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Does the Weight Loss Pill Lipozene Work and Is It Safe?

Written by Carlos Tello, PhD (Molecular Biology) | Last updated:
Jonathan Ritter
Puya Yazdi
Medically reviewed by
Jonathan Ritter, PharmD, PhD (Pharmacology), Puya Yazdi, MD | Written by Carlos Tello, PhD (Molecular Biology) | Last updated:
pills

Lipozene has been attracting attention due to claims that it can curb appetite and boost weight loss without any major lifestyle changes such as diet or exercise. It also can supposedly help control diabetes. But does Lipozene actually work? Read on to find out.

What Is Lipozene?

Lipozene is marketed as a supplement that helps reduce body weight and fat. Its main active ingredient is glucomannan, which is a complex carbohydrate isolated from parts of the konjac plant (Amorphophallus konjac). Glucomannan supposedly increases feelings of fullness and can fight obesity and diabetes. These properties of glucomannan are what popularized Lipozene as a weight-loss supplement [1, 2, 3, 4].

Components

The main ingredient of Lipozene is glucomannan, a soluble, fermentable, and highly viscous dietary fiber that can absorb 50x its weight in water. Both soluble and insoluble fiber can’t be digested by humans [1, 5, 6, 7].

Mechanism of Action

Because glucomannan can’t be digested, it can make you feel full despite taking in fewer calories. It can also promote fullness by forming a thick gel and take up space in the stomach as well as delaying the time it takes for food to pass through the stomach and intestines [6, 8].

Does Lipozene Work?

Currently, there are no scientific studies on Lipozene. The manufacturers state that their weight-loss claim is based on sales data published in 2013-2018 and that they use Amorphophallus konjac and glucomannan research. Therefore, we will review the main claims of Lipozene (weight loss, diabetes, and safety) based on the available Amorphophallus konjac/glucomannan data.

Natural Sources

There are many natural sources of the main ingredient of Lipozene, such as konjac flour, konjac gum, or konjac glucomannan, which are available as capsules, drink mixes, granules, and tablets.

Snapshot

Proponents

  • May help lose weight
  • May help lower blood sugar
  • May help lower blood cholesterol
  • May help with constipation

Skeptics

  • The trials didn’t test Lipozene, but its ingredient glucomannan
  • Effectiveness may vary depending on the composition of the herbal extract
  • Some supplements may contain toxic impurities (hepatitis associated with glucomannan supplement)
  • Not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Choking hazard if not taken with enough water
  • May cause blood pressure or sugar levels to drop too low
  • May enhance the effects of antidiabetic drugs
  • May reduce the uptake of sulfonylurea drugs

Health Benefits

Possibly Effective

1) Weight Loss

A few studies showed that glucomannan can help to decrease weight by promoting satiety through a delayed gastric emptying and intestine transit time.

A review of seven clinical trials with an average of 39 participants concluded glucomannan may possess properties that promote weight loss when paired with either a normal or low-calorie diet, but more study is needed. It also reduced the rate of food absorption in the small intestine, leading to smaller post-meal blood sugar and insulin spikes [9].

In two trials on over 100 overweight or obese people, 3 g/day glucomannan reduced body weight and total and LDL cholesterol levels [10, 11].

Another trial of 50 obese people found that glucomannan added to a low-calorie diet was more effective than this diet alone [12].

Similarly, obese people lost excess weight and reduced triglycerides and cholesterol levels by taking 2-3 capsules, 2x/day of glucomannan with a balanced diet in a trial on 53 people [13].

While a diet supplemented with 3 g/day glucomannan reduced body mass, body fat, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, adding exercise improved body composition and HDL levels, and the HDL/triglycerides ratio in a clinical trial on 20 people [14].

Overall, the evidence suggests that Lipozene and glucomannan may help lose weight. However, doing more exercise and improving your diet may be safer and more effective. Discuss with your doctor if you may use Lipozene as an add-on to your weight-loss plan and carefully follow their recommendations.

2) Diabetes

In a study on 22 diabetics, 3.6 g/day glucomannan decreased fasting but not post-meal blood sugar levels [15].

1 g glucomannan treatment prior to a sugar test reduced blood sugar spikes but didn’t affect insulin levels of 20 diabetics in another trial [16].

A clinical trial of 40 women with PCOS showed that glucomannan reduced glucose and insulin levels, especially when combined with inositol [17].

Another study of 34 women demonstrated that 3g/day glucomannan decreased blood glucose levels in both diabetic and non-diabetic groups [18].

In another trial of type 2 diabetics, glucomannan also controlled ghrelin levels (the hunger hormone) [19].

However, a study of 11 type 2 diabetes patients showed that glucomannan supplementation with a traditional diet and drug regiment did not affect blood sugar, insulin levels, or body weight [20].

Although limited, the evidence suggests that Lipozene (and glucomannan) may help lower blood sugar levels. You may discuss with your doctor if it may help in your case. Importantly, never take Lipozene in place of antidiabetic medication prescribed by your doctor.

3) Lowering Blood Cholesterol

As previously described, a diet supplemented with 3 g/day glucomannan reduced total and LDL cholesterol, and helped lose weight in a clinical trial on 20 overweight people. When the supplement was combined with exercise, it also increased HDL levels and the HDL/triglyceride ratio [14].

Similarly, glucomannan (both alone and in combination with chromium polynicotinate) lowered total and LDL cholesterol in 3 clinical trials on almost 200 children with high blood fat levels (dyslipidemia) [21, 22, 23].

