Ephedrine and Caffeine Combination

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Ephedrine and Caffeine Combination What does adding stimulants to diet pills do? It is believed that adding caffeine to diet pills may increase weight loss (http://www.vitamins.com/encyclopedia/Concern/Weight_Loss.htm and http://www.mothernature.com/ency/Concern/Weight_Loss.asp). Many diet pills contain caffeine or guaranine, which is found in the herb guarana and is almost identical to caffeine. Caffeine acts as a stimulant of the central nervous system. The stimulant also increases the body’s metabolism and is a mild diuretic. It is rare to find caffeine in a diet pill without the combination of ephedrine. The combination of the two stimulants is more effective than the use of them individually. Claims made about the Ephedrine/Caffeine Combination in diet pills: It Enhances Thermogenesis Ephedrine and caffeine work individually and as a combination when ingested into the body (http://www.endureplus.com/caffeine_ephedrine.htm). Caffeine has properties that stimulate the central nervous system and the energy metabolism in the peripheral tissues. These stimulations can cause four other reactions: adenosine receptor blockage, improved neuromuscular transmission, increased muscle contractility, and increased adrenalin levels. Ephedrine also stimulates parts of the central nervous system and the peripheral tissues known as the adrenergic receptors. Essentially ephedrine can act like adrenalin in the body so a person’s energy level increases also. The effect of the combination of ephedrine and caffeine is best described as promoting thermogenesis (http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag98/dec98_heat.html). Thermogenesis is the “chemical production of heat within the body to promote the oxid... ... middle of paper ... ...bolism in lean and obese rhesus monkeys treated with ephedrine and caffeine. American Journal for Clinical Nutrition, 68:42-51. Astrup, A., Breum, L., Hein, P., Toubro, S., & Quaade, F. (1992). The effect and safety of an ephedrine/caffeine compound compared to ephedrine, caffeine and placebo in obese subjects on an energy restricted diet. A double blind trial. International Journal of Obesity. 16, 269-277. Astrup, A., Breum, L., Toubro, S., & Quaade, F. (1993). The acute and chronic effects of ephedrine/caffeine mixtures on energy expediture and glucose metabolism in humans. International Journal of Obesity. 17 (Suppl. 3), S73-S77. Astrup, A., Buemann, B., Christensen, N. J., Toubro, S., Torbek, G., Victor, O. J., & Quaade, F. (1992) The effect of ephedrine/caffeine mixture on energy expenditure and body composition in obese women. Metabolism. 686-688.

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