Guggulsterone is a natural compound derived from the resin of the Commiphora mukul tree and has historically been used to treat chronic diseases like cancer, liver disorders, ulcers and obesity. Its role in treating obesity has led to claims being made about Guggulsterone having various weight loss benefits.
But is there any truth to these claims? To come up with a comprehensive review, I went through all the scientific literature related to the compound’s weight loss proficiency.
Here’s what I found.
key findings
Guggulsterone and Weight Loss — Can It Help?
Weight loss supplements make three major claims regarding Guggulsterone. These are:
All of these claims have a direct link with weight loss.
Connecting Weight Loss Claims and Scientific Evidence
To start off, there is some scientific research surrounding the claim that Guggulsterone can suppress appetite.
For instance, a 2014 study conducted on adult rats found that injecting increasing doses of Guggulsterone led to heightened activity of appetite-regulating hormones. In addition, a loosely related meta-analysis also suggested that Guggulsterone's appetite-reducing ability could be beneficial for post-Covid weight loss. However, it did not reference any specific studies supporting this claim.
Moving on, for the claim that Guggulsterone converts excess fat into energy, a 2008 test-tube study involving mice fat cells (3T3-L1) and different Guggulsterone isomers showed an increased breakdown of fat cells as the Guggulsterone dosage increased.
Lastly, I could only find one study on how Guggulsterone raises the body's resting metabolic rate. The study from 1984 administered a dose of Z-Guggulsterone isomer to albino rats at a rate of 1 mg per 100g body weight. The researchers observed a significant increase in the activity of thyroid hormones responsible for regulating metabolic rate.
Now, while these studies offer promising evidence, it is important to note that none of them were conducted on human subjects. Thus, it remains difficult to confirm whether Guggulsterone would have the same effects on humans.
Other Benefits of Guggulsterone
We’ve already established that Guggulesterone’s weight loss benefits are rather inconclusive. Having said that, the compound does provide some other benefits for its users:
A 1994 study found that taking 25 mg of guggulsterone orally was equally as effective in curing acne as tetracycline, an antibiotic.
The compound has been reported to decrease the concentration of the farnesoid X nuclear receptor which is responsible for regulating cholesterol metabolism.
The same study also displays Guggulsterone’s ability to downregulate the expression of proteins involved in chemoresistant activities in tumor cells.
A 2004 study of the compound showcases its anti-inflammatory effects.
Another 2002 study showcases Guggulesterone’s role in regulating cholesterol metabolism and the production of bile acids
Side Effects of Guggulsterone
Overall, Guggulsterone does not induce any serious side effects when taken in under 400 mg doses. Some common side effects you might experience are gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea and irregular menstrual cycles.
However, it’s important to note that there have been very few studies conducted on the side effects Guggulsterone might induce, in humans especially.
Which essentially means that whether or not the compound can induce any serious side effects has not been thoroughly researched yet.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Guggulsterone is a highly beneficial compound that’s been used in ayurvedic medicine to treat various chronic diseases. That said, the compound does not have any definitive weight loss benefits.
A few studies provide some proof that the compound can help in weight loss by breaking down fat and reducing your appetite. But, all of these studies lacked human test subjects. As such,I’ll need to see some in-depth human focused studies before I can confirm its efficacy as a genuine weight loss ingredient.