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Cited by 203Pharmacology and Obesity TreatmentCoffee research and impactsMedicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds

Herbal ephedra/caffeine for weight loss: a 6-month randomized safety and efficacy trial

Boozer, CN, Daly, PA, Homel, P, Solomon, JL, Blanchard, D, Nasser, JA, Strauss, R, Meredith, T·2002·International Journal of Obesity
DOI 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802023
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Abstract

Objective To examine long-term safety and efficacy for weight loss of an herbal Ma Huang and Kola nut supplement (90/192 mg/day ephedrine alkaloids/caffeine).Design Six-month randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial.Subjects A total of 167 subjects (body mass index (BMI) 31.8+/-4.1 kg/m(2)) randomized to placebo (n=84) or herbal treatment (n=83) at two outpatient weight control research units.Measurements Primary outcome measurements were changes in blood pressure, heart function and body weight. Secondary variables included body composition and metabolic changes.Results By last observation carried forward analysis, herbal vs placebo treatment decreased body weight (-5.3+/-5.0 vs. -2.6+/-3.2 kg, P<0.001), body fat (-4.3+/-3.3 vs. -2.7+/-2.8 kg, P=0.020) and LDL-cholesterol (-8+/-20 vs. 0+/-17 mg/dl, P=0.013), and increased HDL-cholesterol (+2.7+/-5.7 vs. -0.3+/-6.7 mg/dl, P=0.004). Herbal treatment produced small changes in blood pressure variables (+3 to -5 mm Hg, P< or =0.05), and increased heart rate (4+/-9 vs. -3+/-9 bpm, P<0.001), but cardiac arrhythmias were not increased (P>0.05). By self-report, dry mouth (P<0.01), heartburn (P<0.05), and insomnia (P<0.01) were increased and diarrhea decreased (P<0.05). Irritability, nausea, chest pain and palpitations did not differ, nor did numbers of subjects who withdrew.Conclusions In this 6-month placebo-controlled trial, herbal ephedra/caffeine (90/192 mg/day) promoted body weight and body fat reduction and improved blood lipids without significant adverse events.

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Crossref · 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802023

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  • The combination of ephedrine and caffeine is a potent mediator of short-term weight loss that likely involves activation of BAT by β3 adrenergic receptors.

    “However, the combination of ephedrine and caffeine is a potent mediator of short-term weight loss 139 that likely involves activation of BAT by β3 adrenergic receptors 140.”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [139]

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Authors
Boozer, C., Daly, P., Homel, P., Solomon, J., Blanchard, D., Nasser, J., Strauss, R., & Meredith, T.
Affiliations
  • St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center (US)
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
  • Mount Sinai Beth Israel (US)
  • Cigna (United States) (US)
  • World Health Organization (CH)
Corresponding author
Boozer, CN
Venue
International Journal of Obesity
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2002-05
Volume
26
Issue
5
Pages
593-604
ISSN
  • 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5497
DOI
10.1038/sj.ijo.0802023
OpenAlex
W2120756383
Cited by
203
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 10
FWCI
12.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30 DK-26687, P30DK026687)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Coffee research and impacts
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds
Keywords
Ephedra, caffeine, Ma Huang, kola nut, herbal weight loss supplements, obesity, weight loss, fat mass, serum lipids, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias, adverse events, xerostomia, heartburn, insomnia, long-term safety
MeSH terms
Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Body Composition, Body Weight, Caffeine, Cholesterol, Ephedrine, Heart Rate, Humans, Cholesterol, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL, Patient Compliance, Placebos, Prospective Studies, Triglycerides, Weight Loss, Electrocardiography, Ambulatory, Dietary Supplements, Plant Preparations, Ephedra, Ephedra sinica, Cola

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