplement to control appetite, but so did the women who took a placebo. It shows promise in controlling appetite while a person makes dietary changes however it will not result in excessive weight loss alone. One thing we do know about saffron is that double the recommended dose (60mg) can cause nausea, vomiting and headaches and exceedingly higher doses may be toxic. If you love saffron, continue to use it in your food and enjoy it!
Caralluma
Caralluma is an edible plant from the cactus family native to India. Among Indian tribal populations, Caralluma is used as an appetite suppressant. It was the perfect portable food to take hunting. The appetite suppressing effect is due to many pregnane glycosides, however how they exactly suppress appetite is still uncertain. The evidence surrounding Caralluma is limited but shows it may assist weight loss by suppressing appetite to reduce intake. The supplement can reduce appetite in some people but not in others and some women have shown minor weight loss using the supplement. Weight loss is only significant when the supplement is combined with a healthy diet and physical activity. It is also not a long-term solution because your appetite is likely to return as soon as the supplement is stopped.
Overall
Some weight loss supplements show promise in controlling appetite and reducing weight but there is simply not enough evidence to show they are all effective, safe to use and a long-term solution. Weight loss supplements can give the illusion of protection against weight gain and this may cause a person to loosen their reigns over their diet making weight loss unlikely. Others may experience a placebo effect. Taking the supplement may cause a person to feel like they are making progress, which encourages them to continue with a healthy diet and exercise.
These supplements are designed to support weight loss in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular physical activity. So, weight loss supplements aren’t a quick fix for weight loss and they are unlikely to be sustainable. It is suggested you speak to your GP before starting any weight loss supplement (even natural/herbal supplements) to make sure you avoid any risks to your health.