Discover the Power of Biogen Weight Loss Ingredients: Benefits, Risks & What You Need to Know!

The pursuit of effective weight loss solutions has led to the popularity of various supplements claiming to boost metabolism and increase fat burning. Thermogenic supplements, in particular, have gained attention for their potential to aid weight management. These supplements often contain natural ingredients designed to boost your metabolism and increase fat burning. Some of the most popular thermogenic supplements include caffeine, green tea, capsaicin and other plant extracts. While these ingredients certainly have small, positive effects on metabolism, it’s unclear whether these effects are significant enough to help people lose weight or body fat. This article delves into the science behind common biogen weight loss ingredients, assessing their effectiveness, safety, and potential side effects.

Understanding Thermogenic Supplements

The word “thermogenic” literally means heat-producing. When your body burns calories, it generates more heat, so supplements that boost metabolism or fat burning are considered thermogenic. Many different types of these supplements are available over the counter. Some contain just one ingredient, while others use a blend of metabolism-boosting compounds. Manufacturers claim that these supplements will help you lose weight or burn more body fat, but the veracity of this claim is hotly debated. Thermogenic supplements boost metabolism, increase fat burning and reduce appetite. They’re available without a prescription and can contain just one ingredient or a blend of thermogenic compounds.

Common Thermogenic Ingredients and Their Effects

Here’s some of the research behind the most popular thermogenic compounds to determine if they actually help burn body fat.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant naturally found in over 60 different plants, including coffee, cocoa, tea, kola nut, guarana and yerba mate. It increases levels of adrenaline, a hormone that stimulates your fat cells to release fatty acids into your bloodstream, where they can be used by your cells for energy. This stimulant also reduces appetite and boosts metabolism, helping you burn more calories while eating less.

Research has found that every milligram of caffeine consumed helps burn an additional 0.1 calories in the following 24 hours. This means that taking a 150-mg caffeine pill would burn an additional 15 calories over the course of a day. Human and animal studies show that doses of 1.4-2.3 mg of caffeine per pound (3-5 mg per kg) of body weight are most effective in boosting metabolism and increasing fat burning. Since caffeine’s effects on metabolism are relatively small, supplementing is unlikely to make a huge impact on body weight but may help when combined with other diet and exercise changes.

Read also: The Truth About Biogen Keto

Green Tea / EGCG

Green tea contains two compounds that have thermogenic effects: caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). As noted above, caffeine stimulates the release of adrenaline, which boosts metabolism and increases fat burning. EGCG enhances these effects by slowing the breakdown of adrenaline so that its impact is amplified. Research has found that caffeinated green tea supplements can increase metabolism by roughly 4% and boost fat burning by 16% for 24 hours after ingestion. However, it’s unclear whether this effect leads to significant weight loss or reductions in body fat. One review found that overweight or obese people who consumed green tea supplements daily for at least 12 weeks lost only 0.1 pounds (0.04 kg) and reduced their waist size by just 0.1 inches (2 cm). However, a different review found that individuals who took green tea supplements for the same time period experienced an average weight loss of 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg), regardless of the dose taken. More research is needed to better understand how green tea affects metabolism and body composition.

Capsaicin

Capsaicin is the molecule that makes chili peppers spicy - the spicier the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. Like caffeine, capsaicin stimulates the release of adrenaline, which speeds up metabolism and causes your body to burn more calories and fat. It also reduces appetite, making you eat fewer calories. Together, these effects make capsaicin a powerful thermogenic substance. A review of 20 studies found that capsaicin supplements can boost metabolism by about 50 calories per day, which could lead to significant weight loss over time. Another study showed that dieters taking 2.5 mg of capsaicin with each meal burned 10% more fat in the subsequent 24 hours, compared to a control group. Supplementing with 6 mg of capsaicin daily has also been linked to reductions in belly fat over a three-month period. However, there is some evidence that your body can adapt to capsaicin, reducing these effects over time.

Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia cambogia is a tropical fruit whose extracts are often used in weight loss supplements. It contains a compound called hydroxycitric acid (HCA) that can block the activity of the enzyme ATP citrate lyase, which is involved in the formation of body fat. A review of 12 studies found that taking garcinia cambogia supplements over 2-12 weeks leads to a 1% greater reduction in body weight compared to a placebo, on average. This is a difference of roughly 2 pounds (0.9 kg). However, there is no consensus on garcinia cambogia’s fat impact, since other research results have been mixed. More studies are needed to understand whether garcinia cambogia supplements are effective for weight loss or reducing body fat.

Yohimbine

Yohimbine is a chemical derived from the bark of the African yohimbe tree, and is commonly taken as a thermogenic supplement. It works by increasing the activity of several hormones, including adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine, which could theoretically boost fat metabolism. The effectiveness of yohimbine for fat loss has not been researched much, but early results are promising. One small study found that professional athletes who took 20 mg of yohimbine daily for three weeks had 2% less body fat than athletes taking a placebo. Yohimbine may be especially effective for weight loss when combined with exercise, since it has been shown to boost fat burning during and after aerobic exercise. At present, there is not enough research to determine whether yohimbine truly helps burn body fat.

Bitter Orange / Synephrine

Bitter orange, a type of citrus fruit, contains synephrine, a compound that is a natural stimulant, similar in structure to ephedrine. While ephedrine has been banned in the United States due to reports of sudden heart-related deaths, synephrine has not been found to have the same effects and is considered safe to use in supplements. Taking 50 mg of synephrine has been shown to increase metabolism and burn an additional 65 calories per day, which could potentially help people lose weight over time. A review of 20 studies using bitter orange alone or in combination with other herbs found that it significantly increased metabolism and weight loss when taken daily for 6-12 weeks. No studies have attempted to determine whether it reduces body fat in humans.

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Thermogenic Blends

Since many substances have thermogenic effects, companies often combine several of them in one supplement, hoping for greater weight loss effects. Studies show that these blended supplements provide an extra metabolism boost, especially when combined with exercise. However, there have not been many studies to determine whether they reduce body fat. One eight-week study found that overweight and obese dieters who took a daily supplement containing green tea extract, capsaicin and caffeine lost an additional pound (0.454 kg) of body fat, compared to a placebo. Yet, more research is needed.

Potential Risks and Side Effects of Thermogenic Supplements

While thermogenic supplements may sound like an appealing way to boost your metabolism and reduce body fat, they do have some risks and side effects.

Unpleasant Side Effects

Many people tolerate thermogenic supplements just fine, but they can cause unpleasant side effects in some. The most common complaints include nausea, constipation, abdominal pain and headache. What’s more, these supplements may lead to a slight increase in blood pressure. Supplements containing 400 mg or more of caffeine may cause heart palpitations, anxiety, headache, restlessness and dizziness.

Potential Serious Complications

Thermogenic supplements have also been linked to much more serious complications. Several studies have reported a link between these types of supplements and severe inflammation of the intestinal tract - sometimes hazardous enough to require surgery. Others have reported episodes of hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), liver damage and even liver failure in otherwise healthy teens and adults.

Lack of Regulation

It’s important to remember that supplements are not regulated as strictly as food or medications. They’re not rigorously tested before going on the market, so it’s wise to be cautious - especially with supplements that contain very high doses of stimulants or a large number of ingredients that could interact in unknown ways. Always examine ingredients and speak with your healthcare provider before deciding whether thermogenic supplements are right for you.

Other Weight Loss Medications and Their Side Effects

While there is evidence that they can reduce appetite and boost metabolism and fat burning, the effects are relatively small. Anti-obesity medications help many patients lose weight and keep it off. Medication can be part of a comprehensive obesity treatment plan. If you treat patients for overweight or obesity, you likely have patients asking you about these drugs, including newer ones like semaglutide and liraglutide. Research has begun to analyze side effects, particularly for GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide. For example, a paper published in late 2023 in JAMA quantified gastrointestinal adverse events ranging from nausea to pancreatitis. Because stopping one of these medications comes with a high risk of weight regain, a person taking them should understand the risks. If a patient is hesitant to try a certain medication due to concerns about side effects, you may wish to prescribe an alternative. There are many options available that target different mechanisms of hunger, fullness, and weight loss. If you are a provider prescribing a weight loss medication, or you’re someone considering asking your doctor about a weight loss medication, familiarize yourself with the potential side effects.

