The weight loss supplement market is saturated with products promising quick and easy results. Hydroxycut, a brand that has been around for over two decades, is among the most well-known. This article provides a comprehensive review of Hydroxycut, examining its ingredients, effectiveness, safety, and potential side effects to help you make an informed decision.
What is Hydroxycut?
Hydroxycut is a brand of weight loss supplements offering a variety of products, including pills, capsules, shakes, and gummies. The brand's two most popular products are Hydroxycut Original and Hydroxycut Hardcore. While they come in different forms, most of Hydroxycut’s other products share the same active ingredients as Hydroxycut Original. Hydroxycut sells 15 products, which the company claims can support weight loss.
These include:
- Hydroxycut Original: Capsules with green coffee extract and caffeine, claimed to support weight loss and energy.
- Hydroxycut Hardcore: High-stimulant capsules with caffeine, yohimbe, and cayenne, targeted toward athletes and bodybuilders, said to provide intense energy and fat-burning support.
- Hydroxycut Gummies: Marketed as 99% caffeine-free gummies with green coffee extract and vitamins, claimed to support weight loss.
- Hydroxycut Drink Mix: A powdered mix with caffeine and B vitamins, the company says it supports metabolism and hydration.
- Hydroxycut Non-Stimulant: Caffeine-free capsules with green coffee extract, marketed to help with weight loss without stimulants.
- Hydroxycut Advanced: Capsules with MCT oil, yohimbe, and herbal extracts, claimed to support energy and weight loss.
- Hydroxycut +Women: Capsules with caffeine, collagen, iron, and folic acid, designed for women and promoted to support weight loss and wellness.
- Hydroxycut Hardcore Ultra Shred Gummies: Gummies with caffeine, yohimbe, and cayenne, said to provide energy and support fat loss.
- Hydroxycut Weight Loss +Electrolytes: A drink mix with green coffee extract and electrolytes, marketed to aid in weight loss and hydration.
- Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Heat: A liquid supplement with caffeine and thermogenic compounds, claimed to offer fast-acting energy and metabolism support.
- Hardcore Cleanse: Capsules with herbal ingredients, promoted as a detox and digestive support product.
- Hydroxycut Weight Loss +Multivitamin: Capsules with green coffee extract and essential vitamins, said to support weight loss and provide daily nutrition.
- Pro Clinical Glucose Support: Capsules with mulberry extract, cinnamon, and caffeine, marketed to support healthy blood sugar levels and weight control.
- Hydroxycut Pro Clinical Berberine DHB: Capsules with dihydroberberine and green coffee extract, claimed to support metabolism and blood sugar health.
- Hydroxycut Máximo: Capsules with green coffee extract and thermogenic ingredients, promoted as an advanced fat-burning formula.
Ingredients in Hydroxycut Original
Hydroxycut Original is the most popular Hydroxycut product. It contains several active ingredients that the company claims can lead to weight loss. These include:
- Caffeine (from coffee extract): One serving (2 capsules) contains 200 mg of caffeine, though the company recommends taking up to 2 servings (4 capsules) per day, for a total intake of 400 mg of caffeine.
- Robusta coffee extract (C. canephora robusta): A nonstimulant extract, often referred to as green coffee, that is high in chlorogenic acid.
- Apple cider vinegar (Malus pumila): Marketed for appetite suppression and weight loss.
- Plum extract Plums are a highly nutritious and fiber-filled fruit.
- Baobab extract Baobab is a fruit that comes from the baobab tree. It’s commonly found as a whole fruit, in powdered form, or as an extract.
- Cardamom
- Vitamin blend (B vitamins, vitamin D): Hydroxycut Original also contains several added vitamins, including vitamin D, thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.
Non-active ingredients include rice flour, gelatin, titanium dioxide, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide.
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How Hydroxycut Claims to Work
Hydroxycut products are marketed with claims to help with weight loss and boost energy. The brand claims its supplements can boost metabolism, increase energy, and help you lose weight. The company relies on research of individual ingredients to support the supplement’s claims.
Scientific Evidence: Do the Ingredients Support Weight Loss?
Hydroxycut Original’s effectiveness hasn’t been examined by quality clinical studies. Instead, the company relies on research of individual ingredients to support the supplement’s claims.
- Caffeine: Research from 2019 found that increasing caffeine intake was linked to modest reductions in body weight, BMI, and fat mass, with higher doses producing slightly greater effects. The results suggest caffeine may support weight loss, though the overall impact is small.
- Robusta coffee extract (C. canephora robusta): Research suggests green coffee is linked to small reductions in weight and waist circumference in some studies. However, the effects appear to be minor. One study showed that when people took C. canephora robusta for 60 days, they lost about 10.95 pounds, while the placebo group lost an average of 5.40 pounds. Both groups were on a low-calorie diet. The other small eight-week study showed that those taking C. canephora robusta lost about 3.7 pounds vs the placebo group members, who lost 1.25 pounds.
