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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- PubMed Health; Tips For Losing Weight; October 2009
- PubMed Health; Tips For Losing Weight; October 2009
- "Nutrition"; Caffeine - Not Just a Stimulant; M.J. Glade; October 2010
- "Nutrition"; Caffeine - Not Just a Stimulant; M.J. Glade; October 2010
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Advantages & Disadvantages of Hydroxycut
Hydroxycut is a weight loss supplement manufactured by MuscleTech, a sports nutrition company that sells protein, creatine and other supplements marketed toward bodybuilders. Hydroxycut can be beneficial, as it offers several ingredients that may help you increase your daily calorie expenditure, but potential side effects do exist. Hydroxycut is intended to be used with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan, and you should consult a doctor prior to using this or any other supplements.
No Calorie Content
Hydroxycut does not contain any calories, which makes it advantageous for weight loss. Calories provide your body with energy, so reducing your calorie intake is required for weight loss. In the absence of adequate energy, your body will burn stored energy in your body to fuel your activities, which results in weight loss. You need to create a deficit of 3,500 calories to lose 1 lb. of fat. Although meal-replacement supplements and protein powders may help you lose weight, they contain calories, so Hydroxycut may be preferable.
- Hydroxycut does not contain any calories, which makes it advantageous for weight loss.
- Calories provide your body with energy, so reducing your calorie intake is required for weight loss.
Leucine Content
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Hydroxycut contains leucine, an amino acid that can be beneficial for supporting muscle growth and repair. In addition, leucine may be helpful in weight management. A study published in the June 2007 issue of the journal "Diabetes" found that supplementation of leucine could promote reduced levels of body fat and weight.
Lack of Full Ingredient Disclosure
One of the main ingredients in Hydroxycut is caffeine, which may support weight loss because it can suppress your appetite, and according to research from the October 2010 issue of "Nutrition," can increase your daily calorie expenditure 2. However, Hydroxycut's label does not reveal how much caffeine is in the supplement, only that it is part of a 680 mg ingredient blend. This can be problematic, as too much caffeine can cause nausea, dizziness, high blood pressure and a number of other side effects 3.
Oleic Acid Content
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One of the ingredients in Hydroxycut is oleic acid, a type of fatty acid found in olive oil, a food rich in unsaturated fat that is purported to aid in heart health. However, research from the May 2005 issue of the "American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine" indicates that oleic acid may cause alveolar edema, or excess water in the small cavities in the lungs called alveoli, which may damage your lungs and compromise your respiratory health 4.
Related Articles
References
- "Diabetes"; Increasing Dietary Leucine Intake Reduces Diet-Induced Obesity and Improves Glucose and Cholesterol Metabolism in Mice via Multimechanisms; Y Zhang et al; June 2007
- "Nutrition"; Caffeine - Not Just a Stimulant; M.J. Glade; October 2010
- Drugs.com: Caffeine Side Effects
- "American Journal of Respiratory Care and Critical Care Medicine"; Oleic Acid Damages Ion Transport and Promotes Alveolar Edema; S. Matalon, H-J. Ji; May 2005
- Food and Drug Administration. Liver Toxicity Following Consumption of Dietary Supplement. Hydroxycut, Health Hazard Evaluation Board, 2009.
- Hammond DA, Thano E, Bohnenberger KA, et al. Ventricular Tachycardia Precipitated by the Use of the Diet Supplement Hydroxycut Gummies. Hosp Pharm. 2015;50(7):615-8. doi:10.1310/hpj5007-615
- Cvetanovich GL, Ramakrishnan P, Klein JP, Rao VR, Ropper AH. Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome in a patient taking citalopram and Hydroxycut: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2011;5:548. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-548
- Carol ML. Hydroxycut weight loss dietary supplements: a contributing factor in the development of exertional rhabdomyolysis in three U.S. Army soldiers. Mil Med. 2013;178(9):e1039-42. doi:10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00133
- Tse-Ling Fong MD et al. Hepatotoxicity Due to Hydroxycut: A Case Series, The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2010. DOI: 10.1038/ajg.2010.5.
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Writer Bio
Brian Willett began writing in 2005. He has been published in the "Buffalo News," the "Daytona Times" and "Natural Muscle Magazine." Willett also writes for Bloginity.com and Bodybuilding.com. He is an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer and earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of North Carolina.