Bitter orange is commonly used as a substitute for ephedra in dietary supplements. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has placed “synephrine (bitter orange)” on its current list of banned drugs, listing it as a stimulant.
Is bitter orange legal in the US?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared ephedra illegal because it increases blood pressure and has been linked to heart attacks and strokes. Synephrine has effects similar to those of ephedra. Bitter orange may also interact with some prescription medicines.
Is bitter orange harmful?
Bitter orange, taken by itself or with stimulants such as caffeine or caffeine-containing herbs, might increase the risk for high blood pressure, fainting, heart attack, stroke, and other serious side effects. There are also reports that bitter orange can trigger headaches in some people.
Is bitter orange juice safe?
Bitter orange is currently considered safe to eat and may offer some health benefits, but if you have high blood pressure or are at high risk of heart attack or stroke, you should ask your doctor before eating it. Bitter orange is commonly found in weight loss pills and capsules.
Does bitter orange show up on a drug test?
Because of the similarity in chemical structure of ephedrine and synephrine, it is hypothesized that ingestion of a bitter orange supplement may have the potential to cause false-positive results with urine amphetamine assays.
How much bitter orange is safe?
Dosage and safety information
Generally, bitter orange extracts in dietary supplements are safe to consume in doses of 50–98 mg per day ( 1 , 23 ). One study showed that 40 mg of synephrine combined with 320 mg of caffeine is a safe dose of these combined ingredients ( 3 ).
Is synephrine a drug?
Synephrines are direct sympathomimetic drugs while the ephedrines are both direct and indirect sympathomimetics.
How much synephrine is in 500mg bitter orange?
Synephrine is found in Citrus aurantium (Bitter Orange and Seville Orange) in addition to other biogenic amines (octopamine and tyramine). Bitter Orange extracts typically contain between 1.5% and 6% synephrine.
What is similar to ephedrine?
Other ephedra alternatives: Green tea extract. Green tea typically contains less caffeine per cup than coffee, plus many antioxidant vitamins. Caffeine itself can be a mild appetite suppressant, and proponents say there may be other substances in green tea that could slightly speed calorie burning.
Does bitter orange work for weight loss?
In one study of 23 overweight adults, participants taking a daily intake of bitter orange (975 mg) combined with caffeine (525 mg) and St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum, 900 mg) for six weeks lost significantly more body weight and fat than the control group.
How much synephrine is in bitter orange?
The bitter orange extract contained 6% p‐synephrine, and therefore, the dosing was 0.34‐mg p‐synephrine/kg.
What are the side effects of synephrine?
Common side effects of Neo-Synephrine include:
- burning,
- stinging,
- pain,
- increased redness of the eye,
- tearing or blurred vision,
- headache,
- tremor,
- nausea,
How much sugar is in a bitter orange?
Bitter orange by CONCHITA
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Sugar 3g | |
| Protein 0g | 0 % |
| Potassium 25mg | 1 % |
| * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contribute to a daily diet. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
What are bitter oranges used for?
Bitter orange has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for indigestion, nausea, and constipation. Today, various bitter orange products are promoted for heartburn, nasal congestion, weight loss, appetite stimulation or suppression, and athletic performance.
How long does synephrine HCL stay in your system?
Several studies have shown that the half-life of p-synephrine is between 2 and 3 hours.
When should I take synephrine?
To take advantage of the metabolic and energy properties of Synephrine, it is best taken first thing in the morning or 15 – 30 minutes before exercise. Pre-workout and fat loss supplements containing Synephrine should be taken with water before exercise. The most efficacious dose is 15 – 25 milligrams per serve.
How much weight can you lose with synephrine?
And when you review the literature, you find a wide variety of dosages of synephrine used for weight loss purposes. The most effective dosages were in the range of 25 to 50 milligrams per day, though, with 50 milligrams significantly outperforming 25 milligrams.
What can you substitute for bitter orange?
“To my taste, the best substitute for bitter orange is equal parts grapefruit, orange and lime juice and white distilled vinegar. There are other cooks who use equal parts orange and lime juice and are happy with the results.
Is orange extract safe to drink?
The extract trend was unheard of by most, but health officials warn, it could lead to serious health problems for those who dare to try it; from stomach issues and dehydration, to other signs of alcohol poisoning. “It’s out there. We’ve got to be careful,” Zgodzinski said.
What is synephrine found in?
citrus plants
Synephrine is naturally present in citrus plants from the Rutaceae family, and it is a sympathomimetic alkaloid with the formula of C9H13NO2.
How long does synephrine take to work?
Ephedrine, synephrine, and caffeine are all well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Following ingestion of an oral dose, clinical effects are seen within 60 min and persist from 2 to 6 h.