Most of these supplements can be found on-line, at your local pharmacy or vitamin store, or through a number of supplement companies. We have included the link to a website for Xymogen, which is a supplement company that Dr. Jill Quigley and Eric Adrid, PA-C have reviewed and found to be a reliable source for supplements.
Please check with your provider prior to starting supplements to make sure they will benefit you and will not interact with other medications or supplements you are taking. Your provider will inform you of the dose of each supplement that you should take. If you are interested in purchasing supplements online, please speak to your medical provider about how to create your online account.
Weight Loss:
- Alpha Lipoic Acid:
- Antioxidant, helps turn glucose into energy
- Can cause permanent hypothyroidism when dose greater than 1800mg/day is taken
- Beta-glucan:
- Fiber from cell walls; decreases hunger; also lowers LDL and A1c and increases HDL
- No known side effects
- Not available through Metagenics
- Chromium (Trivalent Chromium Picolinate):
- Improves the efficiency of insulin; improves fat loss with muscle sparing
- Can cause hypoglycemia so do not use if not overweight
- Green Tea Extract (Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG):
- Releases norepinephrine at the hypothalamus (like phentermine)
- Can cause abnormal liver function tests (AST and ALT)
- Requires a good supplement company to ensure extraction of ingredient
- Green Coffee Extract (Chlorogenic Acid):
- Increases production of norepinephrine at the hypothalamus (like phentermine)
- No serious side effects noted; side effects are those associated with caffeine
- Standardization and extraction is important, so make sure a good company makes it; should say chlorogenic acids, not green coffee extracts on ingredients
- 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP):
- Converted to serotonin and melatonin; decreases intake of carbohydrates and fats
- Can cause nervousness, insomnia and hypertension
- Do not use with SSRIs (eg, Prozac, Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Viibryd)
- 7-Keto DHEA (3-Acetyl-7-Oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone):
- Similar to DHEA as an androgenic/anabolic hormone; increases fat loss and muscle and bone building and lowers blood sugar
- Can cause permanent hypothyroidism with prolonged use
- Must check thyroid panel within 6 months prior to starting; may check DHEA-S prior to use
- Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLA)
- Reduces lipoprotein lipase, reduces body fat mass
- No significant side effects noted compared with placebo
- HCA (Hydroxycitric Acid):
- Reduces synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol and triglycerides and may increase serotonin (decreasing hunger/appetite)
- No side effects found
- Make sure at least 50% of ingredient is extract of Garcinia cambogia
- Note: also lowers serum leptin and other cholesterol markers
- Not available through Metagenics
- SAM(e), B6, B12, and methylfolate can all be used to help increase energy and metabolism during weight loss; Not available through Metagenics
- Carnitine can help with weight loss especially in people who do not eat much red meat
Diabetes:
- Cocoa (polyphenols)
- Antioxidant; lowers fasting blood sugar, blood pressure and increases HDL
- 1 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder twice a day
- No known side effects
- Not available through Metagenics
- Ginseng (American or Chinese, not Siberian):
- Reduces glucose after eating
- Can cause hypoglycemia and lower warfarin effects
- Make sure there are at least 4-7% ginsenosides in ingredients
- Expensive
- Not available through Metagenics
- Cinnamon:
- Increases glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis and phosphorylation of insulin receptor; Also reduces triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol
- No side effects found
- Vanadium (Vanadyl Sulfate):
- Has insulin-mimetic (insulin-like) effect; Only use in diabetics who do not require insulin
- Can cause kidney damage in large doses over long periods of time; greenish tongue
- Make sure to get enough selenium/zinc, vitamin C and B12 as these are often deficient in diabetics
Cholesterol:
- Niacin:
- Lowers triglycerides and increases HDL
- Can cause flushing (red tingling sunburn-like rash), which lessens if an aspirin is taken with niacin
- CoQ10:
- Produces energy for cell growth and maintenance; antioxidant; may reduce adverse effects associated with statin therapy
- 100mg dose or more can cause insomnia; taking 300mg daily for long periods of time can cause elevation in liver enzymes; may lower blood pressure and glucose level
- EPA/DHA (omega-3 fatty acids):
- Associated with fetal development, cardiovascular function, Alzheimer’s disease, numerous other health issues
- Higher doses may cause bleeding
General Health:
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- Vitamin D:
- Helps with calcium deposition in bones for healthy bone density; numerous other benefits such as reducing fatigue and muscle aches
- Can overdose on vitamin D if level reaches over 100 (normal level is over 30) because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, so extra is not excreted in urine
- Only way to get natural vitamin D is from the sun; has to be fortified into foods, so if it does not say vitamin D fortified, it does not have vitamin D
- Methylfolate:
- More bioavailable form of folic acid; Helps with fatigue, decreasing risk of spinal deformities in pregnancy, lowering homocysteine in people who have a faulty enzyme that helps the body utilize folic acid
- Doses up to 50mg daily can cause GI complaints, irritability, insomnia and fatigue
- Tumeric:
- Great anti-inflammatory to decrease joint/muscle pain and potentially lower the risk of Alzheimer’s as well.
- Can cause nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness
