If fat loss is your goal, add caffeine - it makes a major difference.
Use 200 mg of caffeine for 20 mg of ephederine.
The thermogenic properties of ephedrine/methylxanthine mixtures: human studies.
Dulloo AG, Miller DS.
The thermogenic effect of an over-the-counter preparation containing 22 mg ephedrine, 30 mg caffeine and 50 mg theophylline was investigated in human volunteers with a predisposition to obesity and also in the lean.
The ephedrine/methylxanthines mixture was twice as effective as ephedrine alone in increasing the fasting metabolic rate of both subject groups, and it normalized the reduced thermogenic response to a 1.25-MJ meal observed in those predisposed to obesity. Measurements of 24-h energy expenditure in a respirometer indicate that the mixture had no effect on the daily metabolic rate of the lean, but was effective in causing a significant 8 percent increase in the 24-h energy expenditure of those subjects predisposed to obesity. These studies indicate that relatively mild doses of dietary methylxanthines in combination with ephedrine can raise daily energy expenditure of those predisposed to obesity, mainly by correcting their defective thermogenic response to food. Such ephedrine/methylxanthine preparations could be useful as aids in the treatment of obesity.
The effect and safety of an ephedrine/caffeine compound compared to ephedrine, caffeine and placebo in obese subjects on an energy restricted diet. A double blind trial.
Astrup A, Breum L, Toubro S, Hein P, Quaade F.
Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The sympathomimetic agent ephedrine has potent thermogenic and anti-obesity properties in rodents. The effect is markedly enhanced by caffeine, while caffeine given alone has no effect. This study was undertaken to find out if a similar weight reducing synergism between ephedrine and caffeine is present in obese patients. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study, 180 obese patients were treated by diet (4.2 MJ/day) and either an ephedrine/caffeine combination (20mg/200mg), ephedrine (20 mg), caffeine (200 mg) or placebo three times a day for 24 weeks. Withdrawals were distributed equally in the four groups, and 141 patients completed the trial. Mean weight losses was significantly greater with the combination than with placebo from week 8 to week 24 (ephedrine/caffeine, 16.6 +/- 6.8 kg vs. placebo, 13.2 +/- 6.6 kg (mean +/- s.d.), P = 0.0015). Weight loss in both the ephedrine and the caffeine groups was similar to that of the placebo group. Side effects (tremor, insomnia and dizziness) were transient and after eight weeks of treatment they had reached placebo levels. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell similarly in all four groups. We conclude, that in analogy with animal studies, the ephedrine/caffeine combination is effective, while caffeine and ephedrine separately are ineffective for the treatment of human obesity.
Add green tea for even better results:
Green tea and thermogenesis: interactions between catechin-polyphenols, caffeine and sympathetic activity.
Dulloo AG, Seydoux J, Girardier L, Chantre P, Vandermander J.
Institute of Physiology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
abdul.dulloo@unifr.ch
The thermogenic effect of tea is generally attributed to its caffeine content. We report here that a green tea extract stimulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis to an extent which is much greater than can be attributed to its caffeine content per se, and that its thermogenic properties could reside primarily in an interaction between its high content in catechin-polyphenols and caffeine with sympathetically released noradrenaline (NA). Since catechin-polyphenols are known to be capable of inhibiting catechol-O-methyl-transferase (the enzyme that degrades NA), and caffeine to inhibit trancellular phosphodiesterases (enzymes that break down NA-induced cAMP), it is proposed that the green tea extract, via its catechin-polyphenols and caffeine, is effective in stimulating thermogenesis by relieving inhibition at different control points along the NA-cAMP axis. Such a synergistic interaction between catechin-polyphenols and caffeine to augment and prolong sympathetic stimulation of thermogenesis could be of value in assisting the management of obesity. International Journal of Obesity (2000) 24, 252-258
