Saba Appetite Control and Energy (ACE) is a diet pill that has raised concerns due to reports of liver failure and serious health issues. This article examines the ingredients in ACE weight loss pills, the potential risks associated with their use, and safer alternatives for weight management.
History and Concerns Regarding ACE Diet Pills
Saba ACE is a diet pill that has been sold with different ingredients over the years. Collen The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warnings and recalls related to ACE products due to safety concerns and violations of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The FDA was concerned because AMS Health had no procedures to test the identity, purity, strength, or composition of finished products to ensure good quality control.
One notable case involved a healthy 35-year-old woman who developed liver failure and required a liver transplant after taking ACE diet pills. Her first symptoms appeared within two weeks of taking ACE diet pills. As her condition worsened, she developed jaundice, fluid accumulation, bleeding, and brain damage (encephalopathy) due to toxins in her blood. In the hospital, doctors found evidence of necrosis and severe liver inflammation. “This case of drug-induced fulminant liver failure was likely due to Saba ACE supplement," the investigators wrote.
Key Ingredients and Their Potential Risks
The ingredients in ACE diet pills have varied over time, but some common components and their associated risks include:
- DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine): DMAA, also known as methylhexanamine or geranium extract, is an amphetamine derivative that has been linked to serious health problems such as heart attacks and even deaths. There have been two reported cases of liver failure associated with DMAA use in the military. Recently, 43 reports of hepatitis (liver inflammation) in Hawaii were linked to OxyElite Pro diet pills. In April 2013, the FDA sent warning letters to 11 companies asking them to take DMAA-containing products off the market.
- Green Tea Extract: Green tea extract has been linked to several cases of liver injury, with two cases of fulminant liver failure requiring transplantation. Green tea extract: Very toxic in high doses.
The ECA Stack: Ephedrine, Caffeine, and Aspirin
The ECA stack is a drug combination used in weight loss and as a stimulant. ECA is an initialism for ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin, with variants of it including the EC stack, which removes the aspirin for those who can not tolerate it. While it was available as a supplement, ECA was marketed with claims that it would aid weight loss, improve athletic performance and increase energy.
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Ephedrine
Ephedrine is derived from the Ephedra plant. It’s been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and is also referred to as “ma huang.” This extract stimulates the central nervous system (CNS) through release of a compound called norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is used to get the body ready for action and activity. This makes it an important part of the fight-or-flight response during times of high stress. Ephedra also raises heart rate and can also cause constriction of blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure. Natural supplements that contain ephedra (aka Ma Huang) as an ephedrine substitute have been linked to cases of heart attack, stroke, and death in healthy young adults even when taken at the labeled dosage. A 2003 meta-analysis of all available studies and case reports concluded that: "ephedrine- and ephedra-containing dietary supplements […] have harms in terms of a 2- to 3-fold increase in psychiatric symptoms, autonomic symptoms, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and heart palpitations. The effects of the ECA stack on weight loss are primarily due to the ephedrine component. Ephedrine acts both as an α and β adrenergic agonist, stimulating the release of norepinephrine. Increased circulating norepinephrine in the body then acts on brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle by increasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels. Additionally, Ephedrine acts as an anorectic, or appetite-suppressing drug. However, the anorectic effect becomes less pronounced over time, as the body becomes tolerant of ephedrine to some degree. The Food and Drug Administration due to serious safety concerns, injuries, and deaths linked to ephedra-containing supplements. However, ephedrine itself has never been illegal in the United States and is currently available over-the-counter. An EC formulation called Letigen which combined 20 mg of synthetic ephedrine and 200 mg of caffeine (recommended dose: 1-3 pills per day depending on user tolerance) was approved for sale by prescription in Denmark in 1990.
Caffeine
Caffeine is also a stimulant of both the CNS and the cardiovascular system. It’s commonly found in coffee, tea, and soft drinks. Caffeine consumption can increase feelings of alertness, effectively reducing fatigue. But when taken in large doses, caffeine can also cause:
- insomnia
- increased heart rate
- elevated blood pressure
- tremors
- anxiety
The stimulating effects of caffeine and ephedrine are an additional contributing factor to weight loss.
Aspirin
Aspirin is a pain reliever. When taken as part of an ECA stack, aspirin prevents norepinephrine levels from decreasing. In other words, its helps maintain the stimulation effects that the caffeine and ephedrine help provide.
