It found forskolin to have a positive impact on body composition, decreasing body fat percentage and fat mass. Other significant results included an increase in testosterone levels and bone mass in the blood.

Oddly, the group receiving it actually had higher testosterone levels at the beginning of the study than the control group. But while forskolin did seem to impact body composition, the participants in this study did not actually lose weight. Later that year, a second human study conducted at Baylor University that was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition was conducted with 23 mildly overweight women.

They were given the same dosage as the men in the first study, also for a week period. In addition, no significant differences were found in any metabolic markers or blood lipids such as increased testosterone found in the first study.

They did postulate that forskolin seemed to prevent the development of new fat mass. They found that the subjects taking it reported less fatigue, hunger and fullness. The scientists found that forskolin did prevent weight gain, even on a diet that caused rats in other diet groups to gain significant amounts of weight.

This is in line with the second study, finding that supplementation may help manage weight gain. In a recent study on obese mice, the effects of forskolin were evaluated. Results showed that forskolin supplementation both helped glucose metabolism and lowered body fat in the high-fat diet-fed mice.

The bottom line is that forskolin does not seem to promote weight loss in human studies, but did so in a recent animal study. However, in most studies, both with humans and animals, forskolin may help prevent weight gain. As just discussed mentioned, forskolin does have promising results in its ability to prevent weight gain in already overweight or obese people.

Used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, it can be used to help manage a healthy weight. Another study supporting forskolin for weight management was conducted in The study tested the effects of a topical product that contained tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol.

After 12 weeks, circumference of all treated areas including waist, hips, buttocks and abdomen had decreased, and the appearance of cellulite decreased significantly by week eight.

While this does not directly affect fat mass, it may be worth mentioning for those who are concerned about the physical appearance of body fat. Forskolin activates protein phosphatase 2 PP2A , an enzyme that causes rapid rates of cell division. The results of this study indicate that, depending on the type of rectal cancer a patient has, forskolin may have positive effects on slowing or stopping tumor growth.

Researchers also discovered that forskolin has the ability to cause apoptosis cell death in multiple myeloma cancer cells.

Additionally, when taken with common chemotherapy drugs, it reduced the side effects caused by the treatments. A study done in India found Coleus forskohlii extract to effectively reduce blood pressure in more than 75 percent of the patients tested. The study, published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences , indicated that regular administration of forskolin over the course of eight weeks decreased fasting blood glucose levels.

While this preliminary study shows that this supplement may help diabetic and prediabetic patients, more research must be done in order to prove its level of efficacy.

Interestingly, the study found no antioxidant activity significant enough to mention. Many champions of forskolin claim it to have significant antioxidant content, but this has not been proven.

The evidence does, however, suggest its use to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Asthma , a condition in which airways become inflamed and swollen, is another condition historically treated by forskolin. Forskolin has long been believed to effectively and naturally treat symptoms of glaucoma.

Commonly, using it for glaucoma involves an injection directly into the eye, although some recent studies have researched the impact of orally administered supplements as well. One such occasion focused on the control of intraocular pressure, the fluid pressure within the eye.

Maintaining stable intraocular pressure is the goal of many common glaucoma treatments for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world.

Researchers found that taking forskolin orally along with another supplement, rutin had a significant impact on pressure levels and offered an effective treatment for patients who had tried everything else short of surgery.

The effects of forskolin are often claimed to be similar to that of garcinia cambogia , another popular weight loss supplement. Like forskolin, garcinia cambogia gives some minor aid in weight loss but is not effective at getting rid of belly fat.

You can buy forskolin in various forms. Over-the-counter forskolin powder is available in supplement form. It may also be prescribed in powder form via inhaler for asthma , or injected directly into the eye as part of a glaucoma treatment regimen.

Like many supplements that are commonly used for weight loss, there are many disreputable companies selling what they claim to be forskolin extract that are dangerous and contain unnamed ingredients.

Regarding forskolin dosage, always follow dosing instructions carefully. If you take medications or have concerns then be sure to take these supplements under the supervision of your healthcare professional.

Only doctors can prescribe inhaled or intravenous forskolin. If you believe these treatments may be beneficial to you, please see your healthcare professional for advice on the appropriate forskolin dosage that you should take. What are the dangers of taking forskolin?

One lab study observed the effects of forskolin on genetic material and found evidence of genotoxicity, the destruction of DNA that can potentially lead to mutations and cancer. In other words, a person must burn more calories than they take in through food and drink.

If this fails to happen, a person will not lose weight. So, while forskolin may raise fat burning capabilities, this is irrelevant without a nutritious diet and exercise to support the calorie deficit.