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV): One 2018 study showed slightly more weight loss with ACV plus a calorie-restricted diet, but overall, evidence is limited and mixed.
- Plum extract: There is no evidence that supports its role in weight loss when used in supplements. However, it contains sorbitol, which may cause temporary water loss via laxative effects.
- Baobab extract: Baobab extract may increase satiety (fullness) and help regulate blood glucose, according to very limited research. However, no evidence supports its effectiveness for weight loss at typical supplement doses.
- Cardamom: A 2021 review found that cardamom may help with weight loss and other health issues by reducing inflammation, lowering blood sugar, and improving cholesterol levels.
- Vitamin blend (B vitamins, vitamin D): These vitamins are included to support energy metabolism. They may benefit people with deficiencies, but are unlikely to promote weight loss in healthy individuals.
While some ingredients in Hydroxycut Original may have modest effects on weight or appetite, there’s currently insufficient evidence to suggest that taking supplements containing these ingredients will result in meaningful weight loss.
Hydroxycut Hardcore: A More Intense Formula
Hydroxycut Hardcore is a line of Hydroxycut products marketed as more potent and intense than standard Hydroxycut products. Often targeted toward athletes and bodybuilders, these products typically contain higher levels of caffeine and other stimulants. The main difference between Hydroxycut Hardcore and standard Hydroxycut is the level of stimulants. Hydroxycut Hardcore products typically contain higher levels of caffeine and other stimulants, which can lead to increased energy, focus, and calorie burning.
Dosage and Recommendations
Hydroxycut recommends gradually increasing your daily dosage to up to four capsules per day. However, the recommended dose varies by product, so it’s important to read the label carefully.
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Current dosage recommendations for Hydroxycut Original are as follows:
- Days 1-3: 1 capsule twice daily
- Day 4 and beyond: 2 capsules twice daily
Dosage recommendations vary between products. Therefore, it’s important to read the instructions carefully and not exceed the recommended dosage.
Potential Side Effects and Safety Concerns
While Hydroxycut may be safe for non-pregnant adults, there isn’t any research on Hydroxycut products to definitively say that the supplements are safe to take, especially for an extended period.
Some potential side effects of Hydroxycut include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Jitters
- Rapid heart rate
Most of the dangerous side effects of Hydroxycut were due to the older formulations. Hydroxycut Original used to contain ephedra, a powerful stimulant. In 2004, the FDA banned ephedra because it caused serious side effects. In fact, about 155 deaths are believed to have been caused by supplements that contained ephedra, including Hydroxycut. Several years later, in 2009, Hydroxycut was recalled because of numerous case reports of hepatotoxicity (liver poisoning) and other serious adverse effects. In 2010, Hydroxycut returned to the market with a new formula. Still, there have been several reports of dangerous side effects in recent years, even with the current formulation, particularly in regards to liver injury. Furthermore, yohimbe, an ingredient found in Hydroxycut Hardcore, has been associated with heart attacks and seizures and may interact with certain antidepressant medications.
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Taking more than recommended may cause you to consume toxic levels of caffeine (more than 15 mg/kg of body weight, according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements).
Hydroxycut Recall
In 2009, the FDA warned consumers about Hydroxycut products due to reports of liver damage. Hydroxycut has also been linked to cases of rhabdomyolysis, a condition that can cause muscle breakdown and kidney failure. The manufacturer recalled the products and modified them. But there continue to be reports of serious adverse health effects.
User Reviews and Experiences
Hydroxycut Original has more than 6,000 ratings on Amazon, with an average 4 out of 5 rating. Most of the ratings are 5 stars or 1 star, suggesting that consumers either had a very positive or a very negative experience. If you read consumer reports on forums and message boards, you’ll notice that for every person who succeeds with this supplement, another says it had no effect.
Alternative Approaches to Weight Loss
If you’re looking for long-term results, it’s better to focus on sustainable lifestyle habits such as eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly. Losing weight is a marathon, not a race, and there are no shortcuts.
At best, the product appears to help suppress appetite slightly. However, there are healthier ways to increase fullness, such as eating a diet high in fiber and protein, that don’t rely on such high amounts of caffeine.
Who Should Avoid Hydroxycut?
If you have any underlying health conditions, you should not take Hydroxycut products without consulting your doctor first. You should also avoid Hydroxycut if you are sensitive to stimulants or are taking other stimulant supplements or medications.
Lifestyle Changes While Taking Hydroxycut
There are no specific lifestyle changes suggested along with Hydroxycut. You may want to reduce or cut out caffeine from other sources in your diet.