Ephedra is a genus of the “Ephedraceae” shrub family, which is found in dry climates, in the northern and southern hemispheres of the Andes Mountains.
This plant has been associated with different health benefits, such as increasing energy and promoting weight loss. Because of this, it has become a common ingredient in dietary supplements, since 1990 where it gained popularity.
This plant has been shown to be beneficial to health, but in turn provides some disadvantages. Therefore, know what are the benefits and uses of ephedra.
What is ephedra?
This plant, also known by the name of ma huang , is mainly found in Asia, although it also grows in other areas of the world.
The main effects of ephedra are likely caused by the ephedra molecule, such as increased metabolic rate and fat burning. For these same reasons, ephedra has been studied for its ability to reduce body weight and body fat.
In the past, it gained substantial popularity in weight loss supplements. (Astrup, 1985). However, due to safety concerns with the consumption of these supplements, which contain specific types of compounds found in ephedra, called ephedra alkaloids , have been banned in several countries, including the United States and Spain.
Does Ephedrine Help You Lose Fat?
The main studies conducted on ephedrine supplements were conducted in the 1980s and early 2000s, before it was banned in several countries.
Although the multiple components of the plant can affect the body, the most notable effects are probably due to ephedrine. Some studies carried out showed that ephedra increases the resting metabolic rate , which may be due to an increase in the amount of calories burned by the muscles of the body. (Dulloo and Miller, 1986).
Ephedra also helps to increase the process of fat loss in the body. One study found that the number of calories burned over 24 hours was 3.6% higher when healthy adults took ephedrine compared to when they took a placebo. (Shannon, 1999).
Combination of ephedra with caffeine
Many studies conducted, claim that the effects of ephedrine in weight loss have combined this ingredient with caffeine, providing better results in weight loss.
The combination of ephedra and caffeine appears to have greater effects on the body than either ingredient. In a study conducted in healthy overweight and obese adults, the combination of 70 mg of caffeine and 24 mg of ephedra increased metabolic rate by 8% for 2 hours, compared to placebo. (Greenway, 2004).
In other studies, it was concluded that caffeine and ephedra individually had no effect on weight loss, while the combination of the two produced weight loss. For 12 weeks, ingesting a combination of ephedra and caffeine 3 times a day led to a 7.9% reduction in body fat compared to just 1.9% with a placebo. (Greenwaay, 2004).
Consequences of ephedrine consumption
The amounts of ephedrine used in the research vary depending on the study, with consumption of less than 20 mg per day considered low, 40-90 mg daily considered moderate, and doses of 100-150 mg considered high.
Individual studies have shown mixed results regarding the safety and side effects of this substance in a variety of dosages. Some studies did not conclude that ephedra consumption produced significant side effects, while others indicate a variety of side effects that even caused participants to withdraw from the studies due to precautionary measures. (Boozer, 2001).
Additionally, when individual cases were examined, several deaths, heart attacks, and psychiatric episodes were potentially linked to the consumption of ephedra supplements. Therefore, based on the evidence, the potential safety concerns were significant enough to prompt legal action in the United States and elsewhere to ban supplements with this component.
Is taking ephedrine supplements illegal?
While ephedra herb and products like ma huang tea are commercially available, dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids are not available in some countries.
Due to the great popularity of ephedra-containing products before the FDA ban, some people are still trying to find weight loss products with this ingredient. For this reason, some dietary supplement manufacturers market weight loss products that contain other compounds found in ephedra, but not the ephedra alkaloids.
These products may well not have the safety issues seen for ephedrine-containing products, but they may also be less effective.
Conclution
Ephedra is very popular for its fat loss benefits, as it can help stimulate metabolism. This weight loss effect can be enhanced if combined with caffeine, according to scientific studies.
Despite being very popular, for safety measures, dietary supplements containing ephedra have been banned in several countries, including the United States. However, there are still supplements that are manufactured with other ephedra compounds that are still legal, so they can be found on the market.
References
- Astrup, A., Lundsgaard, C., Madsen, J. and Christensen, N. (1985). Enhanced thermogenic responsiveness during chronic ephedrine treatment in man. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . doi: 10.1093 / ajcn / 42.1.83
- Boozer, C., Nasser, J., Heymsfield, S., Wang, V., Chen, G. and Solomon, J. (2001). An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: a randomized, double-blind trial. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders . doi: 10.1038 / sj.ijo.0801539
- Dulloo, A. and Miller, D. (1985). The thermogenic properties of ephedrine / methylxanthine mixtures: human studies. International Journal of Obesity. doi: 103804564
- Greenway, F., De Jonge, L., Blanchard, D., Frisard, M. and Smith, S. (2004). Effect of a dietary herbal supplement containing caffeine and ephedra on weight, metabolic rate, and body composition. Obesity Research . doi: 10.1038 / oby.2004.144
- Shannon, J., Gottesdiener, K., Jordan, J., Chen, K., Flattery, S., Larson, P., Candelore, R … Sun, M. (1999). Acute effect of ephedrine on 24-h energy balance. Clinical Science. doi: 10209080