Efficacy and Safety of ECA Stack
Although ephedrine was effective when used alone, ephedrine or Ephedra-containing supplements were slightly more effective when combined with caffeine. Participants taking this combination lost approximately two more pounds per month.
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Ephedrine’s potential impact on athletic performance hasn’t been well-studied. Although some studies have shown a modest short-term (one to two hours) effect on athletic performance, more research is needed to determine the long-term effects.
A 2021 meta-analysis concluded that ephedrine products may be beneficial for weight loss, but patients need to be carefully monitored, particularly in regards to heart rate.
In the review, ephedrine products showed more weight loss than herbal medicines, but less weight loss than FDA-approved prescription medications currently on the market.
Regulations and Alternatives
Food and Drug Administration to ban the sale of Ephedra-containing dietary supplements in 2004. However, ephedrine itself is still legal in the United States. Ephedrine sales are highly regulated, requiring the buyer to present a valid photo ID and sign for the purchase. There’s also a limit to how much ephedrine you can purchase. Depending on the state you’re in, you may only purchase up to 9 grams within a 30-day period. Since the ban on Ephedra-containing products, many Ephedra-free supplements have appeared on the market. Many manufacturers substitute other botanicals, such as bitter orange, in place of Ephedra.
Ephedrine-free supplements often incorporate more than one source of caffeine. The caffeine content is typically higher than that of coffee or soft drinks. But despite being Ephedra-free, these products can cause adverse effects similar to those of Ephedra-containing products. If you do decide to purchase an Ephedra-free alternative, be sure to review the labels to see if caffeine content is listed. You’re more likely to experience side effects if you take products containing 400 milligrams or more caffeine per day. This amount of caffeine is roughly equal to four or five cups of coffee.
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Other alternative weight loss supplements include green tea extract (EGCG) and glucomannan. These supplements typically carry more mild side effects, such as bloating or diarrhea.
The only over the counter medication available that has an actual FDA approved indication for weight loss is orlistat (brand name Alli). The prescription strength version of orlistat goes by the brand name Xenical.
Saba ACE® Ingredients
Saba ACE® is a cutting-edge weight loss and thermogenic fat burner for men and women. Each capsule contains an effective dose of the most powerful fat-burning ingredients available.
GreenSelect Phytosome®
GreenSelect Phytosome® consists of green tea polyphenols that are bound to a phospholipid (i.e., a lipid, or fat, containing a phosphate group). Greenselect® Phytosome® is a green tea extract devoid of caffeine and formulated with lectin to improve the absorption of catechins. Each serving of Saba ACE® contains 150mg of the clinically studied GreenSelect® Phytosome®. Oral consumption of 150 mg twice a day, combined with a reduced-calorie diet resulted in an average of over 30 lbs. One hundred overweight patients were treated with 150 mg of Greenselect® Phytosome® twice daily (300 mg/day). All patients (treated and placebo) were put on a low calorie diet (1250-1350 Kcal for women and 1650-1750 Kcal for men) distributed in 4 meals per day. Parameters such as body weight, body mass index, waistline, total cholesterol, basal glycemia and total triglycerides have been measured at the beginning, after 45 days and after 90 days (end of the study). The average weight loss was 6 kg in the diet only group and 14 kg in the treated group.
Irvingia Gabonensis
Irvingia Gabonensis targets multiple metabolic pathways in the body associated with satiety, appetite control, metabolism, fat burning, and blood sugar balance. In one clinical study, Irvingia Gabonensis was administered at 150 mg twice daily before meals for 10 weeks to overweight and/or obese volunteers. The test group lost an average of 26 lbs. (11.8 kgs) over the 10-week period, and body fat decreased by an average of 20.06%, and waistline decreased by an average of 8.6 inches (21.9 cm).
Safer Alternatives for Weight Loss
If you’re aiming to lose weight, talk to your doctor about a safe and effective way to do so. Healthy eating and regular exercise remain the safest way to successfully lose weight and keep it off.
Before considering weight loss pills, explore these healthier strategies:
- Improve Your Sleep Routine: Prioritize getting enough sleep to support overall health and energy levels.
- Increase Intake of Fruits and Vegetables: Focus on a diet rich in whole foods to provide essential nutrients and promote satiety.
- Treat Iron or Vitamin B Deficiency: Address any underlying nutrient deficiencies that may be contributing to low energy.
- Exercise During the First Half of the Day: Regular physical activity can boost metabolism and improve energy levels.
- Try an Elimination Diet: Identify potential food sensitivities that may be affecting your health and weight.
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