The Healthy Skeptic: Trimspa and Anna Nicole Smith Part II

Here’s part two of my look at the supplemental members of the Trimspa family of products, Lipospa and Carbspa.

Lipospa is billed as a supplement that in some way will lessen the negative effects on your diet in the event that you have a fatty “treat” every once in a while. Actually, there isn’t too much information about this product on the Trimspa web site. They do instruct users to take these capsules 5 minutes before eating a fatty meal – fast foods, take out foods, foods with oil or butter – and chase it with an 8 ounce glass of water.

Based on the ingredients of Lipospa, I can kind of guess what the Trimspa people want you to think will happen if you take this stuff. Lipospa consists of Vitamin C and Chitosan. There’s nothing new to know about Vitamin C so let’s look at the Chitosan.

Chitosan – in addition to being a primary source of Glucosamine - is basically considered a dietary fiber. Over the years supplement makers have alleged since Chitosan binds itself to fat molecules in the intestines and blocks absorption that this somehow results in weight loss. There is not any scientific evidence to support this assertion.

There are some indications that Chitosan can help reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), but the studies performed on animal subjects have produced better results than the human trials. Worth noting is that in both animal and human Chitosan trials the most significant results were found with subjects that were suffering from renal failure.

There is no reliable data available to support statements that Chitosan has any curative or other effects including any effects on the immune system.

And the Vitamin C is probably included in this mix so the makers of Trimspa can say that this stuff is good for you.

Carbspa is supposed to protect you from the negative effects that a carbohydrate binge might have on your diet. As with Lipospa, we don’t get a whole lot of detail here, but again the dosing instructions are the same, but now we take these capsules before a high carbohydrate meal.

Based on the ingredients of Carbspa, the Trimspa people are really asking for us to take a huge leap of faith here if we’re to believe that this stuff can actually work. The ingredients in Lipospa are, Chromium, White Kidney Bean Extract and Vanadium.

The Trimspa folks really love Chromium, but since it’s worthless except to some folks with diabetes – and offers no benefits as an aid to weight loss - there’s no reason for Chromium to be included in this or any other supplement. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record – I hope some of you remember what records are – the Federal Trade Commission has declared claims by advertisers that Chromium can build muscle, enhance athletic performance or aid weight loss to be unsubstantiated and deceptive. Advertisers who say nice things about Chromium will be sent to their rooms without dinner…Just kidding, I wanted to see if you were paying attention. But the rest is the truth. Chromium doesn’t work, and anyone who tells you it does has no basis to do so since there is no supporting evidence.

White Kidney Bean Extract is what is known as an Amylase Inhibitor, or a “starch blocker.” These inhibitors – which can be derived from both beans and wheat – contain substances that prevent starches/carbohydrates from being absorbed by the body. If your body can’t break it down and absorb it, you won’t gain weight from it. Or so the theory goes.

Article Author: Sal Marinello

Sal Marinello is a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer, a U.S.A. Weightlifting Certified Coach, a full-time, private Professional Strength and Conditioning …

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