Diet Supplement Review: ZOTRIM for natural weight loss…

Natural Weight Loss Aid Review: The Benefits, Drawbacks, and Side Effects of Zotrim.

Zotrim is an over-the-counter diet aid meant to address weight loss from both ends: reducing calorie intake while increasing calorie burning. It’s been available since 2001 in the UK and is just now starting to gain more popularity here in the United States.

Essentially, Zotrim is meant to have a combination of effects:

Appetite suppression to curb cravings between meals.
Boosts metabolism and feelings of energy, so you can stay active and burn more calories.
Delays gastric emptying, which means it slows how quickly the stomach empties. This helps the stomach feel fuller quicker during meals there is less of an urge to overeat. Otherwise, digestion of food and nutrients is unaffected.

These effects are due to a patented combination of three herbal supplements:

Yerba Mate:

Native to South America, this herb has a long tradition of use as a hot or cold beverage similar to tea. Many coffee shops now offer yerba mate as an alternative to coffee because its known to boost energy without the jitters. It also contains B-vitamins, is high in antioxidants, and may be beneficial for weight loss.

Guarana:

Found in the Amazon basin, extracts of these berries have become a popular ingredient in energy drinks. A few studies have indicated that guarana may not only be good for energy, but may also aid in fat-cell reduction.

Damiana:

A plant native to South and Central America, damiana has a slew of traditional uses ranging from aphrodisiac to cough suppressant. Particularly in Mexican culture, damiana has long been used to treat the digestive system. However, there is very little research to indicate how damiana effects the body.

Can this combination of plant extracts help people lose weight?

Here is an excerpt from one of the studies done on the combination of extracts specifically found in Zotrim:

Title:

Weight loss and delayed gastric emptying following a South American herbal preparation in overweight patients.
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 2002

Excerpt:

This study had two distinct aims: to determine the effect of a herbal preparation ‘YGD’ containing Yerbe Maté, Guarana and Damiana on gastric emptying; to determine the effect of the same preparation on weight loss over 10 days and 45 days and weight maintenance over 12 months…

The herbal preparation, YGD capsules, significantly delayed gastric emptying, reduced the time to perceived gastric fullness and induced significant weight loss over 45 days in overweight patients treated in a primary health care context. Maintenance treatment given in an uncontrolled context resulted in no further weight loss, nor weight regain in the group as a whole. The herbal preparation is thus shown to be one that significantly modulates gastric emptying…

Link to Study.

Has more testing been conducted? Is Zotrim safe and effective?

Results of independent clinical testing for this product have been published and are available to the public – links provided at end of post. Zotrim has been shown both effective and safe.

Participants in these studies were specifically asked not to make any changes in diet or physical activity, and average weight loss was a minimum of 1.5 lbs for every 10 days. Those who started off with higher BMI’s, that is, those with higher total body fat, appeared to lose more than average:

Study: Efficacy of Zotrim: a herbal weight loss preparation.
Journal of Nutrition & Food Science, 2004.

Average Weight Loss Compared to BMI.

Over a 28-day trial:

BMI less than 25: 1.4 Kg. (3.08 lbs)

BMI greater than 30: 2.5 Kg. (5.5 lbs)

BMI between 25-30: 2.6 Kg. (5.7 lbs)

Zotrim is not an extreme (or dangerous) quick-fix, but rather an effective appetite suppressant that can help dieters eat less during meals and feel less hungry between meals.

What Are The Side Effects of Zotrim?

Minimal Side Effects:

During the 8 years it has been on the market, Zotrim has not been associated with liver damage as have other well-known products, namely Alli (Xenical) and Hydroxycut.
Alli, Xenical, Orlistat : FDA Investigating Potential Liver Damage
Hydroxycut Linked to Liver Damage
Zotrim should not be taken by individuals sensitive to caffeine. (Zotrim contains the equivalent of about one cup of coffee)
Nausea, headache, and stomach upset is uncommon, but possible.
There are no known drug interactions concerning Zotrim. Despite this, always consult with your physician before starting any new supplement, especially when taking prescription medications.

