Role of Guggul Extract in Fat Burners

Fat burners are dietary supplements that promote weight loss through thermogenesis. Thermogenesis increases the amount of calories the body burns for energy thereby decreasing the amount of calories it stores as fat. Recently, some makers of fat burners have begun incorporating guggul extract into their products, though guggul is not a "new" discovery: It's been used by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years to treat a variety of health problems.

History

• Guggul is derived from the gum resin of Commiphora mukul, a tree native to India. It has long been used as a remedy for obesity, high cholesterol, arthritis and skin diseases among other maladies. Modern studies have started to affirm some of guggul's benefits; however, the results of that research has been mixed. For instance, a 2005 review of studies by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that the effects of guggul in high cholesterol patients were not clear enough to support prescribing the compound for lipid-related ailments.

Function

• Some science supports guggul's potential as a weight loss aid. In 1995, Bombay researchers published a study in the Journal of Postgraduate Medicine that compared weight loss in people who reduced their food intake, walked 30 minutes a day and took 1.5 to 3 g of guggul daily with people who simply dieted and exercised. Both groups lost weight, but after 30 days, the guggul group lost slightly more---an average of about 1.3 pounds. Interestingly, those in the group who weighed over 200 pounds had greater success. They lost up to 4.9 more pounds than those people who didn't take guggul.

Other Effects

• When weight loss is the goal, guggul may be a good adjunct to exercise. In 1999, researchers at the University of Nebraska and Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City found that people who took 750 mg of guggul each day in combination with strength and aerobic training three times weekly lost an average of six pounds in six weeks. The study participants who only exercised lost just one-half to one pound. It's uncertain how guggul causes the body to shed pounds; however, research from the University of Georgia has shown that it may help regulate fat cell number and size.

Safety

• Guggul is generally regarded as safe, but it can also have discomforting side effects, including stomach upset, headache and allergic rashes. The compound may also increase the activity of aspirin, causing excessive bleeding.

Further considerations

• Be aware that fat burners with guggul may contain other active ingredients as well. Some supplements contain combinations of ephedrine, caffeine, pseudoephedrine and norephedrine, compounds that can cause dangerous side effects such as heart attack, stroke, seizures, psychosis and even death. Use caution when purchasing a fat burner with guggul.