Any Chance They Work?

Claims of weight loss are unfounded, said the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). “There’s no evidence whatsoever to suggest that acai pills will help shed pounds, flatten tummies, cleanse colons, enhance sexual desire, or perform any of the other commonly advertised functions,” according to the organization’s press release. “Açai began attracting attention in 2005 on the belief that its juice was especially high in antioxidants. In truth, açai juice has only middling levels of antioxidants—less than that of Concord grape, blueberry, and black cherry juices, but more than cranberry, orange, and apple juices.”

Columbia University heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, who appears on The Oprah Winfrey Show as a medical expert, told ABCNews.com that he had never officially endorsed acai. While he says acai is “a powerful antioxidant,” as far as weight loss goes, “I’d be surprised if by itself acai could help.”

At CCN’s site, other products are offered with similar celebrities and free trials in tow. One is GreenTea Extreme dietary supplement, which claims you can “Lose up to 25 pounds in 25 days with Green Tea!!” The site quotes from WebMD, CBS News, CNN, and Fitness magazine (again, touting green tea, not the specific product) and notes green tea’s other benefits, such as improved cardiovascular function and better cholesterol levels. The product label says it has 1,667% of the daily requirement of vitamin B12 and 167% of chromium.

The Mayo Clinic says that while chromium is “relatively safe,” it’s “unlikely to cause weight loss and its long-term effects are unknown.” In addition, “There’s no evidence that vitamin B-12 in any form—including vitamin B-12 injections—enhances weight loss.” Regarding green tea, there is “limited evidence” to support the claim that it increases calorie and fat metabolism and decreases appetite. Additionally, however, it can cause vomiting, bloating, indigestion, and diarrhea, and “may contain a large amount of caffeine.”

CCN also touts Hoodiawater, Hoodiastar, and Hoodiacore: they’re appetite suppressors, again allegedly supported by Oprah and various news sources. The Mayo Clinic’s chart on popular weight loss pills notes that regarding hoodia there is “no conclusive evidence to support the weight-loss claim” that it decreases appetite.
 
“Vendors can make health claims about products based on their own review and interpretation of studies without the authorization of the FDA,” says the Mayo Clinic.

“For the consumer, it’s hard to know what you’re getting, or even if the list of ingredients matches what’s in the bottle. Many weight-loss pills contain a cocktail of ingredients—some with more than 20 herbs, botanicals, vitamins, minerals or other add-ons, such as caffeine or laxatives. How these ingredients interact individually and collectively with your body is largely unknown. And using them can be a risky venture, especially if you’re taking other medications.”