Proactol XS is a weight loss supplement that works as a fat binder and appetite suppressant. It is produced by Bauer Nutrition and sold all over the world.
They report that 40 clinical trials prove that this supplement helps you lose weight, keep weight off and stops food cravings. In this review, we put their claims to the test. We will take a detailed look at the ingredients, how they work and if they work to help you decide whether this is the supplement is for you.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Chitosan
Chitosan is the main substance in this supplement and is a fibrous material that is a treated form of shells from crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans. Though it’s also made from other sources too – in the case of Proactol XS – mushrooms. It’s been around for a long time and has many properties attributed to it and industrial uses including protecting food from spoiling to helping plants fight off infection. It’s also reported to have fat reducing properties and Proactol XS actually indicates that this is the substance that does all the work.
Fat binders usually work by combining fat from food eaten in the stomach into larger more complex compounds that cannot be absorbed the body and are passed instead. This works a little differently. Your body can’t absorb chitosan, and it binds itself to the fat of the food you’ve eaten and stops that from being absorbed too. Then as normal, the fat and chitosan are passed.
Trials have shown that Chitosan works to some degree as a weight loss supplement, and decreases cholesterol but the clinical audit that looked at these studies made note that it works for the short term but that the trials were not of high enough quality to be satisfactory. Higher quality trials into the effects of Chitosan need to be done to really definitely prove that it works. In one quality study, it was found to cause feelings of hunger rather than be an appetite suppressant which seems counterproductive in a weight loss supplement.
Magnesium Stearate
Magnesium Stearate is a compound that is known for its lubricating ability. It is thought to be added to many supplements to make sure the individual components do not stick together and change their structure or are altered in any way. It’s natural, has many uses and once it’s in the body, it breaks down into its separate parts.
Magnesium itself is an essential vitamin everyone needs in their body. Magnesium deficiency is quite common and taking the extra amount that is in this supplement could combat a number of problems that can be caused by magnesium deficiency. These include high blood pressure, leg cramps, muscle pain and according to one study even osteoporosis. It also has a laxative effect. This will aid in passing the fat that the chitosan binds together, but there are no studies to say that this is the case.
Silica
Silica is short for silicon dioxide, and a mineral found naturally in many different foods and is often added to drinks. It aids in bone health in the body and is added to Proactol XS as an additive but possibly because some websites report it being an appetite suppressant and boosting metabolism. There are no clinical reports of this and few studies into silica deficiency as it is rare to be deficient in this mineral. You can read our Spartagen XT Test Booster Review to find out more
Proactol XS Side Effects
The main ingredient of this supplement has several minor side effects. Constipation is a common side effect of weight loss supplements as it’s part of the fat binding process. Extra water intake will help counteract this. There is also the risk of bloating and excess wind; both embarrassing symptoms but easy to deal with over the counter drugs from your local pharmacy.
While chitosan isn’t particularly dangerous – toxicity is low – it does have some blood thinning properties which would make it dangerous for anyone already on blood thinners to take.
Magnesium Stearate and Silica have few side effects as they are already present in the body, but too much Magnesium can cause nausea and diarrhea but overdose usually only occurs in people with decreased kidney function. A study also found that Magnesium Stearate can also reduce the rate at which a tablet is dissolved and absorbed into the body; another concern for those already taking regular medication. More studies are needed on this though. As for the silica, it is completely safe when taken orally. The danger only really occurs when silica dust is inhaled in larger amounts than would be found in a bottle of Proactol XS.
As with everything, it’s always best to check with your pharmacist or doctor when you start a supplement and already take prescription or over the counter medications; and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Other blood thinning medications include aspirin which is also a common painkiller.
Proactol Consumer Reviews
There are many mixed reviews on the internet, from one star to five-star reviews. Many people are undecided and seem to indicate it works better while on a diet instead of replacing one.
This is typical of most weight loss supplements. Others have seen a great deal of weight loss; everything from 5lb in a week to 25lb in four months with is some impressive weight loss. These are really exciting user reviews from an anonymous forum which would indicate legitimacy of reviews rather than five-star reviews on sites that may be fake, false or paid for.
It’s always hard to be sure about online reviews, but there are a lot of happy people out there and a lot of people who aren’t so sure. This spread also gives legitimacy to those reviews that are indicative of the supplement working and users losing some weight even if it isn’t huge amounts. There are very few reviews however that are single star reviews or completely negative which is a positive for this supplement; everyone seems to have something positive to say about the supplement even if it isn’t working as advertised or expected.
Celebrity Endorsements
We found this clipping below from the Daily Mail. It is an endorsement from famous actress Mischa Barton who claims to use Proactol XS. We suspect this is a paid endorsement and recommend basing your decision on the actual science.
Overview
Pros
- Some clinical studies show promising results
- Natural
- Good reviews online
- Few side effects
Proactal XS looks pretty good. While there are forty clinical studies the company states are not cited nor able to be found, there are a few studies on chitosan that are promising and do show that it works to some extent. Proactal is a natural substance too, and in this case, both vegetarian and vegan as its source is actually a type of mushroom and not the crustaceans which are the usual source if Chitosan. This means there is no chance of shellfish allergies either, should you have allergies of any kind you should always check the full ingredient list including the inactive ones to make sure it is safe for you to take.
The reviews are the most promising part too, with many people reporting weight loss benefits while using this supplement. Even those writing negative reviews are mostly undecided on whether or not this drug actually works rather than just outright saying they don’t work. What side effects present are few and minor in comparison to other supplements on the market, some supplements have side effects such as increased blood pressure and have other major effects on the body. Some excess wind is hardly anything when compared to that.
As with all supplements we advise you speak to a pharmacist or doctor before starting.
Cons
- Clinical studies are of low quality
- Needs to be taken in conjunction with diet and exercise
- Embarrassing side effects
- Expensive
There are clinical trials into the main ingredient Chitosan and its effect on weight loss that are available to be read online. A thorough study of those trials found that while many did have positive results, most were of low quality and not up to the usual standards of medical research. This calls into doubt the results of the trials, but what is clear is that more research needs to be done into Proactol and Chitosan to be sure once and for all whether these supplements do work as a weight loss aid.
What is clear from both the trials conducted and the reviews online is that Proactol XS will only work in conjunction with diet and exercise. These supplements will not replace that and are definitely not a quick fix of a miracle solution to weight loss. Which would make this a risk that could see you losing a lot of money if it doesn’t work.
The side effects are minimal but are embarrassing – no one wants wind – and if you’re already prone to stomach problems or bloating then this supplement is only going to cause you more problems that may not be so easy to deal with using over the counter medications.
Recommendations
So should you use Proactol XS? We think that despite the low quality of many of the studies there is a lot of promise in this supplement but no real guarantee that it’s going to work. If you take into account the reviews of people who are already taking Proactol XS, the studies that did show some weight loss effect of the Chitosan and the fact that the site offers a sixty-day money back guarantee; we agree it’s worth trialing the supplement at the very least.
This supplement may well work for you, but it’s definitely not a miracle weight loss drug and nor are any results going to be quick and easy. With diet and exercise, this supplement could aid your weight loss not do the work for you, naturally and with very few side effects.
Where to Buy Proactol XS
The only place you can buy this product is from the website of the manufacturer – Bauer Nutrition.