Glucomannan also lowered total and LDL cholesterol in 2 clinical trials on almost 100 adults (both healthy and diabetic) [24, 25].

To sum up, the evidence suggests that Lipozene (or glucomannan) may help lower blood cholesterol (both total and LDL cholesterol) in both adults and children. You may discuss with your doctor if it is recommended as a complementary strategy in your case.

Insufficient Evidence

Constipation and Digestive Issues

Due to its high content in fiber, glucomannan has also been proposed as a remedy for constipation and other digestive issues.

In a small trial on 13 people with constipation, including glucomannan (1 g) in the diet during 10 days reduced digestive transit time. Similarly, a supplement with glucomannan (1.5 g, 3x/day) increased bowel movements by 30% and improved the abundance of beneficial bacteria (lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) in the gut in another trial on 7 constipated people [26].

Its effects in children are less clear. While a clinical trial on 46 constipated children found glucomannan (up to 5 g/day) beneficial even in those already taking laxatives, another trial on 80 children found it ineffective. Additionally, glucomannan didn’t improve stomach pain in another trial on 84 children [27, 28, 29].

Taken together 2 small trials in adults and 3 trials in children (with mixed results) cannot be considered sufficient evidence to support the use of Lipozene or glucomannan for constipation. Larger, more robust clinical trials are needed to shed some light on this potential health benefit.

Limitations and Caveats

While there are studies on the effect of the main ingredient, glucomannan, on weight loss, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, and constipation, no studies have tested Lipozene. Thus, there is no direct evidence that Lipozene has any efficacy or is safe to use.

The studies performed with glucomannan were mostly conducted with humans but some were based on experiments with animal models or cell lines. More data are needed to establish exactly if and how glucomannan works.

Because the main ingredient comes from a natural product, several factors can affect the final quality of the supplement. Cultivation and harvesting, post-harvest handling, and manufacturing practices will all affect the quality and, consequently, the therapeutic value of the final herbal products [1].

Side Effects & Safety

Keep in mind that the safety profile of Lipozene is relatively unknown, given the lack of well-designed clinical studies. The list of side effects below is not a definite one and you should consult your doctor about other potential side effects based on your health condition and possible drug or supplement interactions.

Glucomannan has low toxicity levels with no evidence of psychotropic activity (meaning it doesn’t affect mental states) and appears to be well tolerated. However, in one case report, glucomannan supplements may have caused severe hepatitis, indicating a potential for the presence of impurities [30, 31, 32].

The glucomannan tablets may swell up in the throat and become a choking hazard if not taken with enough water [33].

Lipozene may indirectly affect low blood pressure by dramatically decreasing blood glucose, which might affect diabetics and patients with low blood pressure [34].

Pregnant or Breastfeeding?

Intake of Lipozene should be monitored in pregnant or breastfeeding women since pregnancy and breastfeeding are calorically demanding processes [35].

Drug Interactions

Supplement/Herb/Nutrient-drug interactions can be dangerous and, in rare cases, even life-threatening. Always consult your doctor before supplementing and let them know about all drugs and supplements you are using or considering.

In general, Lipozene may interact with any medication taken orally, as its fiber can delay the absorption of medications in the intestine.

Since glucomannan has been shown to lower blood sugar, discuss with your doctor if you’re taking the following medications/supplements that affect blood sugar [20, 15]:

Glucomannan reduces the absorption of sulfonylurea medications and may reduce the bioavailability of other oral medications that are taken at the same time. Therefore, oral medications should be taken 1 hour before or 4 hours after ingesting Lipozene [36].

Dosage

Because Lipozene is not approved by the FDA for any condition, there is no official dose. Users and supplement manufacturers have established unofficial doses based on trial and error. Discuss with your doctor if Lipozene may be useful as a complementary approach in your case and which dose you should take.

Lipozene

The manufacturers of Lipozene recommend a dosage of 2 capsules, 30 minutes before meals, with at least 8 oz (~250 mL) water, up to 3x/day.

Glucomannan

The optimal daily dosage of glucomannan for weight loss is 1 g, 3x/day, 1 hour before meals. Higher doses, ranging from 3.6 to 13 g/day, were recommended for managing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, insulin-resistance syndrome, and high cholesterol [9].

Lipozene Reviews

The opinions expressed in this section are solely those of Lipozene users, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. Their reviews do not represent the opinions of SelfHacked. SelfHacked does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.

Do not consider user experiences as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers because of something you have read on SelfHacked. We understand that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider.

Most Lipoine users reported positive experiences including:

  • Effective at controlling blood sugar levels
  • Weight loss true effects
  • Hunger control
  • Improvement of constipation symptoms
  • Lowering cholesterol
  • Improved insulin resistance in polycystic ovarian syndrome

However, some dissatisfied users reported:

  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Bloating
  • Gas

One user complained about the cost of taking the supplement on a daily basis.

About the Author

Carlos Tello

Carlos Tello

PhD (Molecular Biology)
Carlos received his PhD and MS from the Universidad de Sevilla.
Carlos spent 9 years in the laboratory investigating mineral transport in plants. He then started working as a freelancer, mainly in science writing, editing, and consulting. Carlos is passionate about learning the mechanisms behind biological processes and communicating science to both academic and non-academic audiences. He strongly believes that scientific literacy is crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid falling for scams.

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