Eligibility for weight loss medications is typically based on body mass index (BMI). For semaglutide or liraglutide, a patient must must be an adult or child age 12 or more, with a BMI of 30 or greater or with a BMI of 27 or greater with comorbidities such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. People who have a BMI of 30 or above do not need to have a chronic disease associated with their BMI, because obesity is considered a chronic disease. Requirements are similar for many other weight loss medications, including phentermine, naltrexone-bupropion, and orlistat, although not all are FDA-approved for use in children. The more recently approved tirzepatide is approved only for adults with a BMI of 30 or greater.

As medications are on the market longer, knowledge of their side effects increases. A 2023 analysis found that 68% of people taking semaglutide or liraglutide for weight loss stopped within a year. That population may have stopped for a variety of reasons, including side effects, cost coupled with lack of insurance coverage, or simply shortages of the medications. In the study above, 4.5% of users stopped the drugs due to side effects. The side effects that many people cite as their reason for quitting are digestive ones, including nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach. Here will look at the side effects of phentermine with and without topiramate, naltrexone-bupropion, liraglutide, semaglutide, orlistat, and tirzepatide.

Phentermine

The oldest and most widely used weight loss medication is phentermine. It has been around since 1959 and has been used in combination with topiramate since the 1990s. Phentermine works at the brain level to decrease hunger. Side effects include headache, overstimulation, high blood pressure, insomnia, rapid or irregular heart rate, and tremor. Interactions may occur during or within 14 days following the use of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, sympathomimetics, alcohol, adrenergic neuron-blocking drugs, and possibly some anesthetic agents.

Phentermine-Topiramate

Phentermine combined with topiramate cannot be taken during pregnancy. The benefit of this combination is that two medications are working together to decrease hunger and increase fullness. Side effects of taking phentermine-topiramate include abnormal sensations, dizziness, altered taste, insomnia, constipation, and dry mouth. Contraindications include uncontrolled hypertension and coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism, glaucoma, and sensitivity to stimulants.

Naltrexone-Bupropion

Naltrexone-bupropion is another combination medication that can help with fullness and cravings. A person should not take this medication if they have a seizure disorder or take opioids for chronic pain. The most common side effects include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, and diarrhea.

Liraglutide and Semaglutide

Liraglutide and semaglutide are both injectable, although oral forms of both are approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide is injected daily and semaglutide, weekly. Gastrointestinal issues are the most common complaint among people who are just starting semaglutide. For this reason, many patients start at a lower dose and work up to their eventual dose. Headlines have warned of increased suicidal ideation associated with semaglutide. The JAMA study mentioned above compared GLP-1 agonists against naltrexone-bupropion. Researchers concluded that the use of the GLP-1 agonists was associated with an increased risk of pancreatitis, bowel obstruction, and gastroparesis.

Orlistat

Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor that works by blocking the enzyme that breaks down fats consumed through food, thereby inhibiting the absorption of dietary fats. The undigested fat is then passed through the body.

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide was initially approved to treat type 2 diabetes. In 2023, it was approved for weight loss. As a GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, it increases feelings of fullness and helps people maintain a more restrictive diet. Common side effects include constipation, upset stomach, bloating, and diarrhea. Potential serious side effects also include stomach problems, kidney problems or failure, gallbladder problems, pancreatitis, or hypoglycemia, among others.

Hidden Ingredients and Public Notifications

It is important to be aware that some weight loss products may contain hidden drug ingredients. The FDA regularly issues public notifications regarding such products. A selection of these notifications from recent years includes:

FATZorb (07/22/2025)
Toki Slimming Candy (06/24/2025)
LipoFit Turbo (11/27/2024)
THERMO SHOCK (11/22/2024)
ITCHA XS (10/30/2024)
Body Shape Weight Loss System (10/02/2024)
Govvi WOW! (12/21/2023)
Phentamene XT (5/05/2023)
NORF 20 (5/01/2023)
Alfia Weight Loss Capsules (2/08/2023)
Lipopastilla + Gold Max (7/22/2022)
Dr. Reade Slim Sense (7/15/2022)
Hydro Pinapple [sic] Burn (7/26/2021)
Cholestene (7/09/2021)
Genesis Ultra Slim Gold (7/01/2021)
365 SKINNY High Intensity (6/30/2021)
Miss Slim (6/04/2021)
Tummy Tuck Max (4/29/2021)
Vy & Tea (Vietnamese Version) (2/26/2021)
Super Slim (12/17/2020)
Lishou Slimming Coffee (12/17/2020)
Li Da Daidaihua Plus (12/17/2020)
Imperla Elita Vitaccino (12/17/2020)
Fruta Planta (12/17/2020)
Fruta Bio (12/17/2020)
Burn 7 (12/17/2020)
Livtone (11/18/2020)
Detox Plus (12/04/2019)
CholesLo (10/24/2019)
Skinny Pill (10/17/2019)
Lanugar (9/06/2019)
JaDera PLUS (9/06/2019)
Sheaya Lender (9/06/2019)
Love in S (9/06/2019)
Reduktis Max (7/16/2019)
Lipro Dietary Capsule (7/01/2019)
Adelgasin Plus (6/26/2019)
Super Slimming Herb (6/26/2019)
Lishou Fuling Jiaonang (6/26/2019)
Detoxi Slim (6/26/2019)
Absolute Nine Slim (6/26/2019)
GoLean Detox (1/28/2019)
Ultra Fit (1/28/2019)
Slimmer Extreme Thermogenic Formula (1/28/2019)
Slim Bio Capsules (1/28/2019)
Slimina (1/28/2019)
Pink Granada (11/21/2018)
Green Lean Body Capsule (10/01/2018)
Shengan Natural Model (10/01/2018)
Like Slim Coffee (10/01/2018)
In Shape (10/01/2018)
Baschi Quick Slimming Capsule (10/01/2018)
BodySlim Herbal (8/31/2018)
Easy 2 Slim (8/31/2018)
Slimming Capsule (8/31/2018)
Nuvitra (8/10/2018)
Asunsa (7/09/2018)
Lyn DTOX FS3 (7/09/2018)
Adipotrim XT (7/03/2018)
Body Shape Weight Loss System (7/03/2018)
Row of Antibody Pil (7/03/2018)
Adriana Balance S (6/20/2018)
AB Slim (6/20/2018)
PAYA Dietary Supplement Product (6/07/2018)
Asia Slim Capsules (11/22/2017)
Adipessum Miracle Slimming Capsules (11/20/2017)
Fruta Planta Life (Garcinia Cambogia Premium) (11/20/2017)
A1 Slim (10/03/2017)
Physic Candy - Define (8/31/2017)
Physic Candy - Curve (8/31/2017)
Slimming Plus Advanced (2/03/2017)
Platinum Weight Loss Solution - Fat Loss Metabolizer (2/03/2017)
Platinum Max Strength Blue Pill Version (2/03/2017)
Lean Extreme Max (2/02/2017)
X-treme Beauty Slim (2/02/2017)
Queen Slimming Soft Gel (12/22/2016)
ABX Weight Loss (11/16/2016)
Supreme Slim 5.7 (11/09/2016)
Ultimate Body Tox (11/07/2016)
Zi Su Body Fat Health II (Zi Su Shou Shen Ying Yang Su II) (10/25/2016)
Skinny Bee Diet (10/19/2016)
Results (10/19/2016)
Accelerator Boost (10/19/2016)
Natural Eruption (8/16/2016)
Citrus' Fit (8/09/2016)
Adelganzantes R-II (8/09/2016)
Zi Xiu Tang Beauty Face and Figure Capsule (7/28/2016)
Ultimate Lean (7/28/2016)
Slim Fit X (7/27/2016)
Maxx Easy (7/27/2016)
Mang Luk Power Slim (7/27/2016)
Mang Luk Power Slim Detox (7/27/2016)
Xcelerated Weight Loss Ultra Max (7/22/2016)
Xcelerated Weight Loss Turbo Charge (7/22/2016)
Xcelerated Weight Loss Charged Up (7/22/2016)
Dream Body Advanced Acai Weight Loss (7/11/2016)
