What is it?
Hydroxycut is a weight loss brand that’s available in different forms, with common ingredients such as green coffee bean. They often use this ingredient to show that within 60 days, people lost 10.95 pounds versus a placebo.
The intended benefits of this brand are increased fat loss, energy, and enhanced metabolism. For their caffeine brands, they advise to start with just 1 capsule a day, then eventually building up to 2 capsules twice a day. Their Hydroxycut blend is a proprietary formula featuring fruit, green coffee, and saffron. In this review you’ll learn about the surprising company history, what customers have to say about it, and whether or not it’s a good weight loss supplement. The top 10 diet pills are featured in this comprehensive list.
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Hydroxycut Ingredients and Side Effects
Robusta Coffee Extract (45% (Chlorogenic Acid)
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Papaya
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Blackberry
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Saffron Extract
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Caffeine Anhydrous
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Maqui
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Amla Extract
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Microcrystalline Cellulose
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Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate
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Pre-gelatinized Starch
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Stearic Acid
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Titanium Dioxide
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Polyethylene Glycol
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Talc
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Croscarmellose Sodium
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Magnesium Stearate
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Silicon Dioxide
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Robusta Coffee Extract (45% Chlorogenic Acid): Unroasted Robusta coffee, which is a species of coffee bean known for its higher bitterness and acidity.
It’s intended to help improve metabolism and control blood sugar. It can potentially cause side effects that include:
- Insomnia, nausea, and agitation.
- Anxiety, rapid heart rate, and difficulty concentrating.
- Restlessness, ringing in the ears, and headaches.
A study is provided by the manufacturers to show how effective this ingredient is versus a placebo.
The study was funded by a company who sells this extract, so there’s a potential for bias. In this study they took 50 volunteers and made them follow a low calorie diet.
Other unbiased studies have shown this ingredient to be ineffective for weight loss. Examine.com adds:
“seems weakly to moderately effective (on fat loss)”
It’s possible the only reason for fat loss is due to the caffeine.
Saffron Extract: Plant extract that’s used in cooking, as well as a way to improve mood and reduce sickness. Though there isn’t sufficient studies about its use. Web MD adds:
“There isn’t enough information to know how saffron might work”
“Taking large amounts of saffron by mough is POSSIBLY UNSAFE”
Possible side effects include:
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes.
- Poisoning.
- Vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and numbness.
- Death.
When taken at large amounts there have been cases of people dying from this.
Caffeine Anhydrous: Dehydrated form of caffeine that stimulates the central nervous system, it increaseses energy and metabolism.
A full serving of Hydroxycut Pro Clinical, their flagship brand, has 400 mg per daily serving. This is the maximum allowed limit for caffeine, and due to this, the company mentions:
“Do not take within 5 hours of bedtime”
“Consume 8 to 10 glasses of water per day”
This is to avoid both insomnia and dehydration. They also advise to not take any other stimulants, since it would likely raise the risk for serious side effects. Though on its own, it can potentially cause:
- Anxiety, agitation, and pain in the chest.
- Rapid heart rate, tremors, and jitters.
- Cardiovascular damage, insomnia, and restlessness.
- Dehydration, headaches, and mood swings.
Caffeine also has limitations, as Examine.com adds:
“Habitual caffeine use leads to tolerance. This means the effects of caffeine will be diminished… where the only benefit a user experiences is caffeine’s anti-sleep effect”
Therefore, caffeine must be only taken for short periods before it loses its potential weight loss effects.
Certain people are much more sensitive to caffeine, and that’s why it’s advised to slowly introduce this brand, and to not take more than just 1 pill to start with.
Maqui: A berry found in parts of Latin America, it’s used to help with weight loss. However, Web MD adds:
“There isn’t enough information to know if maqui is safe”
The possible side effects are also not known.
Amla Extract: This fruit has been used to lower bad cholesterol, and to provide antioxidant support. Though Examine.com adds:
“there is not enough evidence to recommend Amla for any particular purpose”
There have also been cases of people experiencing liver damage.
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Hydroxycut Quality of Ingredients
Ingredients like amla, maqui, and saffron have not been thoroughly studied and it’s unknown if they would affect weight loss.
Then there’s the added caffeine and green coffee bean which are the key active ingredients. Caffeine can be replaced with coffee or tea for cheaper and green coffee bean hasn’t shown any valuable weight loss effects. Studies have shown it to be either ineffective, or weak in its possible weight loss effects.
For the kinds of ingredients used, the lack of clinical studies for some ingredients, and the unknown side effects of certain additives, this mixture is a poor choice for weight loss. There are far too many unanswered questions to determine what the formula might do.
The Price and Quality of Hydroxycut
Sales are not offered via the manfaucturer, but they do suggest multiple online and in store 3rd party retailers.
Amazon.com sells one 150 capsule bottle for $28.56. At the maximum dosage of 4 capsules a day, this lasts for a total of 37.5 days. This makes the daily cost for supplementation 76 cents.
