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.
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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.
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User Feedback
(Page 5 of 41, 802 total comments)AF
+i just started the new reformulated hydroxycut and I am thrilled with it.
posted Oct 18th, 2009 3:45 pmI only had a little weight to lose, have already been exercising and eating right for many years, but those extra baby weight pounds kept their foothold for a few years.
I feel more energy, a big difference in my body and it has only been 5 days so far!
I stopped my coffee and tea intake completely while on this product and I do drink a lot more water. I feel shaky if I don't eat enough, but okay if I do eat sensibly.
Cannot wait to see how great I look in a month.
How come drinking plain coffee didn't work for me? weird, huh?
The combination is great in this product. :)
Dan LaceY
+I think the supplement works well.Iv'e noticed weight lose in just the first 2 weeks
posted Sep 12th, 2009 12:28 amYolanda Campbell
+I hadn't really used it that long and didn't know about the recall until the commerical on T. V. did they recall all the products made by hydroxycut or just the ones listed on the website.
posted Jul 7th, 2009 1:48 pmKim
IT'S BACK ON THE SHELF..BOUGHT IT A WALMART LAST NIGHT!!
posted Jul 6th, 2009 1:02 pmBo
+"I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!!!" and want it BACK on the MARKET. If you drink lots of water you will be ok
posted Jun 16th, 2009 11:47 amBob
Marisol, you may feel beautiful but you are a disgusting human being. This product is causing deaths but you think it's a shame it's being recalled. Maybe if you'd push yourself away from the dinner table more often you wouldn't be a fat pig. Maybe you'll get liver damage and lose a lot more weight! Wonder how you'd feel then?
posted Jun 15th, 2009 10:04 amGrace
+I had fabulous results with these pills, lost 20 pounds in 6 months, got lazy, back to my old ways and get it back just as fast...so off I ventured in supermarkets and other stores where I used to purchase them but to no avail. I thought they were out of stock or something so went back every week. I remember how I went to almost every supermarket/medicine store searching for them... I was so ignorant and actually found out late that they got recalled... PLS BRING EM BACK!
posted Jun 12th, 2009 5:12 amTay Maze
Uum, what about Hoodia form the makers of Hydroxycut? Is that still Hydroxycut? Or something completely different made by Hydroxycut?
posted Jun 8th, 2009 1:06 amBrandee
+used it and lost 32lbs in 5 1/2 weeks, when will it be back on the shelf?
posted Jun 4th, 2009 8:46 pmCraig
+I believe that 23 cases in the over 70 millions people that have taken the product are small enough to put my mind at ease. I also believe that if you stay at the RECOMMENDED dosage, that you will be okay. People were probably taking more than they should have.
posted Jun 4th, 2009 5:56 pmsue
+All that I can say is, "I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!!!" and want it BACK on the MARKET.
posted Jun 4th, 2009 2:30 pmv~
+I have had no adverse reactions, I have used ths product properly and with my diet and excercize have lost 20 pounds.. I am disapointed I cannot continue to use this product.
posted Jun 3rd, 2009 4:40 pmerika
in my case olmost die really i cant explain how i fell .... and just drink instant drink packets but igree is good hidroxycut.
posted May 28th, 2009 4:39 amtina saunders
-i was six weeks into my first diet ever,i was / am not feeling good at all!
posted May 28th, 2009 2:15 ammy stomache hurt,as well as swelled. my urine was bloody, my headache was overwelming,i ran a fever,at first i thought maybe thats what a diet is supposed to feel,after two to three weeks of misc.symptoms,and my hands and fingers split open my mood was very cranky, my energy level was zero i realized something was not right
i am 46 years old and i am worried i am madd as well.
ccwgetskinny
Hydroxycut is coming back!!!!
posted May 27th, 2009 10:42 pmnela
+i reaaly liked it n it actually works!
posted May 22nd, 2009 7:01 pmi had stop using caz wat they said da cause liver cancer or w/e
but i really liked it!
makes more energetic to do stuff!!
spunky
hey this isnt really a comment but i was just wondering what happens if you take it long enough to lose the weight you want but then stop taking it? what happens?
posted May 15th, 2009 12:45 pmana
+I took it on and off for 3 months lost 10 pounds and im fine kind of scared about finishing my second botttle im almost done with it!!But i was only taking 1 pill a day because i got very jittery!
posted May 11th, 2009 9:49 pmmike
+It would be a shame if the findings prove to be true that this product does harm. Personally I have taken Hydroxycut for about a month now and have been losing weight since. I plan to finish the use of what I have left and will have to find a substitute. Oh well.
posted May 10th, 2009 8:01 amrobert
+when used as directed his product helps with increased energy,which helps with weight loss. I've used it for years with great results everytime
posted May 9th, 2009 9:30 pm