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Dietary supplements for body-weight reduction: a systematic review
1Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Exeter, United Kingdom. m.h.pittler@exeter.ac.uk
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|March 31, 2004
Summary
Most dietary supplements lack convincing evidence for effective weight reduction. Research found no proof that these over-the-counter aids aid in significant body weight loss.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Pharmacology
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- Poor adherence to traditional weight management programs.
- Widespread availability of over-the-counter (OTC) slimming aids with unsubstantiated claims.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the efficacy of dietary supplements for body weight reduction.
- To assess evidence from clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of literature from multiple databases (Medline, Embase, Amed, Cinahl, Cochrane Library) up to March 2003.
- Inclusion of randomized, double-blind trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.
- Independent screening, selection, data extraction, and quality assessment by two reviewers.
Main Results:
- Reviewed 5 systematic reviews/meta-analyses and 25 additional trials on various supplements (e.g., chitosan, chromium picolinate, Garcinia cambogia, Ephedra sinica).
- Found no conclusive evidence for the effectiveness of any specific dietary supplement in reducing body weight.
- Identified increased adverse event risks associated with Ephedra sinica and ephedrine-containing supplements.
Conclusions:
- Evidence supporting most dietary supplements for weight reduction is not convincing.
- No reviewed dietary supplements can be recommended for over-the-counter use.
- Further research is needed to establish efficacy and safety profiles.