Caralluma by BRI Nutrition

POSSIBLY INEFFECTIVE

• Obesity. Most research shows that taking oral caralluma extract does not result in clinically meaningful improvements in weight loss in patients with obesity. Details: Small clinical studies in adults with obesity have shown conflicting effects of caralluma on weight loss and appetite (15272,94080,99999,106437). A meta-analysis of these studies shows that taking caralluma extract 500 mg orally twice daily for 8-16 weeks reduces waist circumference by 1.6 cm, but does not affect body weight, body mass index, or appetite, when compared with placebo (109492). Taking caralluma also does not affect serum lipids or blood pressure (15272,94080,99999,106437,109492).

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It is unclear if oral caralluma is beneficial for GAD. Details: Preliminary clinical research in patients with mild to moderate GAD shows that taking caralluma 500 mg twice daily with food for 8 weeks improves measures of anxiety and stress when compared with placebo. Reductions in anxiety were approximately 1.7-fold greater in patients taking caralluma (100000). However, the validity of these findings is limited by the low level of anxiety at baseline and the use of online reporting for symptom evaluation.
• Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). It is unclear if oral caralluma is beneficial in children with PWS. Details: Preliminary clinical research in children and adolescents with PWS between the ages of 5 and 17 shows that taking a caralluma extract (Slimaluma, Gencor Pacific International Ltd.) 25 mg/kg, up to 1000 mg daily for 4 weeks, decreases hyperphagic drive and associated behaviors when compared with placebo. These results suggest the effects may be more pronounced in females and may be dose-dependent, with more improvement seen at the highest dose of 1000 mg daily (94081). More evidence is needed to rate caralluma for these uses.

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LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally in amounts commonly found in foods. A hydroethanolic extract of Caralluma has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US (94084).

POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally in medicinal amounts, short-term. Caralluma extract 500 mg twice daily has been used with apparent safety for up to 12 weeks (15272,94080,99999). The maximum recommended adult dose is 1000 mg daily (94081).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

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General ...Orally, caralluma seems to be generally well tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Abdominal distention, constipation, flatulence, and gastritis in the first 2 weeks of use.

Cardiovascular ...Orally, in one clinical trial, one patient with a history of hypertension receiving caralluma extract 500 mg twice daily experienced a transient increase in blood pressure. However, it subsided, and the subject remained on the extract without reappearance of the adverse event (94080).

Dermatologic ...Orally, caralluma extract use has been associated with the development of a mild skin rash in one person (99999).

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, in clinical trials, side effects have included gastrointestinal upset, abdominal distention, flatulence, constipation, and gastritis. These side effects appeared to subside within the first two weeks of use and have also been reported in patients taking placebo (15272,99999).

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