Appetite suppressants work through three main pathways: delaying gastric emptying, altering satiety hormones, or increasing sympathetic tone. Most effective formulas combine two mechanisms.
- Glucomannan (1β3 g before meals, with water): Expands to 50x volume in the stomach, promoting satiety. A 2014 meta-analysis confirmed modest weight loss over 4β8 weeks.
- Psyllium husk (5β10 g/day): Similar soluble fiber mechanism. Also improves cholesterol and blood sugar.
- 5-HTP (50β300 mg/day): Serotonin precursor. Some RCTs show modest reduction in carbohydrate cravings.
- Caffeine (100β200 mg pre-meal): Mild appetite suppression plus thermogenic effect. Tolerance develops within 2β3 weeks.
- Green tea extract (EGCG 200β400 mg/day): Small but consistent effect on appetite and fat oxidation when combined with caffeine.
- Prescription-strength phentermine analogs marketed as "natural"
- DMAA, synephrine-bitter-orange at high doses β cardiovascular risk
- Proprietary "metabolism blends" without disclosed caffeine content
- Hoodia gordonii β original evidence never replicated
Mechanism transparency, clinical doses, fiber type (soluble vs. insoluble), and absence of under-the-radar stimulants. Products relying solely on willpower-promoting claims without pharmacologically active ingredients score low.