Fizogen "The Burn" Review And Information: Does "The Burn" Work?

Fizogen makes two variations of The Burn fat burner; one for men, and one for women. The "thermogenic" or fat burning element of both versions of The Burn is nearly identical. The only difference is that the women's version is slightly less potent than the men's.

Each formula contains a few dedicated ingredients specific to the needs of either men or women, depending on which formula you're investigating. Unfortunately they really seem to be added as an afterthought -- to justify the "gender specific" advertising claims.

Therefore, the value of Fizogen's The Burn has to lie in the thermogenic element of the formula. Let's see how it measures up. What's in it?...

1) Synephrine (from citrus aurantium): Long thought to be a credible alternative to ephedra as a thermogenic ingredient, clinical data validating synphrine's fat burning abilities is in short supply. This study (Obes Rev. 2006 Feb;7(1):79-88) sums it up nicely...

"While some evidence is promising, we conclude that larger and more rigorous clinical trials are necessary to draw adequate conclusions regarding the safety and efficacy of C. aurantium and synephrine alkaloids for promoting weight loss."

2) Yohimbine: A few studies bear out Yohimbe's positive effect on weight loss (Isr J Med Sci. 1991 Oct;27(10):550-6). However, its effects are not dramatic -- although yohimbine is certainly an ingredient you can "feel' (yohimbine is a stimulant but some users notice feelings of cold / shivering / goose bumps) which is probably why many supplement retailers add it to their compilations.

3) Evodiamine (from evodia rutaecarpa): This ingredient is used because of its "supposed" ability to help with weight loss by increasing the body's production of heat, as well as reducing the body's ability to store fat (evodia shares many characteristics of capsaicin, the chemical that gives hot peppers their "heat.")

Unfortunately, these claims haven't been proven in humans. There have been some promising "in vitro" studies and some done on rodents, but the jury is still out on whether this product has positive weight loss effect for humans (see this PubMed extract for more details).

4) Caffeine (from caffeine anhydrous & di-caffeine malate): A common ingredient to most weight loss products, caffeine's ability to facilitate weight loss is well documented (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97). It's a smart addition to this compilation.

5) Guggulsterones Z&E: included in fat burners for the ability to boost thyroid activity, and there is some data to support this claim (Planta Med 1988;54:271-7, Curr Ther Res 1999; 60:220-7). "The Burn" also contains a decent dose of the right ingredient -- the guggulsterones Z&E.

6) L-Taurine Ethyl Ester HCL: Taurine is an amino acid found most often in energy drinks in combination with caffeine and glucoronolactone. It has the ability to lower blood pressure.

7) Naringenin: an antioxidant flavanone with anti-inflammatory properties, naringenin is very difficult to absorb orally. It's likely only the tiniest amount of this ingredient will absorbed into the body.

8) Bioperine®: derived from black pepper, bioperine enhances the absorption of nutrients and is therefore a smart addition to any supplement. The makers of Bioperine® also claim it has thermogenic properties (i.e., the ability to increase the metabolism) and therefore encourages fat loss. The clinical studies on their web site however, only justify the "nutrient absorption" claims.

In addition the "formula for men" contains...

• 20-Beta-Hydroxy-Ecdysone-2-Acetate-Ester, an anabolic compound of undetermined effectiveness.
  
  
• 7-Beta-Hydroxy-DHEA, a DHEA derivative that has been shown to induce thermogenic enzymes in rats.

The women's formula contains...

• Daidzein, and isoflavone found primarily in soy that has "estrogenic" characteristics. It's also a potent antioxidant.
  
  
• Phosphatidylserine: a phospholipid commonly used to slow cognitive decline.

In my opinion, neither of these "gender specific" ingredient profile add much value to either compilation.

The thermogenic element of this formula is probably about average, although a good dose of caffeine combined with synephrine and yohimbine means you'll definitely feel "The Burn" when you take it.

Several ingredients don't have much in the way of proof validating their effectiveness, and to be honest, I'm really surprised why green tea isn't found in "The Burn." It's one ingredient that shows real promise for weight loss, and really should be included in any decent formulation.

Would I buy Fizogen's "The Burn?" Not unless I got it on sale for a great price (BodyBuilding.com sells it for $29.99). There are simply more comprehensive formulas on the market.

Have you used "The Burn"? Tell me what you think!

Want to learn more about fat burners? Industry professional Will Brink reviews dozens of top weight loss products in his superb "Fat Loss Revealed" Click here to read my review! Click here to visit the Fat Loss Revealed web site!

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