Though inexpensive, many of the ingredinets in this are either innefective for weight loss, not yet proven, or can be replaced.
There’s a high amount of caffeine in this which isn’t a long lasting source for weight loss. It may also provide side effects. Stimulant free options for long lasting weight loss are available if you click here.
Caffeine at 400 mg is roughly 4 cups of coffee. That’s why special considerations must be put in place to help protect against side effects. Still, the key active ingredients in caffeine and green coffee bean extract aren’t enough to suggest both reliable and safe effects. These two ingredients can also be replaced for much cheaper.
Business of Hydroxycut
The owners of this brand are Iovate Health Sciences Inc. They can be reached via the following:
Phone Number: (888) 334-4448
Address: 381 North Service Road West
Oakville, ON, L6M 0H4 Canada
Email: [email protected]
The company has been in trouble with both the FDA and FTC.
The FTC fined them $5.5 million dollars for making false advertising claims about their supplements. This included stating that their brands had positive health benefits, and because of this, they were required to refund customers who bought supplements from them.
The FDA also sent them a warning letter due to:
“liver toxicity associated with the use of multiple versions of the dietary supplement Hydroxycut”
“Agency has concluded that the ingestion of the dietary supplement Hydroxycut presents a severe potentially life-threatening hazard to some users”
This forced the company to schedule a mandatory recall on all Hydroxycut on the market. There were 23 reports of severe health problems due to this supplement, and one person died from it.
After this, in 2024 and 2024 there were still incidents of heart problems and ulcers associated the use of Hydroxycut.
They currently have 6 complaints on their Better Business Bureau website. This is due to issues with service, the products, and a lack of communication from the company.
EDITOR’S TIP: For the best results, our experts recommend using weight loss pills for at least 3 months. Save your money by buying a few bottles at once.
Customer Opinions of Hydroxycut
Here are select reviews from online customers:
“I really don’t have any effect using this product”
“Made me feel super sick and dizzy”
“It’s mostly a glorified caffeine pill”
“I had severe nausea, abdominal pain and felt like my stomach was on fire”
Amazon.com currently features 535 complaints. It’s often mentioned from customers that they experienced side effects, as well as a lack of weight loss.
Common side effects experienced by users include nausea, stomach pain, anxiety, rapid heart rate, restlessness, anxiousness, agitation, and some experienced difficulty breathing.
Many also said this is basically just a caffeine pill, and that it had no noticeable weight loss effects.
Conclusion - Does Hydroxycut Work?
The key features to notice about this brand are the company history, and the kinds of ingredients used. Many customers have failed to see any weight loss benefits, and people describe it as a caffeine pill. This is likely because the only ingredeints in this that might have a weight loss effect are caffeine and green coffee extract. There’s not enough in this to suggest it would help benefit people. The company has also had to recall Hydroxycut due to serious health concerns. There’s also a lot of caffeine added to this, with a full serving providing the maximum recommended dosage strength for caffeine.
Stimulant free options are available, and the 2024 supplement of the year is called Sletrokor.
There’s only natural ingredients added to this blend, with the ability to suppress appetite, increase metabolism, and improve mood. Many users have left great testimonials showcasing how effective and safe it is. This supplement has no artificial ingredients, preservatives, or stimulants of any kind.
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User Feedback
(Page 19 of 41, 802 total comments)Brandon Sa nchez
+I tried hyd and lost 28 pounds in two months. thx guys. eat that Jenny Craig..
posted Dec 4th, 2008 11:18 pmJessica from Rochester
+I just recently started Hydroxycut caffeine free, because and I do not get along. Is there any difference. Can anyone recommend me which one to take? I've taking it for about two weeks and it seems that I have lost weight but I am affraid to weight my self, I do not want to put my hopes up and than notice that I did not loose anything. Please feel free to contact me with any comments.
posted Dec 1st, 2008 3:55 amRaziman
+I just started using hydroxycut yesterday and went jogging this morning.. have not noticed any changes yet however i felt an extra power when jogging and i have better mileage in running.
posted Nov 24th, 2008 6:47 pmDan
+I have tried everything before hydroxycut and nothing worked. I weighed 195lbs and started using Hydroxy cut about 7 months ago.I also stop drinking soda and drank water all day long like it called for and went to the gym about 1-2 times a week. I also watched what i ate and now weigh 153lbs. So i lost about 42lbs in 7 months. I have had no side affects and i get the pills for 19.99 at target. It calls for 2 before each meal and i only take 1 to get more our of each bottle. So far so good so i will continue to use it.
posted Nov 22nd, 2008 9:39 pma dudde
+I had posted last sunday. I have been taking 2 pills 3x daily. 30 minutes before I work out, then I eat. I do not snack. I have noticed just 3 pounds of weight loss. But my stomache has gone down. I took pictures of my stomache last sunday 11-16. and one today 11-22. I do look a lot skinnier, and I'm getting way more compliments. I feel energized and confident. so even though I may still have overweight weight. I am skinnier and it helped my eating habits. I will post up again in another week
posted Nov 22nd, 2008 9:43 amAlso, my cousin is taking this supplement as well. He is also seeming skinnier, but he has lost weight. About 7 pounds from last sunday, as well. He had a bigger stomach than mine. And his has gone down. so it does work. You just need to make it work. Keep it in mind.
