Guarana
A South American plant that produces berries with a high concentration (up to 7.5%) of caffeine. Guarana extracts have been used in traditional folk medicine, as well as a base for soft drinks. In North America, standardized guarana extracts are used as a “natural” source of caffeine in weight loss supplements and energy drinks. See Paul’s review, “Guarana – Caffeine’s Fat-Burning...
Glucuronolactone
A naturally-occurring metabolite of glucose. Glucuronolactone is used in energy drinks as well as some pre-workout supplements as an energy booster. It’s also sold in bulk powder form. There are no studies on glucuronolactone that validate its use for enhancing mood or energy, however – the evidence is strictly anecdotal.
GABA
GABA stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid, an inhibitory neurotransmitter derived from glutamate (an amino acid and excitatory neurotransmitter). When taken in supplemental form, GABA has a mild sedative effect that can aid relaxation and sleep. Supplemental GABA may also stimulate resting growth hormone production.
Folic Acid
A B-vitamin needed for proper nucleic acid and amino acid metabolism. Folic acid plays a particularly critical role in the metabolism of the amino acid methionine; deficiency can result in a buildup of homocysteine – a harmful metabolite that’s a marker of cardiovascular disease risk. Adequate folic acid intake is particularly important during pregnancy, for the prevention of neural tube defects. See: “Folic Acid...
Evodiamine
One of the principle, bioactive alkaloids of Evodia rutaecarpa. Like capsaicin, evodiamine is a vanilloid receptor agonist, with thermogenic and (potential) anti-obesity effects. Evodiamine may also have therapeutic potential, due to its anti-tumor and analgesic effects. Evodiamine is often added to fat burners (purified or as a standardized extract of Evodia) to promote thermogenesis. It’s alleged to invoke a...
Evodia rutaecarpa
The fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa are known as “Wu Zhu Yu” (or “Wu Chu Yu”) in traditional Chinese medicine. Evodia fruits contain several bioactive alkaloids with therapeutic potential, including evodiamine and rutaecarpine. Experimentally, Evodia extracts have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and gastroprotective effects. Evodia extracts, often standardized for evodiamine, are frequently...
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