Don't forget to take ephedra with your coffee

[Gordon B]

Read the abstract of the study below. Ephedra has taken a bad rap since the death of Orioles pitcher Steve Belcher in spring training but c'mon, Belcher was considerably overweight and had an abnormal liver and an enlarged heart. If Ephedra is banned by the FTC, there will be some fortunes made by trial lawyers but I won't be able to drink my Yogi Green Tea with Kombuchea and Triple Echinacea, which contains ephedra.



1: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1993 Feb;17 Suppl 1:S69-72. Related Articles, Links

Safety and efficacy of long-term treatment with ephedrine, caffeine and an ephedrine/caffeine mixture.

Toubro S, Astrup AV, Breum L, Quaade F.

Research Department of Human Nutrition, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Fredriksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind study, 180 obese patients were treated by diet (4.2 MJ/day) and either an ephedrine/caffeine combination (20mg/200mg), ephedrine (20mg), caffeine (200mg) or placebo 3 times a day for 24 weeks. 141 patients completed this part of the study. All medication was stopped between week 24-26 in order to catch any withdrawal symptoms. From week 26 to 50, 99 patients completed treatment with the ephedrine/caffeine compound in an open trial design, resulting in a statistically significant (p = 0.02) weight loss of 1.1kg. In another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 8 week study on obese subjects we found the mentioned compound showed lean body mass conserving properties. We conclude that the ephedrine/caffeine combination is effective in improving and maintaining weight loss, further it has lean body mass saving properties. The side effects are minor and transient and no withdrawal symptoms have been found.

Publication Types:

* Clinical Trial
* Randomized Controlled Trial


PMID: 8384186 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Pete C]

The ephedra/caffeine cocktail is also known as herbal ecstasy.

I always knew Gordon was a raver.