wow
+I started taking the product this morning and I have lost 6 pounds today alone!!! I will be down to my goal weight in just 3 days!!! Suck on that South Beach!
posted Nov 21st, 2008 5:19 pmBrent
-I have been on a strict diet and exercise plan for 10 weeks now. I weigh myself once a week and decided to throw in Hydroxycut to see if it made any difference. On average I loose between 3 and 5 pounds a week, with the exception of my first week on the diet when I lost .3 pounds.
posted Nov 21st, 2008 10:26 amMy first week on Hydroxycut I lost .8 pounds. I do not blame the supplement for this as this could have been a plateau. The 2nd week I went back up to 3.2 pounds. I have seen no noticeable increase in weight loss and quit taking the pills. My weight loss for last week (off the pills) was 3.8 pounds.
cris
+been using it for 3 days now. definitely feel more energized. i noticed way more sweat when i was on the treadmill. i've been workin out for 3 weeks monday - saturday for about 1 hour a day.
posted Nov 21st, 2008 9:29 amlost 2 pounds from yesterday to today.
Dietya
+I just started Hydroxycut yesterday on 11/17/08...Im taking 3 pills 3xdaily and working out for 1hr..so fat Ive been feeling more energized, I cant sleep but other than that I hope it gives me the results Im hoping for! Ill keep posting to let ppl know how its going! wish me luck!
posted Nov 18th, 2008 5:27 pmum
+today's my first day trying it. my appetite has been quite good actually compared to how i usually eat xD. the thing is i dont know exactly when i should eat dinner lol. but anyways this morning i weighed myself at 170 XD. im i weighed myself after school and im about a pound down. lol idk if thats just because i got home or if its a result. ill post back. wish me luck and cross your fingers
posted Nov 18th, 2008 4:11 pmum
+today's my first day trying it. my appetite has been quite good actually compared to how i usually eat xD. the thing is i dont know exactly when i should eat dinner lol. but anyways this morning i weighed myself at 170 XD. im i weighed myself after school and im about a pound down. lol idk if thats just because i got home or if its a result. ill post back. wish me luck and cross your fingers
posted Nov 18th, 2008 4:10 pmgerome
-im one of those people who can lose 5 lbs in 1 week and yet gain twice that much within the same time-frame. i remember august of this yr, my weight was at 168lbs then in october, it was around 190lbs. i did my usual diet and exercise and started taking Hcut, hopin that it would help me lose more than i usually do everytime i exercise. but three weeks gone, im 182lbs right now, which is what i would have normally lost even without Hcut. so i dont know if this thing works. anyway, ill keep everyone posted about any developments (keeping my fingers crossed)
posted Nov 17th, 2008 11:19 pmheathermarie517
+Still taking H-cut for 11 days now. Still only down 1lb. and no inches lost as of yet, but enjoying the appetite suppressent and energy boost. The low weightloss could be due to my cycle....hoping anyway. I am eating good and getting in moderate exercise. I will continue to post!
posted Nov 17th, 2008 5:12 pmReggie
-This is my second time using a diet pill and what ive notice is they have waaay too much Caffine which is a problem for the heart! and I got kidney stones from how ever the un-natural break of the pill affects the body! I would use it you better off buying a Treadmill and some dum-bells
posted Nov 17th, 2008 4:15 pmCharlene
+Wow! What an energy boost. I started taking the Caffeinated Hydroxycut two days ago but couldn't sleep so I've switched to the caffeine free version. Not as much jacked up energy as I experienced with the former, but still I feel it is suppressing my appetite & giving me that added burst of energy. I am 5'4 and weigh 168-my worst weight ever...Just last year I was at 135, then stress took over. I hope H-cut will work.
posted Nov 17th, 2008 12:38 ama dudde
+I just started using hydroxycut yesterday, 11-15-2008, 225 pounds 5'11". I'll post up every week, for people that aren't sure about buying it. just look for "a dudde"
posted Nov 16th, 2008 10:27 pmEmma
+Just got it yesterday [ Nov. 14 ] Started today.. 5'7'' 148 lbs. We'll see what happens!
posted Nov 15th, 2008 12:10 pmGuy
+i just bought it im going to start 11/11/2008 and ill be back n a month and popst how much i lost 5"11 at 240lbs so yea lets see what happens!
posted Nov 14th, 2008 3:39 amCoral
+I need to loose weight, fast! Should I start hydroxycut?
posted Nov 13th, 2008 9:30 pmLou
+The berry flavor tastes terrible and it is all I can do to get it down me, but it does suppress my appetite and cravings and I am noticing a difference in the first week. Not sure whether it is placebo or not, but if a placebo works, no bad thing.
posted Nov 13th, 2008 12:11 pm