Clinical Calorie Study Tests Top Diet Pills; Ephedra Alternative More Effective; Xenadrine-EFX, by Cytodyne Technologies, Inc. Burns Calories Safely.

Business & Health/Medical Writers

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 2002

In the midst of the swirling controversy surrounding the safety of hundreds of popular ephedra-based dietary products, comes news of an unusual, hi-tech clinical study.

It indicates ephedra-based diet pills may not be as effective as a new, natural thermogenic weight-loss agent that has no history of adverse events.

The clinical conclusions indicate that a relatively new, ephedra-free, green tea extract-based compound, commercially known as Xenadrine EFX, is a more effective diet pill than ephedra-based Dexatrim Natural and ephedra-based Metab-O-Lite brand products. The head-to-head testing results of these three popular diet pills are published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

"Xenadrine EFX is an alternative for people concerned about the safety of ephedra or unable to tolerate ephedra-based products," says Douglas Kalman, Director of the Clinical Nutrition Research Unit at Miami Research Associates in Florida, where the independent study was conducted. Kalman adds, "One might presume that an alternative would not be as effective as the 'original.' That's why our team of physicians was surprised to learn that, within the confines of the study, the ephedra-free Xenadrine EFX capsules outperformed the two ephedra-based diet pills, when it came to total calories burned."

Clinical Conclusions

The diet capsule clinical trial involved randomly selected patients. At the start of the trial, each patient's normal caloric burning capacity, known as resting metabolic rate, was measured with a U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved indirect calorimeter. It is a device that attaches to the mouth and measures respiratory rates. Based on oxygen consumption readings doctors can calculate how many calories a person burns daily.

Participants were given a dosage of Xenadrine EFX. An hour later, they were connected to an indirect calorimeter. Several days later, the same group of patients was given a dosage of ephedra-based Dexatrim Natural. Again, their caloric-burn counts were recorded. A few days afterwards, the patients returned and were given a dosage of ephedra-based Metab-O-Lite. Their metabolic rates were registered for a final time.

The study concluded that patients burned five percent more calories taking ephedra-free Xenadrine EFX compared to taking ephedra-based Dexatrim Natural. And, they burned four-point-nine percent more calories taking ephedra-free Xenadrine EFX compared to taking ephedra-based Metab-O-Lite.

Patient Profile

"When I was taking Xenadrine EFX I didn't experience any side effects. I felt energized. I could feel my body temperature increase slightly and I noticed my appetite disappeared," says Lori Gross, 37, of Sunrise, FL, a clinical study participant.

Medical records show that while taking Xenadrine EFX Gross increased her metabolic burn rate from 1310 calories to 1550 calories per day. "That's a difference of 240 calories daily, which, over the course of a year, would add-up to a weight-loss of 25 pounds," says Kalman. He adds, "These calculations are based on the presumption that there are no significant patient lifestyle changes."

According to clinical study logs, during the research period patients' heart rates and blood pressures were closely monitored. Patients taking Xenadrine EFX exhibited no cardiac side effects, which is a potential concern of some people who might consider taking ephedra-based products.

Green Tea

Xenadrine EFX's prominent ingredient is a specially processed green tea extract. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) grows on trees in Asia. After water, green tea is the second most-consumed beverage in the world. According to numerous studies, including a recent report from the University of Chicago, a specific green tea extract, known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), "has shown to modulate appetite and control obesity" in lab subjects. The Xenadrine EFX formula contains a precise EGCG compound that is compressed into concentrated consumable capsules, which become powerful appetite suppressants that also increase energy and accelerate the body's metabolism enabling it to burn calories quickly.

Side Effects

Green tea and ephedra are "thermogenic fat-burners." Both are natural stimulants that increase the body's metabolism and temperature. However the documented side effects of green tea, which may include sleeplessness, are far less severe than claims of alleged "adverse events" in association with the consumption of ephedra.

There are claims that ephedra, especially synthetic alkaloid-based ephedrine, might trigger heart palpitations. There are also contentions that taking excessive dosages of ephedra may cause stroke and even death. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports there is no conclusive evidence that ephedra is dangerous.

Ephedra

Ephedra, a derivative of the ancient Chinese medicinal root Ma Huang, has been used for more than 5,000 years in Asia to treat several ailments, including the common cold and stomach aches. In recent years, through advanced science, ephedra's fat-burning, appetite-suppressing properties have been fully realized. Ephedra is clinically proven to be an effective weight-loss regimen. It is also among the most controversial diet substances available on the market.

Ephedra Regulations

Ephedra was recently banned as a diet product in Canada. It is also on the lists of banned substances issued by the International Olympic Committee, the National Football League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

In 2003, California's newly passed ephedra heart-safety labeling law goes into effect. Legislators in Kansas, Nebraska and New York are considering similar proposed laws. The U.S. Army has banned the sales of ephedra products in its on-post stores at bases worldwide. Furthermore, attorneys in several states are drumming-up lawsuits against a myriad of ephedra manufacturers contending their products posed health risks to their clients.

Effective Ephedra Alternative

Doctors say if people are concerned about how ephedra products might affect them, they should consider taking new thermogenic green tea extract diet aides, such as Xenadrine EFX, which according to the Miami-based clinical study may be more effective than ephedra-based products altogether.

Xenadrine EFX & Xenadrine RFA-1

Cytodyne Technologies, Inc. of Manasquan, NJ is the maker of Xenadrine EFX. It is also the maker of the nation's leading all-natural, herbal, ephedra-based diet agent Xenadrine RFA-1.

An October 2002 clinical study on the heart-safety of Xenadrine RFA-1, published in the International Journal of Obesity, indicated the diet agent had no negative cardiac effects on patients. The study only involved RFA-1. No other ephedra products were tested.

Cytodyne says Xenadrine EFX and Xenadrine RFA-1 are effective when used as directed. Pregnant or nursing women, children, people with cardiac, thyroid and other conditions should not take Xenadrine EFX or RFA-1. If people are concerned about taking Xenadrine EFX or RFA-1 or any diet product they should consult their physicians.

Cytodyne says Xenadrine EFX is part of a new generation of thermogenic diet agents that the company is now developing in response to consumers who want to take ephedra-free products and still lose weight fast.

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