While a study conducted on a small group of overweight and obese men showed that forskolin reduced their body fat, it had little effect on their weight. It also increased their testosterone. Higher levels of testosterone are linked with lower weight and sustained weight loss.

Other studies conducted had varying results. In a double blind study, 23 overweight females were given milligrams mg of forskolin twice a day for 12 weeks. The studies show that forskolin failed to help the women lose weight. However, the supplement did seem to lessen any additional weight gain while they were taking it.

Therefore, it is too much to say that forskolin is the solution to weight loss. While studies suggest it may slow weight gain or raise testosterone levels in men, forskolin is not a miracle weight loss solution that some supplement distributors and television medical personalities claim.

Forskolin may have skyrocketed into the public eye after praise for its potential to help people lose weight, but it has other possible uses that scientists are currently studying. These potential uses include the following:.

No human studies have been done on that subject, however, so these studies are, at best, inconclusive. If you wish to try forskolin, it is available for purchase online. However, it is important to speak to a doctor before trying this or any other supplement. Most people who are familiar with weight loss supplements are familiar with warnings about the numerous side effects.

However, unlike many supplements that have been available on the market, forskolin itself seems mostly safe. Many weight loss supplements interact with the cardiac system by raising blood pressure and stimulating cardiac tissue. Because of the way forskolin is metabolized by the body, most scientists believe that it does not interact with the cardiac system the way of other weight loss supplements.

However, just because there are no known interactions with forskolin itself, it does not mean that forskolin supplements are safe. Weight loss supplement manufacturers can often hide other potentially dangerous ingredients in their supplements.

Because of these tactics, the U. Food and Drug Administration FDA caution consumers against many weight loss supplements on the market. Additionally, in Europe, there have been reports of acute poisoning following consumption of products containing forskolin, possibly due to contamination.

Consequently, it is important to be cautious with any supplement or herb, as they are not monitored by the FDA and could have issues with purity, quality, or dosage.

Aside from the risk of contamination, forskolin can pose risks for certain groups and should not be taken by the following:. Forskolin is not a weight loss miracle drug, and there is no substitute for proper diet and exercise.

If, after following a healthful, low calorie diet and exercise program, a person is not losing weight, they may want to consult their doctor. The medical professional can recommend ways to help with weight loss, but forskolin is probably not going to be one of them.

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Can forskolin help me lose weight? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.

What is forskolin? How does forskolin work in weight loss? What are the suggested uses of forskolin?

Risks and benefits Conclusions. How we vet brands and products Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

Forskolin is an active compound found in the roots of the Indian coleus Coleus forskohlii , a tropical plant related to mint.

For centuries, this plant has been used in traditional herbal medicine to treat various conditions and diseases 2. Weight loss supplements can allegedly promote weight loss in several ways, including by 5 :. Because your body needs to break down nutrients in order to absorb them, supplements that reduce nutrient absorption often target different enzymes in charge of nutrient digestion.

For instance, some supplements block an enzyme called pancreatic lipase, which reduces fat absorption. In contrast, others inhibit enzymes such as amylase and glucosidase, preventing the digestion and absorption of carbs. In both cases, the supplement promotes weight loss by reducing energy intake 5.

Furthermore, supplements that increase the breakdown of fats — also known as fat burners — reportedly work either by reducing fat accumulation or by preventing the formation of fat, a process called lipogenesis 6. Supplements that boost your energy expenditure, such as caffeine, mostly rely on their thermogenic effect — an ability to produce heat.

This leads to an increased resting energy expenditure — the number of calories your body burns while resting — and thus promotes fat loss 7.

Lastly, supplements that help reduce hunger act by increasing the levels of hormones that promote feelings of fullness, such as peptide YY PYY and glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1 , and reducing the levels of hunger-promoting hormones such as ghrelin 5.

While some studies have investigated the effects of forskolin on fat metabolism, most have been test-tube experiments or animal studies, so their results may not apply to humans. Recent human research is scarce. Forskolin is believed to promote the production of hormone-sensitive lipase, an enzyme involved in moving stored triglycerides and releasing fatty acids so your body can use them for energy 8.

In simple terms, forskolin is thought to reduce the size of fat cells by promoting the breakdown of fats. The same happens whenever your body needs to use fat as fuel 2. Nevertheless, the release of stored fat is not enough to promote weight loss on its own.

It needs to be accompanied by a calorie deficit. In other words, for weight loss to happen, energy expenditure calories out must exceed energy intake calories in , which is precisely what was determined in a small study 9. The researchers recruited 30 men with overweight or obesity.