If you have any medical conditions, including high blood pressure, glaucoma, or diabetes, always consult with your doctor before considering any weight loss supplement.

The Benefits:

Two Prong Approach to Weight Loss:

Curbs Appetite – enhances feeling of fullness during meals, cuts cravings between meals.
Boosts Energy – increases metabolism and energy levels.

Can be used as part of a healthy weight loss strategy: As an appetite suppressant Zotrim can give much-needed support to individuals on diet programs that reduce overall calorie intake and require new eating habits, such as Weight Watchers or NutriSystem.
The results of independent clinical study of this product have been published and are available to the public. There are at least eight total, showing that the combination of active ingredients in this product are effective and above all, safe.
Zotrim helps with slow, steady weight loss in proportion to the amount of weight that a person needs to lose. It’s not an extreme (or dangerous) quick-fix.
Zotrim has been on the market for eight years and unlike other popular weight loss aids is not the subject of controversy stemming from possible liver damage. Side effects are also minimal.
The manufactures of Zotrim clearly state what their active ingredients are, and the company offers a one month money-back guarantee.

The Drawbacks:

Only available online in the US, whereas in the UK it is available in stores.
There are no generic or alternative substitutions for this particular brand of weight loss supplement, since the combination of herbal extracts is patented.
It may not be suitable for individuals who are particularly sensitive to caffeine or have high blood pressure.

Excerpts From Available Studies on Zotrim:

Title: Efficacy of Zotrim: a herbal weight loss preparation
Journal: Nutrition & Food Science, 2004

…48 subjects completed a 28-day trial of Zotrim, taken in tablet form just prior to main meals. The results showed a self-assessed average weight loss of 2.3kg (0.6kg per week). Questionnaire data suggested that subjects ate less at meals and snacked less frequently. The overall findings supported an earlier placebo controlled clinical trial, and provided additional evidence that Zotrim delays gastric emptying and enhances feelings of fullness…

Title: Effects of an over-the-counter herbal weight management product (Zotrim®) on weight and waist circumference in a sample of overweight women: a consumer study.
Journal: Nutrition & Food Science, 2005

Fifty-six overweight women were recruited for this study, they took Zotrim as directed and self-reported their results. They were not asked to make any lifestyle changes, such as diet or exercise.

Findings – There was a self-reported mean weight loss of 1.79kg (0.45kg per week) at week 4. Data on perceived hunger and fullness from three sets of questionnaires suggested that subjects felt less hungry between meals and fuller after meals at weeks 1 and 4 compared with base-line. This is likely to have impacted on energy intake and may account for the weight loss. Taking into account adjusted guidelines for clinically significant weight loss, 23 per cent of subjects achieved this cut-off, suggesting that their risk of chronic disease had reduced. Similarly, waist circumference (an independent measure of disease risk) decreased by an average of 4.3cm during the four-week period. This reduced the number of subjects exceeding SIGN guidelines for central obesity from 93 per cent to 83 per cent.

Title: Effectiveness of a herbal supplement (Zotrim™) for weight management.
Journal: British Food Journal, 2007

*YGD refers to the formulation of Zotrim.

…An over-the-counter herbal supplement containing yerba mate, guarana and damiana (YGD) was tested in 73 overweight health professionals for six weeks. Subjects were not asked to make any lifestyle changes.

Findings – Self-reported weight, waist circumference and hip circumference reduced significantly, while 22 per cent of subjects experienced a clinically significant weight loss. The anthropometric changes were in line with other commercial diet and exercise programmes. Reported between-meal hunger, and consumption of snacks reduced across the six weeks. Reported satiety after meals increased and subjects claimed to be more in control of snacking, emotional eating and portion sizes. A follow-up at week ten, when 82 per cent of subjects had stopped taking YGD, revealed no additional reductions in weight or hip circumference. Fullness ratings had stabilised, while hunger ratings had increased. There were no consistent adverse effects that could reasonably be related to YGD.

Research limitations/implications – Taken alongside a 2001 randomised, placebo-controlled trial, this study provides evidence that a YGD supplement can aid weight loss and reduce waist and hip circumference, probably by increasing satiety.

Links to the Above-Mentioned Studies.