Ultimate Trim claims to be the "Ultimate Fat Burner", allowing users to "lose 20 lbs. fast" with its "triple action weight loss formula." I found this last statement to be at odds with a comment made a mere 3 paragraphs later...
"...in order for any weight loss fat burning system to work, the solution must address the four key components of weight loss."
So is this a triple or quadruple action product?
The web site itself is typical of products like this; it features a mix of personal testimonials (all sporting impeccable grammar which is uncommon), quotes from Oprah and Dr. Nicholas Perricone regarding several "key" ingredients of the product, an offer for a free trial and the logos of several recognizable media outlets (CNN, FoxNews, etc.).
Of course, neither Oprah or Dr. Perricone endorse Ultimate Trim, and it hasn't been featured on any of the news channels featured prominently on the site. It's all part of the retailer's effort to add credibility to their product's claims.
In scouring UltimateTrimDirect.com I could find no information about the company providing this breakthrough product; no physical address or contact number is provided. An e-mail address and contact form are your only links with whomever is behind this company. This is never a good sign.
And check out the "About Us" link... there's no information there, just a re-posting of the company's money back guarantee, which customers allege isn't honored anyway.
So is there anything to the Ultimate Trim claims? Is there any reason to spend $70 on this product? Let's have a look at the product formulation...
1) Caralluma Fibriata: The Ultimate Trim sales copy makes much ado over the "fat burning powers" of this "wonder" ingredient. Despite all this, I was only able to find one positive study on Caralluma (see Appetite. 2007 May;48(3):338-44. Epub 2006 Nov 13). It concluded...
"While there was a trend towards a greater decrease in body weight, body mass index, hip circumference, body fat and energy intake between assessment time points in the experimental group, these were not significantly different between experimental and placebo groups. Caralluma extract appears to suppress appetite, and reduce waist circumference when compared to placebo over a 2 month period."While positive, I would hardly describe the results of this study as a rip-roaring endorsement of Caralluma's amazing fat burning and appetite suppressing powers. Incidentally, it also appears to be the only published, peer-reviewed study on Caralluma's possible benefits for dieters.
Additionally, the clinical study calls for 1 gram (1,000 mg) of Caralluma daily ? and we can't confirm whether or not Ultimate Trim contains that much active ingredient (the daily intake of the proprietary Ultimate Trim blend comprises 1464 mg of ingredients).
Although Caralluma is listed first (ingredients are listed on labels in order of prominence), there are 5 other ingredients included here as well. In essence what that means is that if Caralluma is included in a dose strong enough to replicate the rather underwhelming results shown by the study above, the other 5 ingredients will be present in such a low dosage as to comprise little more than label dressing.
2) Green tea extract (50% EGCG): Green tea and an essential catechin thereof, EGCG, have been shown to be helpful for weight loss (read the full review of green tea here!). As I just indicated however, if Caralluma is included in a dose potent enough to have any effect, it's very unlikely there's enough green tea here to do anything -- especially considering there are still an additional 4 ingredients in the formula.
3) Cocoa extract: Ultimate Trim labels itself the "feel good" fat burner, probably on the basis of this ingredient. Usually this claim is based on the fact that cocoa extracts contain phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a chemical cousin of amphetamine. Unfortunately, PEA is metabolized by the enzyme monamine oxidase, preventing all but the tiniest amounts from entering the bloodstream.
In this formula the cocoa extract is standardized for l-tyrosine, theobromine, caffeine and a few other goodies. While caffeine is a proven thermogenic, and tyrosine has mood-elevating characteristics in multi-gram doses, it's doubtful any of these ingredients are present in high enough amounts to elicit much of an effect.
4) Cayenne: probably standardized for capsaicin, a chemical that gives chile peppers their "heat." The theory is that capsaicin "revs" up your metabolism by creating heat, thus burning off extra calories. However, this study (Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Jan;292(1):R77-85. Epub 2006 Jul 13) says it best...
"Capsaicin has been shown to be effective, yet when it is used clinically it requires a strong compliance to a certain dosage, that has not been shown to be feasible yet."In other words, in order for capsaicin to have an effect on your metabolism, it has to be taken in doses much too high to make it practical.
5) ATP: Or adenosine triphosphate. It's a nucleotide present in all cells in the human body. Its roles are many and complex; it's involved in everything from cellular metabolism, muscle contraction, cardiac function to the metabolism of glycogen in the liver. Does ATP help with weight loss? If it does, it isn't reflected in any clinical study I could find (I did find it helps mitigate weight loss in small cell lung cancer patients).
Additionally, any "benefits" offered by the tiny amount of ATP included in this formula are likely compromised by the caffeine also present; caffeine and other xanthines are competitive antagonists of adenosine on cell surface receptors (Anesthesiology 2002;97:938-43).
6) Slimaluma?: The patented version of the Caralluma (see ingredient #1) which comprises the majority of this formula. Including a small amount of it here seems silly and redundant.
At the end of the day what you're left with is a single ingredient that has only one credible study validating its effectiveness (Caralluma), and indeterminate amount of one other useful ingredient (green tea). The remainder of the formula adds relatively little value.
Can you lose 20 lbs fast with Ultimate Trim?
Not a chance.
There's absolutely no evidence to indicate this is even remotely possible.
For 50% of the cost of this product, you can buy much better formulated products that come with a real guarantee.
There are several other problems...
As mentioned earlier, consumer complaints allege this company does not honor its money-back guarantee.Further detective work reveals this product appears to be distributed by Brock Felt and MarqiLife. MarqiLife distributes Nite Trim (which has also received complaints of deceptive billing practices), and BetaFuel (of which I have received complaints of deceptive billing practices).
As of August 2008, MarqiLife and Brock Felt were passing off their illegal ephedra-based product BetaFuel as legal (by failing to inform consumers that the ephedra ban lifted in 2005 was re-instated in 2006).
This company offers free trial incentives. These are not a "good faith" demonstration of the company's confidence in their product, but an attempt to lure you into a recurring billing program which you'll find nearly impossible to cancel from (for a video on the "dangers" of the free trial offer, click here!).
In short this product is overpriced, over hyped, and distributed by a company with a far from stellar record of billing and marketing practices.
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