My initial thought was related to metabolic ketosis, as the supplement name suggests, but that is not the premise of this supplement, nor does it claim to induce ketosis. In this blog, I will explain my research into this supplement, and how the American public is being scammed, which is no surprise, but as a society, we should demand that dietary supplements are regulated, and that advertising for these "quick-fix" products, specifically targeted at desperate consumers, conform to policies of "truth in advertising."
Although it is wise to be an "educated" consumer, and to research products, it is increasingly difficult to find "true" information when there are no regulations on supplements, and companies can write, claim, advertise whatever they want regarding their product. Not only are testimonials untrue, or biased, at times, individuals who actually lose weight on the supplement are often subject to the placebo effect, and are subconsciously changing their lifestyle as they take the pills, which some will argue that the pills do their job, but if they do not contain what they should, or if they do not work in the way they should, it is wrong.
Dr. Oz promoted raspberry ketones on his show, and they have since become popular. Reviewing his "scientific" references revels that the claims made in his promotion are not scientifically backed whatsoever. References are listed on his website, but they DO NOT BACK UP THE STATEMENTS/CLAIMS MADE! How many people actually check out references? And how many people are not educated in this field and cannot fully understand the studies? This is ridiculous, and people are being taken advantage of daily!
From Dr. Oz's Website:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/rasberry-ketone-what-science-says
{What did scientists conclude?They concluded that raspberry ketone prevents and improves obesity and fatty liver in certain animal models. While the exact mechanism has not been thoroughly understood, these effects appear to stem from the action of raspberry ketone in altering the lipid metabolism, or more specifically, in increasing norepinephrine-induced lipolysis in white adipocytes (fat cells). Scientists speculate that raspberry ketone stimulates the energy metabolism via a mechanism similar to that of capsaicin. Capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers, has been looked at in humans for weight loss.}
These are Dr. Oz's References- please look at the dates referenced! In the scientific community, only studies 5-10 years old are referenced, unless they are extremely important studies.
The below studies were only studies characterizing raspberry ketone, and had no conclusion regarding action of the ketones.
*: T, Watanabe B, Suzuki S, Hiratake J, Mano J, Yazaki K. Characterization of raspberry ketone/zingerone synthase, catalyzing the alpha, beta-hydrogenation of phenylbutenones in raspberry fruits. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2011;412(1):104-8.
*Tateiwa J I, Horiuchi H, Hashimoto K, Yamauchi T, Uemura S. Cation-exchanged montmorillonite-catalyzed facile Friedel-crafts alkylation of hydroxy and methoxy aromatics with 4-hydroxybutan-2-one to produce raspberry ketone and some pharmaceutically active compounds. J Org Chem 1994; 59: 5901-5904.
The below referenced studies are on capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers, not on raspberry ketones.
Kawada T, Hagihara K I, Iwai K. Effects of capsaicin on lipid metabolism in rats fed a high fat diet. J Nutr 1986; 116: 1272-1278.
Shin, K. O. and Moritani, T. Alterations of autonomic nervous activity and energy metabolism by capsaicin ingestion during aerobic exercise in healthy men. J.Nutr.Sci.Vitaminol.(Tokyo) 2007;53(2):124-132.
Inoue, N., Matsunaga, Y., Satoh, H., and Takahashi, M. Enhanced energy expenditure and fat oxidation in humans with high BMI scores by the ingestion of novel and non-pungent capsaicin analogues (capsinoids). Biosci.Biotechnol.Biochem. 2007;71(2):380-389.
Lejeune, M. P., Kovacs, E. M., and Westerterp-Plantenga, M. S. Effect of capsaicin on substrate oxidation and weight maintenance after modest body-weight loss in human subjects. Br.J.Nutr. 2003;90(3):651-659.
More Unrelated referenced studies
Martin B, Ji S, Maudsley S, Mattson MP. "Control" laboratory rodents are metabolically morbid: why it matters. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2010;107(14):6127-33.
Carpene C, Galitzky J, Fontana E, Atgie C, Lafontan M, Berlan M. Selective activation of β3-adrenoceptors by octamine: comparative studies in mammalian fat cells. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 1999; 359: 310-321.
Absolutely no claims made by Dr. Oz are substantiated, yet millions and millions of dollars are being made from this supplement. If these studies were so important, why did it take so long for the production to match the research studies, specifically from the 1990's?
Why are supplements not regulated by the FDA? Why are companies allowed to make claims and make millions of dollars from products that have not undergone clinical trials to see if they work, and if they are safe? The questions need to be answered! If there is no regulation, what incentive is there for supplement companies to follow rules? What is being done to ensure companies do not make claims that are false and that they do not take advantage of consumers?
More to come on supplements and the FDA...
#droz, #raspberry ketone, #dieting
Written by Kelly Brooks, Ph.D. www.drkellybrooks.com
