A Systematic Review of Dietary Supplements and Alternative Therapies for Weight Loss

 https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23110

Commentary

Due to the inadequacy of various research designs on weight loss, there are many cases where no solid evidence is presented. Not a few studies have been designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of dietary supplements and alternative therapies as targeted diets. This study examined a systematic review of the literature on purported dietary supplements and alternative therapies for weight loss.

A systematic review was conducted to assess the effectiveness of dietary supplements and alternative therapies for weight loss in participants aged 18 years and older.

As a result, of the 20,504 citations retrieved in the database search, 1,743 full-text articles were reviewed, 315 of which were randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of 14 nutraceuticals, treatments, or combinations thereof. The risk of bias and sufficiency of the data varied widely. 

Few studies were classified as low risk and sufficient to support efficacy (n = 52 [16.5%]), and only 16 (31%) of these explained the significant differences in weight pre and post group. (Range: 0.3-4.93 kg).

From these results, we can conclude that dietary supplements and alternative therapies for weight loss provide high quality evidence with limited efficacy. Therefore, it is emphasized that practitioners and patients should be aware of the scientific evidence of claims before recommending their use.

The nutritional supplements and alternative therapies covered in this study are as follows

Acupuncture

Calcium and vitamin D

Chitosan chocolate/cocoa

Chromium

Ephedra or caffeine

Garcinia and/or hydroxycitrate

Green tea

Guar gum

Conjugated linoleic acid

Body and mind

Green beans

Phenylpropylamine

Pyruvic acid

There is no mention of which of these have little or no evidence, so you will have to search and find out for yourself.