Almost 90% of the U.S population tried to lose weight in the past year... but barely half of them achieved their goals.
Weight loss is a concern, and weight loss supplementation is gaining interest because of that. Today, we talk about p-synephrine, one of the best supplements to aid weight loss!
Because of its properties and potential benefits, p-synephrine is widely used in the food, medical, and health industries.
It can be used in clinical treatments of bronchial asthma, hypotension, collapse, and shock; to improve metabolism; and in treatments of digestive issues (source)
Metabolism of p-synephrine
P-Synephrine, together with its cousins octapamine and ephedrine, form what we know as “alkaloid metabolism”.
The production of these substances start with the amino acids L-Phenyalanine and L-Tyrosine. You can obtain these amino acids through diet, and from there use them for different purposes.
The structure of p-synephrine is similar to that of octopamine and ephedrine. However, the slight changes in the structure makes p-synephrine a much more selective molecule than octopamine and ephedrine.
While octopamine and ephedrine show severe side effects, p-synephrine is much more secure and effective at aiding fat oxidation and weight loss.
Mechanisms of Action of P-Synephrine
Due to its properties and potential benefits, p-synephrine can be used for different purposes. But how does P-Synephrine do what it does?
The main pathway of action is through adregenic receptors. P-Synephrine shows a very high specificity for adrenergic receptors beta-3 (source).
When this receptor is activated by P-Synephrine, your body slightly increases thermogenesis, lypolisis, and controls glucose and cholesterol metabolism (source.
Compared to its cousins ephedrine and octopamine, the specificity of p-synephrine towards beta-3 adrenegenic receptors is huge.
Ephedrine and octopamine, on the other hand, also affect beta-3, but other alpha adrenergic receptors that may cause potential side effects (source)
Uses of P-Synephrine
P-synephrine is safe and effective... but what is it used for? What are the benefits of using p-synephrine?
P-Synephrine for Weight Loss
Weight loss is a general concern in our society. Almost everyone has tried to lose weight at least once... and a lot of them failed on the journey.
P-synephrine could help you lose weight. Due to its interaction with beta-3 adrenergic receptors, p-synephrine can slightly increase your metabolic rate by 65 kcal/day (source)
It also activates fat lypolisis. Acute ingestion of p-synephrine results in higher fat oxidation during the training session (source)
P-Synephrine for Mental Focus
The alkaloid pathways by which p-synephrine is produced also includes some of the most potent neutrotransmitters in our body; dopamine and norepinephrine.
Thes neurotransmitters have shown to modulate mental focus and cognitive performance (source)
Both dopamine and norepinephrine exert similar actions in our brain. Both molecules function in parallel to facilitate learning and maintain the states required for normal cognitive processes.
However, evidence on P-Synephrine improving mental focus is still quite scarce.
Even though dopamine and norepinephrine are potent modulators of mental focus and attention, we are still missing quite a lot of studies to leave this field more conclusive.
P-Synephrine improves Sports Performance
P-Synephrine is not only used to lose weight, but also to improve sports performance and give it and extra punch to your trainings.
P-synephrine increases resistance exercise repetition and volume load (source). These effects are seen by combining caffeine with p-synephrine.
P-synephrine increases fat oxidation during exercise. As aerobic sports rely solely on fat oxidation and efficiency of such, the use of P-Synephrine may enhance performance (study)
Dosage and Safety Use
P-synephrine is safe in the recommended doses of 1-3 mg/kg (source).
The safety profile of p-synephrine has been put in doubt a lot in the past years. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) banned the use of p-synephrine in food supplements.
However, only high doses of p-synephrine increased heart rate, raised blood pressure, and increased the risk of heart attacks and strokes (source)
P-synephrine is safe and effective at losing weight and increasing fat oxidation when used in the recommended doses of 1-3 mg/kg. Start in the lower range, and increase when needed.
It is recommended to take p-synephrine 30-60’ before exercise or other activity involving high calorie expenditure (source)
Conclusion
P-Synephrine is a food supplement used to aim weight loss, sports performance, and mental focus.
Taking 1-3 mg/kg before physical activity has shown to be safe and effective.
As more research is published, we sure will know more and more of the benefits and wide uses of p-synephrine.
