Synephrine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Synephrine is a dietary supplement aimed at encouraging fat loss. While its effectiveness is widely debated, it has gained significant popularity as an alternative to ephedrine, a related substance. Synephrine is derived from the fruit plant Citrus Aurantium, also known as zhi shi, green orange, sour orange, and bitter orange.
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[edit] Claims
- Burns fat
- Increases energy levels
- Increases metabolism
- Promotes weight loss
[edit] Synephrine is not neosynephrine
There has been some confusion surrounding synephrine and phenylephrine (a.k.a. neosynephrine). While virtually identical in chemical makeup (C9H13NO2), the hydroxyl group in phenylephrine is located at the meta position of the benzene ring, whereas in synephrine the hydroxyl group is located at the para position. The isomers have varying biological activity and specificity. Therefore, they should not be seen as equivalents.
[edit] Associated risks
Many diet products such as Stacker 2 contain synephrine along with caffeine. Some reports have indicated that such diet pills cause numerous harmful effects. The Mayo Clinic published a report that suggested that Stacker 2 pills caused ischemic stroke:
"In response to concerns regarding the safety of ephedra-containing dietary supplements, manufacturers have marketed “ephedra free” products. Many of these contain synephrine, a sympathomimetic amine from the plant Citrus aurantium. Synephrine is structurally similar to ephedrine and has vasoconstrictor properties. We describe a 38-year-old patient with ischemic stroke associated with an ephedra-free dietary supplement containing synephrine and caffeine. The patient presented with memory loss and unsteady gait after taking 1 or 2 capsules per day of a dietary supplement (Stacker 2 Ephedra-Free) for 1 week. " [...] "In an otherwise healthy young man with no defined risk factors, an ischemic stroke was associated with recent use of Stacker 2 Ephedra Free, a supplement that contains the vasoactive sympathomimetic amine synephrine and caffeine. Two similar agents, ephedra (ephedrine) and phenylpropanolamine, have been banned by the FDA secondary to serious neurologic and cardiovascular adverse effects. The medical community needs to be aware of the potential risks of ephedra-free products, to continue to report adverse events to the FDA MedWatch program (1-800-FDA-1088 or online at www.fda.gov/medwatch), and to continue to advocate for better regulation of dietary supplements."
[edit] External links
- Ischemic Stroke Associated With Use of an Ephedra-Free Dietary Supplement Containing Synephrine (Mayo Clinic)
- Slim Pickings: Looking Beyond Ephedra (New York Times)
- SYNEPHRINE: Is Chih-shih (Zhishi) Toxic?
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