Fat Burner Review: Bitter Orange
Supplementing with bitter orange for fat loss may be an ideal decision if it wasn’t for its relationship with a notorious supplement.
What Is It?
Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) is a citrus fruit originating from Southeast Asia but extends as far as Florida thanks to the uncanny ability to thrive on a wide range of soil conditions. Despite its dimpled appearance and less than sweet taste, the bitter orange is highly prized for its multitude of attributes.
The oil derived from its leaves is used to flavor soft drinks, gelatins, baking goods, candy, and ice cream. It’s also a popular ingredient for liqueurs, giving them their signature taste. Like raspberry ketone, the oil’s aromatic qualities make it ideal from enhancing perfumes and other cosmetics.
Do you like marmalade? There’s a good chance that it’s made from bitter orange composite mixed with sugar. The fruit has been a key choice from this popular preserve for over 300 years.
How (It’s Supposed) To Work
Bitter Orange contains synephrine (better known as P-synephrine), a chemical alkaloid that promotes lipolysis (the releasing of fatty acids) and raises the body temperature. This contributes to an elevated metabolism.
Of both interest and concern is P-synephrine’s structural similarity to Ephedrine. A little back story…..
Ephedrine is a compound found in Ephedra shrubs and once was a ubiquitous ingredient in fat burner supplements due to its unrivaled potency. However, mounting evidence of ephedrine supplementation triggering health complications (ranging from nausea to heart complications) led to its eventual banning by the FDA and the search for a safer doppelganger.
Science Says……
A meta-study (Read Here) revealed that over 20 studies (16 published) explored the fat-promoting capabilities of bitter orange. A little more than half observed bitter orange as just one of many ingredients in a supplement cocktail while the remaining ones look exclusive at the fruit/ P-synephrine. Despite differences in protocol and interval length, these experiments collectively revealed that bitter orange does promote modest fat loss through elevating the metabolism. In regards to health, bitter orange-derived P-synephrine does not adversely affect blood pressure or the cardiovascular system. Despite similarities with Ephedrine, P-synephrine targets slightly different receptors in the body and this may explain its safer nature.
Anything Else
There are some concerns with bitter orange. At the moment there is no standardized optimal dosage for bitter orange supplementation (dosages have ranged from 50mg to 500mg/per day). Additionally, while studies have shown the effectiveness of this citrus fruit in combination with other fat burning ingredients or by itself, it remains unanswered whether one variation is better than the other.
None of the studies on bitter orange lasted beyond 12 weeks and thus long-term fat loss has yet to be determined.
Our Recommendation
Despite it’s guilty by association epithet, bitter orange (more specifically P-synephrine) is a safer and more stable fat burner ingredient than ephedrine. The evidence for its fat-torching prowess is legitimate and it’s just a matter of cleaning up the details (i.e. finding optimal dosage, determining which variation is best). In the near future, this may your go-to fat shredder.
Dosage and Supplements
Daily: 50mg+ (As suggested by Examine.com)
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