Ultimate Trim Review: Is Ultimate Trim Really The Ultimate Fat Burner?

Ultimate Trim Review: Is It Really The Ultimate Fat Burner?SEARCH SITEe.g. Zantrex 3, Relacore, etc.

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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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Ultimate Nutrition Red Zone Fat Burner Review

Red Zone, from Ultimate Nutrition, is the fat burner that claims to "delay exhaustion and burn fat". The "delayed exhaustion" element of the formula is largely attributable to the "fatigue-delay" complex which consists of two ingredients: beta alanine and coenzyme Q10.

That said, let's take a thorough look at the complete Red Zone formula and see how it measures up...

1) The "Fatigue-Delay" complex: A full 3-capsule serving of Red Zone delivers 1030 mg of the following two ingredients (according to the advertising copy I reviewed, the "precise blend of COQ-10 and beta alanine that have been clinically studied to extend workouts.")...

Beta Alanine: More commonly found in pre-workout formulations and body building training supplements like Isatori's H+Blocker, there's plenty of clinical evidence that shows beta alanine reduces training fatigue (see here, here, here, and here!).

If there's a problem, it's the fact that the doses used in these studies are much higher than what is found in this product (3-6 grams daily is the norm). It is extremely unlikely therefore, that this relatively low dose of beta alanine will deliver results on par with the studies referenced above.

Coenzyme Q10: A powerful antioxidant that has been used experimentally to treat both cardiovascular and mitochondrial diseases. Some retailers—like Ultimate Nutrition—claim coenzyme Q10 can increase energy and boost training performance. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests otherwise; for those with normal mitochondrial function, coenzyme Q10 has little or no effect whatsoever (see here, here, here, and here!).

2) The "Calorie-burning" complex: This 795 mg blend boasts 8 ingredients, which pretty much guarantees that none of them are going to be present in a dosage strong enough to elicit any effect (just like with pharmaceutical drugs, the compounds present in fat burners must be present in a specific dosage if the user is to experience some benefits from them. That is not going to be the case here).

Cayenne Pepper (Fruit): Cayenne fruit (the active ingredient of which is called "capsaicin") is often used to improve digestion. Topically as a cream, it can be used to treat arthritis. However, it may improve the efficiency of the circulatory system, as well as elevating the internal body temperature, and increasing fat burning ability through thermogenisis.

There is a small body of evidence that indicates that cayenne consumption can indeed elevate the metabolism (Br J Nutr 1999;82:115–23).

Unfortunately, it's only at much higher doses (one study used 10 grams consumed along with meals!) that any effect is realized. 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. Asian Ginseng Powder (Root): A well-known adaptogen, although studies validating its effects on atheletic performance are mixed. White Willow Powder (Bark): In the old days, white willow bark was used as the herbal form of salicin, and comprised the third element of the good old ephedra / caffeine / aspirin stack. In ephedra-free fat burners like this one, there is no evidence it offers any benefit, short of the anti-inflammatory effects inherent to salicin. Red Tea Extract (Leaf & Stem): It's hard to say for sure, but it's likely this refers to rooibos tea, which, although high in antioxidants and phenolic compounds, isn't in the same family as green or oolong tea and has no demonstrated weight loss effects. Kola Nut Powder (Seed): Animal studies have shown kola nut has fat burning properties, but for humans, the main benefit kola nut offers is as a diuretic and a source of caffeine (kola nut can contain between 2-4% caffeine. Evodia Extract (Fruit): a compound derived from the Chinese fruit Evodia Rutaecarpa. It's claimed to burn fat by increasing the body's production of heat, as well as reducing the body's ability to store fat.

Although a preliminary animal study shows promising results, to date there's no evidence showing evodiamine works in people.

Ginger Powder (Root): Ginger contains gingerols, which are chemically related to capsaicin. It does demonstrate some mild thermogenic and metabolism-boosting characteristics, although compliance to high dosage is likely necessary.

Some small animal studies performed on zingerone (a component of ginger) have been positive for weight loss (Yakugaku Zasshi. 2008 Aug;128(8):1195-201) albeit the dosage used (170 mg/kg) is too high to be transferred into humans.

Ginger also seems to accelerate gastric emptying... the opposite of the sort of thing dieters want (Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 May;20(5):436-40).

Black Pepper Extract (Fruit): Usually added to fat burners and other supplements on the basis it improves the bioavailability of certain ingredients. Some make the argument that it elevates the metabolism as well, although there's little evidence to validate this argument—at least when used at the dose typically found in products like this.

3) Power enhancing complex: 500 mg of the following two ingredients...

PowerGrape®: A proprietary Bordeaux grape extract which acts as a powerful antioxidant. Powergrape makes other claims as well; at the 400 mg/day dosage (incidentally, the amount included in Red Zone) it increases oxgenation of the muscles, and protects muscles against lesions caused by physical exericse.

Apparently, these benefits are backed by clinical studies, although these appear to be performed "in-house", and not published in a reputable journal where the methodologies and conclusions can be contested by qualified professionals. Nonetheless, it's well established that grape extracts are potent antioxidants.

Caffeine Anhydrous: Caffeine has a well established record as a mild thermogenic, and does deliver mild weight loss results (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97). It also cheaply and effectively addresses the most common complaint of dieters; lack of energy. According to the Red Zone advertising, there is 100 mg of caffiene in a single dose (the equivalent of a cup of coffee's worth).

So there you have it. Red Zone in a nutshell.

Frankly, it's a bit of a bizarre formulation with an odd focus on potent antioxidants (Coenzyme Q10 and PowerGrape).

While no one is going to argue to possible benefits of antioxidant supplementation—despite the fact that none pertain to weight loss specifically—it's not usually what customers are looking for when they purchase a weight loss supplement.

The inclusion of low dose beta alanine too, is perplexing. At the appropriate dose (around 5 grams, or 5,000 mg), it's a great addition to pre-workout and bodybuilding supplements. At this dose, in a fat burner? I have no idea what Ultimate Nutrition was thinking.

And the ingredients included precisely for fat burning? A tepid, under-dosed and/or backed by poor or preliminary cinical evidence group of ingredients.

It's not that Red Zone is a bad product, it's just that Red Zone can't decide what it wants to be, and in an attempt to be "everything", fails on all accounts.

On the other hand, the small amount of customer feedback posted on BodyBuilding.com is largely positive, although no one seems to be touting its amazing thermogenic properties.

That said, we'd love to hear from Red Zone users. How did you like it?

Have you used Red Zone? Share your
comments and read Red Zone user reviews / testimonials, click here!

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