Litramine

What is Litramine?

Litramine is a weight loss and fat loss aid that attracts and binds fat in the digestive tract, preventing it from being absorbed by the body and excreted undigested instead. Litramine is InQpharm's proprietary complex of different types of plant fiber. Litramine has only recently come on the market and is attracting a lot of attention in the US due to some very convincing clinical studies.

Where does Litramine come from?

InQpharm is tight-lipped about the exact composition of Litramine, but we do know that it is derived primarily from fiber from the Opuntia ficus-indica plant and also contains soluble fiber from various Acacia species and fiber from the Zea mays (or corn) plant.

Opuntia ficus-indica is a cactus plant that is also known as prickly pear or fig cactus. This cactus plant is native to Mexico, where it is widely cultivated and is an important part of agriculture. Opuntia grows throughout Mexico, the Mediterranean and North Africa and both the leaves and the vitamin C-rich fruit are used to make food and drink.

Benefits of Litramine

Studies carried out to date have shown that Litramine is a very promising product for supporting fat and weight loss. 123 overweight subjects took part in a study investigating weight loss in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet. Half of the subjects received 3 grams of Litramine per day and the other half only a placebo. The subjects who received Litramine lost significantly more weight over 12 weeks (3.8 ± 1.8 kg) than the subjects in the placebo group (1.4 ± 2.6 kg). The study concluded that a greater percentage of the litramine group lost more than 5% body weight (1). Litramine was well tolerated by the study participants and no adverse side effects were observed. The manufacturer notes that Litramine is more effective than an Opuntia ficus-indica extract alone, that Litramine is free of known allergens, and that Litramine has a well-documented safety profile (2).

Benefits of Litramine for bodybuilders

Whether it's for competition preparation or simply to lose some excess fat, fat loss can be difficult for many people. This is reflected in the huge range of weight loss products available on the market. Litramine could be of great benefit as a weight loss aid with proven effectiveness as a standalone product or as an ingredient in a fat burner or diet protein.

Side effects and disadvantages

Litramine has enormous potential to help people control their weight and the existing research paper is very convincing. However, more scientific research is needed before we can say for sure whether Litramine is effective. It is likely that this research will follow over time as Litramine is still relatively new. Preventing fat from being absorbed by the body runs the risk of also limiting the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D and E, as well as the absorption of essential fatty acids. Long-term use of Litramine may require cyclical use of the product, targeted timing of intake, or monitoring of serum levels of these nutrients. Products that block fat absorption are known to frequently cause gastrointestinal symptoms including cramping, diarrhea, bloating and even uncontrolled anal fat excretion. Although the participants in the study mentioned above did not report such side effects, it is possible that these symptoms may occur if the product is used by a larger number of people, as has been the case with previous products of a similar nature.

Litramine dosage recommendation and timing of intake

There is not much dosage information available, but participants in the successful clinical trials used 3 grams per day. Common sense suggests splitting this dose into three single 1 gram doses taken with main meals.

Litramine supplements

As Litramine is still relatively new, there are not yet many products containing this ingredient. It is generally available in the form of single products, which are sometimes enriched with the fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E. However, Litramine would also make an excellent supplement. However, Litramine would also be an excellent ingredient for fat loss proteins or fat burners.

Combinations of Litramine with other supplements

Litramine can be combined well with other fat loss products. It is important to take Litramine at a distance from functional fat supplements such as fish oil, evening primrose oil or fat-soluble vitamins, as Litramine will bind to these supplements and prevent them from being absorbed by the body.

References

1. Grube B, Chong PW, Lau KZ, Orzechowski HD. A natural fiber complex reduces body weight in the overweight and obese: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013 Jan;21(1):58-64.
2. InQpharm. About Litramine. http://www.litramine.com/index.php. Updated Feb 2014, Accessed 21st May 2014.