Dexatrim
Encyclopedia
Dexatrim is an over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplement
meant to assist with weight loss. Dexatrim claims it “gives you the power to lose weight, curb binges, and keep you in control of your diet.” Current Dexatrim products available are in capsule form and include Dexatrim Max Complex 7, Dexatrim Max Daytime Appetite Control, Dexatrim Natural Green Tea, and Dexatrim Natural Extra Energy. The major active ingredients found in current Dexatrim products include caffeine
, green tea extract
, Asian (Panax) ginseng
root extract, and dehydroepiandrosterone
(DHEA).
in 1998. It is now part of Sanofi-Aventis
. Dexatrim formula has changed considerably over the years. In prior formulations, Dexatrim contained the decongestant phenylpropanolamine
(PPA) and the amphetamine-like compound ephedra
.
A 2000 study by Yale University School of Medicine showed an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke with taking PPA. A case of myocardial injury was also reported using Dexatrim (with PPA) at doses recommended for weight control. In 2000, following the request of the FDA to discontinue marketing drug products containing PPA, Dexatrim dropped PPA from its formula.
In 2004, FDA banned a second Dexatrim ingredient, ephedra. Although ephedra showed some effectively for short-term weight loss, it was linked to raising blood pressure an increasing the risk of heart problems and stroke.
Dietary supplement
A dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to supplement the diet and provide nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, or amino acids, that may be missing or may not be consumed in sufficient quantities in a person's diet...
meant to assist with weight loss. Dexatrim claims it “gives you the power to lose weight, curb binges, and keep you in control of your diet.” Current Dexatrim products available are in capsule form and include Dexatrim Max Complex 7, Dexatrim Max Daytime Appetite Control, Dexatrim Natural Green Tea, and Dexatrim Natural Extra Energy. The major active ingredients found in current Dexatrim products include caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
, green tea extract
Green tea extract
A green tea extract is a herbal derivative from green tea leaves . Containing antioxidant ingredients – mainly green tea catechins – green tea and its derivatives are sought-after amongst people who pursue health....
, Asian (Panax) ginseng
Ginseng
Ginseng is any one of eleven species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae....
root extract, and dehydroepiandrosterone
Dehydroepiandrosterone
5-Dehydroepiandrosterone is a 19-carbon endogenous steroid hormone. It is the major secretory steroidal product of the adrenal glands and is also produced by the gonads and the brain. DHEA is the most abundant circulating steroid in humans....
(DHEA).
Caffeine:
- The caffeineCaffeineCaffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
content in the daily recommended dose of Dexatrim products ranges from 50-400 mg per day. There are a number of studies showing that caffeine has a short-term stimulatory effect on basal metabolic rate. However, in 1992, in a double-blind placebo controlled study, caffeine (at a dose of 200 mg daily) was found to be no more effective in promoting weight loss as compared to a placebo. Potential side effects of caffeine may include insomnia, anxiety, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, headaches and abnormal heart beat.
Green Tea Extract:
- Green tea extractGreen tea extractA green tea extract is a herbal derivative from green tea leaves . Containing antioxidant ingredients – mainly green tea catechins – green tea and its derivatives are sought-after amongst people who pursue health....
is currently used to for a variety of conditions including improving mental alertness and aiding in weight loss. There is currently insufficient data to determine the efficacy of green tea extract in aiding weight loss. In addition to the potential side effects from the caffeine content in green tea extract, there is some risk of liver problems associated with green tea extract consumption. Liver problems have not been observed with the use of green tea in beverages.
Asian (Panax) Ginseng Root Extract:
- Asian (Panax) GinsengGinsengGinseng is any one of eleven species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, belonging to the genus Panax of the family Araliaceae....
is used for a wide variety of conditions (without US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval) including aiding in thinking and memory, diabetes, erectile dysfunctionErectile dysfunctionErectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
, premature ejaculation, and aiding in weight loss. Across a wide scope of studies, scientific data does not support the health claims associated with using ginseng. Short-term use of ginseng (under 3 months) is unlikely to produce side effects and appears safe for most people. Side effects, often associated with longer term use, can include headaches, insomnia, and gastrointestinal problems. There are many conditions in which ginseng use has special precautions and warnings. These include pregnancy, diabetes, auto-immune diseases, and bleeding disorders.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA):
- DehydroepiandrosteroneDehydroepiandrosterone5-Dehydroepiandrosterone is a 19-carbon endogenous steroid hormone. It is the major secretory steroidal product of the adrenal glands and is also produced by the gonads and the brain. DHEA is the most abundant circulating steroid in humans....
(DHEA) is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glandAdrenal glandIn mammals, the adrenal glands are endocrine glands that sit atop the kidneys; in humans, the right suprarenal gland is triangular shaped, while the left suprarenal gland is semilunar shaped...
s (and by the testes in men), which can be converted in the body to male and female sex hormones, including estrogenEstrogenEstrogens , oestrogens , or œstrogens, are a group of compounds named for their importance in the estrous cycle of humans and other animals. They are the primary female sex hormones. Natural estrogens are steroid hormones, while some synthetic ones are non-steroidal...
and testosteroneTestosteroneTestosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
. DHEA is used to treat a variety of conditions (without FDA approval) including aging, Alzheimer’s, schizophreniaSchizophreniaSchizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
, erectile dysfunction, systemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosus , often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage...
, and for aiding in weight loss. There is insufficient data to support DHEA’s efficacy for weight loss. The DHEA content in the daily recommended dose of Dexatrim Max ranges from 100-200 mg per day. Side effects at this dose can include acne, hair loss, facial hair growth and deeper voice in women, stomach upset, and high blood pressure, particularly if the supplement is used for a longer period of time. There are many conditions in which DHEA use has special precautions and warnings. These include pregnancy and breast-feeding, hormone-sensitive conditions and cancers, liver problems, diabetes, and cholesterol problems. DHEA use is banned by the National Collegiate Athletic AssociationNational Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA).
History of Dexatrim
Dexatrim has been on the market for more than 30 years. The brand was originally owned by Thompson Medical, which was acquired by ChattemChattem
Chattem is a Chattanooga, Tennessee, producer and marketer of over-the-counter healthcare products, toiletries, dietary supplements, topical analgesics, and medicated skin care products...
in 1998. It is now part of Sanofi-Aventis
Sanofi-Aventis
Sanofi S.A. is a multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Paris, France, the world's fourth-largest by prescription sales. Sanofi engages in the research and development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products for sale principally in the prescription market, but the...
. Dexatrim formula has changed considerably over the years. In prior formulations, Dexatrim contained the decongestant phenylpropanolamine
Phenylpropanolamine
Phenylpropanolamine , also known as the stereoisomers norephedrine and norpseudoephedrine, is a psychoactive drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes which is used as a stimulant, decongestant, and anorectic agent. It is commonly used in prescription and over-the-counter cough...
(PPA) and the amphetamine-like compound ephedra
Ephedra
Ephedra refers to the plant Ephedra sinica. E. sinica, known in Chinese as ma huang , has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for 5,000 years for the treatment of asthma and hay fever, as well as for the common cold...
.
A 2000 study by Yale University School of Medicine showed an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke with taking PPA. A case of myocardial injury was also reported using Dexatrim (with PPA) at doses recommended for weight control. In 2000, following the request of the FDA to discontinue marketing drug products containing PPA, Dexatrim dropped PPA from its formula.
In 2004, FDA banned a second Dexatrim ingredient, ephedra. Although ephedra showed some effectively for short-term weight loss, it was linked to raising blood pressure an increasing the risk of heart problems and stroke.