Ephedra Proven Safe And Effective Once Again!
A recent study by researchers from the University of California, Davis determined that a low-dose ephedra and caffeine combination was beneficial for weight loss. In this nine month study, the researchers found that overweight women who received a combination of 40 mg ephedra + 100 mg caffeine daily (plus vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids) lost nearly 17 pounds. Perhaps more interesting, considering the recent ephedra “scare”, was the improvement in several critical parameters, such as heart rate, triglycerides, blood sugar levels, blood pressure and insulin levels.
Wild, eh?
Participants in the study also reported more energy and less fatigue (no surprise here). Side effects were relatively minor and included insomnia, dry mouth, irregular heart beat, and nervousness. In the end, the researchers concluded…
“A dietary supplement containing a low potency ephedra/caffeine mixture appeared safe and effective in causing loss of weight and body fat, and improving several metabolic parameters, including insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles when tested under physician supervision. Such supplements could be a useful tool to assist with weight loss.”
You can read the abstract of this study (published in the International Journal of Obesity) here!
Un fortunately, despite the lifting of the ephedra ban last year, ephedra is still relatively hard to find. If you’re interested in purchasing the ephedra stack, read my review of BetaFuel (a 10 mg ephedra stack) here!
June 1, 2009
The study is interesting though I would wonder if metabolic parameters could have been improved to the same extent by the omegas and multivitamins alone. I do have a question. I know that the ECA is usually something like 25 mg ephedra HCl, 200 mg caffeine, and 80 mg aspirin. Would it be safe for me to substitute the caffeine with two MX-LS7 tablets? (216 mg caffeine)
would it help to add 2.5 mg yohimbine hcl?