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Thursday, April 03, 2008

Guggulsterones Don’t Work As They’re Supposed To

Recently, I was asked to provide my assistance, as I often have in the past, on the formulation of a new weight loss product. The company in question (I will not name them here) wanted the product to be based on Guggulsterone, a product that has been hot on the market of late in an attempt to cash in on a new trend.

There is a misconception that it helps weight loss by positively impacting the operation of things like the thyroid which have a direct impact on fat burning and muscle mass. Derived from the Commiphora Mukul Herb, it is really just another Plant Sterol, but because of that, many people assume it is safe. In fact, it is stimulating the thyroid to release additional hormones that raise the body temperature and increase metabolism. It sounds like it should work, so people believe it does.

While the claims of the scientists who make it are that this product actually speeds up metabolism, the reality is much more disturbing. Recent studies have shown that Guggulsterones not only increase cholesterol, but that they affect the binding and reception of key hormones that are in no way related to weight loss. Blocking of the androgen receptors puts a brick wall between your body and testosterone (along with a slew of other steroids), and makes your progesterone receptor kick into higher gear, accounting for sensation of heat.

As you can see, this new weight loss trend is not a good one. I cannot consciously work with any product, regardless of its marketability, if it has any links to, or recent studies showing that it causes further health problems in those who take it.

Somehow, consumers are still split on both sides of the issue with many people citing positive reviews from overseas doctors and other citing the negative reaction by most in the medical profession and the growing number of studies that show Guggulsterone is dangerous. We can all generally agree that anything that appears in a review from overseas is biased and that the opinion of a medical doctor is probably going to slant against a supplement such as Gugglesterone.

However, the truth of the matter is that real consumers have seen negative side effects such as the manipulation of key hormones and the unpredictable change of thyroid activity, and few if any have seen any positive weight loss effects. Guggulsterones are not only unproven, they have shown themselves to be more dangerous than they are useful, and that’s more than enough to convince me to steer clear.
With all of this in mind, the only thing I can consciously do is to recommend against the use of Guggulsterones under any circumstances. Regardless of your situation or the promises a supplement company may have made to you, the risks are not only too high, they are becoming too commonly reported and when a large percentage of consumers report the same problems, you can almost always trust their combined experience above any doctors or “third party reviewers”.




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