Fat loss supplements: calcium, caffein, green tea, etc.

Question
I have a question about a supplement called "TwinLab ripped fuel extra cut" product. It's a fat burner that I just started using. I am 26 years old, 6'2" and I currently weigh 194 pounds. I am trying to lose fat to get cut defined abs and I read many things about this product helping you achieve good defined abs. I am just concerned that this product might be harmful for my health. Can you advice me on this please? You can read more about this product here:

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2133533

If you can't answer me this question, could you please delegate it to someone who knows?

Answer
Hello,

I don't think anything in this formula can harm your health. Will it help you to reach your goal? Some fitness experts are firm in advising against using fat burning supplements, for example read this article:
http://atkinszone-faq.blogspot.com/2008/08/you-do-not-ever-need-fat-burners.html

On the other hand, there's no doubts that caffein, for example, intensifies lipolysis:
http://atkinszonefatloss.blogspot.com/2008/10/caffeine-and-aspirin-for-fat-burni...
http://atkinszonefatloss.blogspot.com/2008/10/eca-stack.html

Now, about other ingredients. Calcium influence on weight loss and body fat loss was a subject of  intense research. Studies of Ca action on fat cells showed a strong an increase of fat-mobilyzing processes but results of studies in humans were not consistent. Currently, it seems to be sorted out and the conclusion is, that dairy-based Ca intake caused increased body fat oxidation ("burning") but supplementation with Ca added no benefits to weight loss program (see for example 1 and 2).

The Green Tea ingredient seems to have a more favorable scientific coverage (e.g., 2, 3). "In one study, subjects who consumed key ingredients found in HYDROXYCUT (green tea containing 90 mg of EGCG and a total of 200 mg of caffeine) showed an average daily caloric expenditure 158 kcal higher than when using a placebo (2410 kcals/day vs. 2252 kcals/day)" wrote Flex magazine in May 2003.

Sources
1. Effect of short-term high dietary calcium intake on 24-h energy expenditure, fat oxidation, and fecal fat excretion. Obes Res. 2005 Dec;13(12):2102-12
2. Effects of Calcium and Resistance Exercise on Body Composition in Overweight Premenopausal Women. J Am Coll Nutr June 15, 2011 vol. 29 no. 6, 604-611.
3. Green tea increased the 24-h energy expenditure (Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2002 Mar;42(2):163-78.)
4. Green tea reduced body fat build up caused by high-fat diet (J Nutr Biochem. 2003 Nov;14(11):671-6.)  

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