Cryogenic Aids: OxyElitePro, 1, 3-Dimethyalanine - Research Paper Example

Introduction 3-Dimethylamylamine which is commonly referred to as DMAA is a chemical component extracted from Geranium plant. Though at first used as a decongestant, it is included by companies manufacturing cryogenic drugs as the primary component for weightless products. In the US military, there has been a reported adverse effect of the use of dietary supplements where the victim soldiers died from heart attack during physical training. Companies that produce supplements containing DMAA have claim that in combination with caffeine, this element increases the body metabolism rates leading to burning of body fat. The safety risks associated with the use of products containing this chemical have been evidently revealed by medical research. It is also important to note that other ingredients in these supplements apart from DMAA may also contribute to the health risks incurred. Ergogenic aids is a term that is used in reference to actions, substances or implements that lead to a rise in the use of an individual’s energy and consequently the amount of performance derived from activity (Duggan,Watkins,& Walker, 2008). Physical exercise like weight lifting and stretches and psychological activity such as hypnosis are forms of ergogenic aids. In the field of medicine, ergogenic aids is used in frequent reference to supplements that are dietary in nature. These supplements are introduced to the body as part of a diet. Their ingredients are formed from components that increase the metabolism and use of energy and consequently burning off more fat by the body. In the past ten years, production and consumption of these products have been on the rise. Most consumers of these products are sports personalities and individuals seeking quick weight loss programs. Researchers in the United States of America have opined that an approximately half of the American populace use supplements with 76% of college sportsmen and almost all bodybuilders are on supplements (Raven, et al, 2012). The US Food and Drug Administration have not scrutinized the components of these products and the claims by its manufacturers on the working of these products (Llewellyn, 2009,). Before the marketing of food and drugs to the public, the FDA first of all evaluates the products before authorizing its marketing. Having been labeled as “supplements” then the FDA is under no obligation by law to evaluate the products. The evaluation of the products now lies with the consumers of the product as far as the claims made by manufacturers and the side effects are concerned. OxyElite Pro an ergogenic product designed by USP labs company. The product is designed and produced and marketed as a weight loss product. The dosage of Oxyelite is packed in a bottle of capsules to last 30 days. It retails for around 42 dollars to 60 dollars in online retail stores in the United States. It contains elements that include caffeine which increase metabolism and increases weight loss. The manufacturing company presents the product as strong and fast acting and hence its preference by sportsmen and bodybuilders. In developing oxyElite, USP labs based their research on Alpha-2 receptors which are components that reduce and slow down the breaking down of body fat. The composition of Oxyelite ingredients achieves the goal of burning body fat by inhibiting the working of Alpha-2 receptors. (Schmidt & Clark, 2013). Rauwolscine is one of the ingredients in this product that antagonizes Alpha-2 receptors to increase the breakdown of fat. This is the reason why Rauwolscine is mostly found in thermogenic products. Bauhinia purpurea and Bacopa monnieri are other vital ingredients. These two ingredients are responsible for the increase of thyroid hormones in the body. Thyroid hormones are responsible for breaking down body fat leaving leaner body tissues. The two types of thyroid hormones are triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). T4 can easily be converted into T3 and as research has shown, T4 is present in volumes four times the amount of T3. On the other hand, T3 is a much stronger hormone in breaking down of proteins in the body while diminishing the effect of insulin responsible for fat storage and build up. Thyroid hormones increase metabolism rates above normal. (Schmidt & Clark, 2013). Bauhinia purpurea is purported to increase thyroid levels to stimulate the synthesis of protein and burning of fat. Bauhinia is also believed to be responsible for the conversion of T4 hormones into T3 hormones which are believed to be much stronger. Bacopa monnieri is a natural stimulant for the production and release of of Thyroxin T4 hormones. OxyElite has incorporated the two ingredients; one which boosts the release of T4 hormones and the other that facilitates the conversion of T4 into T3 which is a much effective fat burner. (Schmidt & Clark Cirsium Oligophyllum is also another ingredient. This is a plant extract that has been shown to burn fat that covers organs for protection which is known as subcutaneous fat. In obese individuals, this fat is sometimes risky for the body organs and therefore the reason why the USP labs Company incorporated this ingredient in their product. Caffeine, another ingredient which is common in ergogenic drugs is found in USP Lab’s OxyElite pro primarily because it increases the amount of energy spent by the body even during rest. This therefore facilitates the burning of fat even when an individual is inactive. The last key ingredient of Oxyelite is Geranium which derives 1,3-Dimethylamylamine. Dymethylamlamine works just like adrenaline and offers super stimulation to the body’s