At the end of the trial, there were no significant weight loss differences between the groups. However, both groups showed reductions in waist and hip circumference, which were attributed to the calorie restriction rather than to forskolin 9.

Nonetheless, an older study in 30 men with overweight or obesity suggested that forskolin may promote fat loss while preserving muscle mass There was also a significant increase in free testosterone in the forskolin group.

All that being said, the current evidence is not strong enough to make any recommendations. More research is needed The Indian coleus plant which contains forskolin has been a part of traditional herbal medicine for centuries.

It has been used to treat conditions such as heart ailments, asthma, bronchitis, and constipation In humans, forskolin supplements may also 8 , 9 , 14 :.

While forskolin is recognized as safe and typically well tolerated, some users have reported gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea 9 , As mentioned above, forskolin is generally safe to use. However, some people may experience diarrhea after consuming it 9 , Researchers believe this side effect happens because forskolin increases the production of acid in your stomach, which may increase bowel movements and loose stools.

Forskolin-induced diarrhea appears to be mild, and symptoms reportedly disappear within 4 weeks of use 9. Evidence suggests that it works via vasorelaxation. This means that it widens blood vessels, such as veins and arteries, by promoting the relaxation of the muscles within their walls, thus improving blood circulation 8.

In addition to having a blood pressure-lowering effect, forskolin is used as a treatment for heart failure. However, research assessing the benefits of forskolin for heart health in humans is limited.

Therefore, be sure to consult with a healthcare professional before consuming it. Based on the current evidence, it is unclear whether forskolin promotes weight loss.

However, one study published in suggests that it may raise testosterone levels and promote fat loss while increasing muscle mass.

As a general rule, it is a good idea to be skeptical of weight loss supplements. Some of them show promise in early studies, only to be proven completely ineffective in larger, higher quality studies.

The healthiest approach to weight loss tends to be one that modifies your diet to improve your overall health — often, weight loss will follow. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. A supplement produced from an exotic fruit, garcinia cambogia, is the latest weight-loss craze.

But the Internet and television are filled with…. How can you boost your metabolism? The evidence does, however, suggest its use to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Asthma , a condition in which airways become inflamed and swollen, is another condition historically treated by forskolin. Forskolin has long been believed to effectively and naturally treat symptoms of glaucoma.

Commonly, using it for glaucoma involves an injection directly into the eye, although some recent studies have researched the impact of orally administered supplements as well. One such occasion focused on the control of intraocular pressure, the fluid pressure within the eye.

Maintaining stable intraocular pressure is the goal of many common glaucoma treatments for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Researchers found that taking forskolin orally along with another supplement, rutin had a significant impact on pressure levels and offered an effective treatment for patients who had tried everything else short of surgery.

The effects of forskolin are often claimed to be similar to that of garcinia cambogia , another popular weight loss supplement.

Like forskolin, garcinia cambogia gives some minor aid in weight loss but is not effective at getting rid of belly fat. You can buy forskolin in various forms.

Over-the-counter forskolin powder is available in supplement form. It may also be prescribed in powder form via inhaler for asthma , or injected directly into the eye as part of a glaucoma treatment regimen. Like many supplements that are commonly used for weight loss, there are many disreputable companies selling what they claim to be forskolin extract that are dangerous and contain unnamed ingredients.

Regarding forskolin dosage, always follow dosing instructions carefully. If you take medications or have concerns then be sure to take these supplements under the supervision of your healthcare professional.

Only doctors can prescribe inhaled or intravenous forskolin. If you believe these treatments may be beneficial to you, please see your healthcare professional for advice on the appropriate forskolin dosage that you should take.

What are the dangers of taking forskolin? One lab study observed the effects of forskolin on genetic material and found evidence of genotoxicity, the destruction of DNA that can potentially lead to mutations and cancer.

Taking forskolin may also cause rapid or irregular heartbeat in some people, so if you experience these symptoms while taking it, you should discontinue use and see your doctor immediately. Is forskolin safe if you have high blood pressure?

Because of the way it lowers blood pressure, those with low blood pressure already should avoid taking forskolin. Does forskolin interact with any medications? Anyone currently taking beta blockers or nitrates for chest pain should also steer clear of taking this supplement.

People who are pregnant, nursing, have blood disorders, are about to have or just had surgery within two weeks , or are suffering from heart disease should not take forskolin. Some reports indicate inhaling it for asthma can cause throat irritation, cough, tremor and restlessness.

Intravenous eye injections may cause stinging. There are also preliminary indications that forskolin may increase cyst size in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, so you should not take it if you have been diagnosed with PCOS.

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