Dream Body Extreme Gold (7/11/2016)
Dream Body Original Formula (7/11/2016)
Extra Slim Plus Acai Berry Weight Loss Formula (7/11/2016)
Exhilarate (7/11/2016)
Step 2 (6/06/2016)
Black Label X (5/06/2016)
Black Gold X Advanced (4/26/2016)
3rd Degree (4/26/2016)
Propell Platinum (3/28/2016)
ENVY BP (3/29/2016)
ZlimXter Capsules (3/17/2016)
Xerophagy Capsules (3/17/2016)
Eradicate Capsules (3/17/2016)
Dynamizm Capsules (3/17/2016)
La'Trim Plus (12/21/2015)
Evolve Bee Pollen (12/18/2015)
Jenesis (12/18/2015)
Oasis Bee Pollen (12/18/2015)
Prime Bee Pollen (12/18/2015)
Thirty Plus (12/17/2015)
Lipo Escultura (12/02/2015)
Zero Fat (11/19/2015)
SPCARET Princess Diet (11/19/2015)
Slyn Both (11/19/2015)
Perfect Slim Fast Track Slim (11/19/2015)
Super Herbs (11/19/2015)
Xtreme Fat Burner Capsules (10/23/2015)
Tip-Top Shape (10/23/2015)
Lishou Slimming Coffee (10/23/2015)
Basha Nut 100% Fruit Soft Gel Capsules (10/23/2015)
Ultimate Herbal Slimcap (10/01/2015)
NATUREAL (10/01/2015)
Meizi Super Power Fruits Herbal Slimming Formula (9/03/2015)
Achieving Zero (8/06/2015)
Zero Xtreme Capsules (7/02/2015)
Akttive Capsules (7/02/2015)
Slim Forte Slimming Capsule (4/30/2015)
Li Da Dai Dai Hua Slimming Capsule (4/30/2015)
Fatloss Slimming Beauty (4/29/2015)
Superior (4/29/2015)
Green Algae Combination by Crane Beauty (3/26/2015)
Xcel Advanced (3/18/2015)
Xcel (3/18/2015)
Ultimate Boost (3/18/2015)
L-Carnitine Sob Strengthening Version Slimming Miracle Capsule (3/05/2015)
Black Mamba Hyperrush (3/05/2015)
Natural Max Slimming (3/03/2015)
Diablos Eca Fire Caps (3/03/2015)
Elimulating Weight (3/02/2015)
Oxy ELITE Pro Super Thermogenic (2/28/2015)
Nine Slim (2/28/2015)
Seven Slim (2/28/2015)
Botanical Slimming (Red) (7/27/2015)
Lean Body Extreme (2/25/2015)
Yanhee Slim (2/03/2015)
Slim-K (12/23/2014)
Slim-Vie (11/25/2014)
Super Extreme Accelerator (11/24/2014)
Japan Hokkaido Slimming Weight Loss Pills (9/12/2014)
Mix Fruit Slimming (7/08/2014)
Lingzhi Cleansed Slim Tea (7/08/2014)
24 Ince (7/08/2014)
Lipo 8 Burn Slim Capsules (7/08/2014)
Sliming (sic) Diet By Pretty White (7/08/2014)
Trim-Fast Slimming Softgel (7/08/2014)
Sport Burner (6/17/2014)
Toxin Discharged Tea (6/17/2014)
Sliming Diet (6/17/2014)
La Jiao Shou Shen (06/10/2014)
B-Perfect (6/05/2014)
Asset Bold (5/16/2014)
Asset Bee Pollen (5/12/2014)
Natural Body Solution (5/05/2014)
Slim Trim U (5/05/2014)
Lite Fit USA (4/10/2014)
Infinity (4/10/2014)
New You (4/02/2014)
Vitaccino Coffee (3/19/2014)
Citrus Fit Gold (1/28/2014)
Tonic Life BP (1/28/2014)
Thinogenics (1/28/2014)
Dream Body Slimming Capsule (1/21/2014)
Meizitang Citrus (12/19/2013)
Asset Extreme Plus (12/19/2013)
7 Days Herbal Slim (12/19/2013)
Dr. Ming's Chinese Capsule (12/19/2013)
SlimEasy Herbs Capsule (12/19/2013)
Sliming (sic) Diet Berry Plus (12/19/2013)
Asset Extreme (12/19/2013)
"SlimExtra Herbal Capsules"

These notifications serve as warnings to consumers about products that may contain undeclared or harmful ingredients.

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