metabolism. (Karnatovskaia, 2012). DMAA was initially produced for use as a nasal decongestant ( Eliason, 2012).Today, dimethylamylamine is marketed as a diet supplement product for weight loss and improving sports performance (Forrester, 2013).Researchers in weight loss products have since used it in combination with caffeine in developing formulas for burning body fat. Manufacturers of products that contain dymethylamylamine claim that this chemical component is extracted from its natural source of Geranium plants. Studies carried out under laboratory analysis point towards the presumption that this element may not have been derived from the natural source but artificially synthesized in chemical laboratories. It is then added to their Cryogenic products to give the same stimulating effects as those of natural stimulants such as ephedrine (Forrester, 2013). Though scientific research has not proven this, marketers of these products claim that it is a product of low risk than decongestants like pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. Metabolism rates and oxidation levels were shown to rise by significant levels in a study where body cells were subjected to the OxyElite pro product (Vaughn, 2012). Subjected to a minute of observation, the sample population of healthy individuals exhibited rise in metabolism rate and breaking down of fat after ingestion of this product. There was also significant and consistent loss of weight and the percentage of fat in the bodies of the participants under study over a period of two month research period (Vaughn, 2012). OxyElite pro provides a lot of merits for those seeking to loose weight because it enables high performance in physical activity without necessity of huge calorie intake. It has also been shown to reduce appetite which is seen as appropriate for weight loss program. The combination of Caffeine and Generium also impacts positively on mood and alertness. However, the risks that come along with the use of OxyElite pro can not be ignored. The large amounts of Caffeine leads to excess stimulation which results in sweating and lack of sleep which can be a discomfort (Forrester, 2013). Exposure to heart attacks is also a downside of this product. There is general constriction of blood vessels while at the same time the body stimulation at all time stresses adrenal glands and consequently exposure to cardiac illnesses (Karnatovskaia, 2012) .There are also reproductive health complications among women who are frequent users of OxyElite pro. There is reported heavy bleeding during menstruation and also risk of miscarriage in pregnant women (Forrester, 2013). OxyElite pro has been shown to produce positive results as an Ergogenic drug. Loss of weight has been recorded among those who included this product in their dieting program. However its side effects are also worthy of noting. Since the basic principle of the OxyElite pro formula is to increase metabolism and stimulation, this in itself has in some cases proven to be a health risk. Increased stimulations demonstrated can lead to heart problems. The shortfalls of OxyElite pro have not been traced to the DMAA ingredient since research has not singled out any of the ingredients as to be the one responsible for its side effects. , 2013). References Duggan, C., Watkins, J. B., & Walker, W. A. (2008). Nutrition in pediatrics: Basic science, clinical application. Hamilton: BC Decker. Eliason, M., Eichner, A., Cancio, A., Bestervelt, L., Adams, B., & Duester, P. (2012). Case reports: Death of active duty soldiers following ingestion of dietary supplements containing 1, 3-dimethylamylamine (dmaa). Military Medicine, 177(12), Retrieved from http://mw8xt6bj7r.search.serialssolutions.com /?genre=article&issn=00264075&title=Military Medicine volume=177&issue=12&date=20121201&atitle=Case Reports: Death of Active Duty Soldiers Following Ingestion of Dietary Supplements Containing 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA).&space=1455&pages=1455-1459&sid=EBSCO:Academic Search Premier&aulast=Eliason, Michael J Forrester, M. (2013). Exposures to 1, 3-dimethylamylamine-containing products reported to Texas poison centers. Human and Experimental Toxicology, 32(1), 18-23. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23060409 Karnatovskai, L., Moreno, J., & Freeman, M. (2012). Cardiac arrest in a 21 year old male following ingestion of 1, 3-dmaa containing workout supplement. Critical Care Medicine, Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/ccmjournal/Abstract/2012/12001/1153___Cardiac_Arrest_in_A_21_Year_Old_Male.1112.aspx Llewellyn, W. (2009). Sport supplement: Reference guide. Jupiter, FL: Molecular Nutrition. Raven, P. B., Wasserman, D. H., Squires, W. G., & Murray, T. D. (2012). Exercise physiology: An integrated approach. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning Schmidt & Clark. (2013). retrieved from http://www.schmidtandclark.com /oxyelite-pro Vaughan, R., Garcia-Smith, R., Barberena, M., Bisoffi, M., Trujillo, K., & Conn, C. (2012). Treatment of human muscle cells with with popular dietary supplements increase mitochondrial and metabolic rate. Nutrition and Metabolism, 9(101), Retrieved from http://mw8xt6bj7r.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.882004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Treatment of human muscle cells with popular dietary supplements increase mitochondrial function and metabolic rate&rft.jtitle=Nutrition & metabolism&rft.au=Vaughan, Roger A&rft.au=Garcia-Smith, Randi&rft.au=Barberena, Miguel A&rft.au=Bisoffi, Marco&rft.date=2012-01-01&rft.volume=9&rft.issue=1&rft.spage=101&rft_id=info:pmid/23148693&rft.externalDocID=23148693 Read More