Update 2/28/20. “Most weight loss and health supplements are not founded on science and backed by research.” So says the website for the company that makes a product called CraveFix 96, which is touted to be back by research. The product is advertised as “A quality, science-backed formula based on peer-reviewed research, containing honest, effective levels of each ingredient.” Sounds good so far. So, does CraveFix 96 really work? There is research on the ingredients. Let's look at this weight loss supplement- and research – and see what we can figure out. Update. I'm told this supplement is no longer offered.
What Does The Name Mean?
The name CraveFix says to me the supplement is supposed to fix your cravings. Reducing cravings, in theory, should help people lose weight. As to what the 96 in the name means, I cannot say.
CraveFix 96 Research
Does the product have any evidence to show it actually works? When I performed an online search for:
- CraveFix 96 research
- CraveFix 96 clinical research
I did not see any studies showing up.
Searcing clinical databases for “CraveFix 96,” nothing showed up either. That leads me to believe that at this time, the product – itself – might not be supported by published clinical evidence. A lack of clinical evidence doesn't always mean something doesn't work. It might just mean nobody has taken a look at it yet.
With that in mind, let's now look at the ingredients in CraveFix 96 and see what we can discover.
CraveFix 96 Ingredients
According to the product label, each capsule of CraveFix96 contains the following ingredients:
| Amount Per Serving | Percent Daily Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D (cholicalciferol) | 1000 IU | 250 % DV |
| SaffaTrim Saffron (Crosus sativus) (stigma extract) | 89 mg | N/A |
| ZestaSorb Narigin (from citrus paradasi) (whole fruit) | 50 mg | N/A |
The label indicates to take 1 gelcap with your two largest meals of the day. So, that's 2 capsules per day total. Taking 2 capsules would provide:
- Vitamin D: 2000 IU
- Saffron: 178 mg
- Narigin: 100 mg
I'll consider these amounts when looking at the research below.
The label also lists several other ingredients. They are, in order as they appear on the label:
- Sunflower seed oil
- Gelatin
- Glycerin
- Yellow beeswax
- Sunflower lecithin
These other ingredients likely play no role in any hunger-suppressing or weight loss effects of the product.
Let's now look at the weight loss evidence for each of the 3 ingredients in CraveFix 96.
Vitamin D
Every two capsules of CraveFix96 has 2000 IU of vitamin D. Does that help weight loss?
Several studies have noted that people who are overweight tend to have lower vitamin D levels. But does that mean those people became overweight because they were lacking vitamin D? And if yes, would giving overweight people vitamin D supplements reverse the condition and promote weight loss?
In a 2014 study, titled Vitamin D3 supplementation during weight loss: a double-blind randomized controlled trial, 2000 IU of vitamin D, given to women along with a reduced-calorie diet, did not appear to enhance weight or fat loss.
Vitamin D was also shown to have no weight loss effects in this 2016 study titled Vitamin D3 supplementation and body composition in persons with obesity and type 2 diabetes in the UAE: A randomized controlled double-blinded clinical trial. In this study, people were given 6000 IU of vitamin for 3 months.
It is true that weight loss increases vitamin D levels, but as for vitamin D fostering weight loss, I think the evidence is lacking for now.
Low levels of vitamin D appear to play a role in depression. People often overeat when they are depressed. Might the use of vitamin D in the product be used not to reduce cravings but rather to combat depression? I'm speculating, but given the use of the next ingredient in the product, I wonder if that might be the reason.
Saffron
Saffron is a spice. Its scientific name is Crocus Sativus. Two capsules of CraveFix96 contain 178 mg of saffron.
Saffron was shown to decrease snacking in this 2010 study titled Satiereal, a Crocus sativus L extract, reduces snacking and increases satiety in a randomized placebo-controlled study of mildly overweight, healthy women. The study involved 60 overweight women who were randomly given either a placebo or 2 capsules (176.5 mg/day total) of saffron (called Satiereal) per day for eight weeks.
The women were allowed to eat as much as they wanted. Those women getting the saffron supplement showed significant reductions in snacking frequency and weight loss compared to those getting the placebo.
Satiereal, the trademarked brand of saffron used in this study is from a French company called Inoreal (Inoreal.com). This is the same company that makes SaffaTrim, the saffron brand in CraveFix96. While I'm not positive, since they come from the same company, I think both SaffaTrim and Satiereal might be the same thing, with different names.
People overeat for many reasons, depression being one of them. In a review published in 2015, researchers noted evidence that saffron seemed to help depression. Might this be why the study above noted saffron reduced snacking? More research is needed.
The supplements previously reviewed also contained saffron:
See those reviews for more on those products.
Naringin
Naringin is a phytonutrient is found in citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits and other fruits like grapes. Naringin is responsible for grapefruits bitter taste. Naringin is a member of a large family of nutrients called flavonoids that are common to many fruits and vegetables.
Naringin, like other flavonoids, is an antioxidant and helps reduce free radical damage. Naringin has been studied for many issues and for those who want to know more, see this review. But what about cravings and reduced appetite?
Searching for clinical databases for:
- Naringin appetite
- Naringin hunger
- Naringin craving
- Naringin snacking
- Naringin weight loss
This revealed no human studies, although animal investigations do exist. One study noted that naringin in food did not reduce hunger in people or slow the rate that food left the stomach (called gastric emptying).
One human study noted that naringin prevented the increased metabolic rate caused by caffeine. That might not be good. This study included only 10 people so it was very small. Let's see what other studies show. If this is confirmed by other investigations, companies may want to rethink their use of narigin in weight loss supplements.
Other weight loss products reviewed that also contained naringin include:
See those reviews for more information on those supplements.
Ingredients With Evidence
Based on the research I could locate, here are the ingredients in CraveFix 96 that might reduce cravings:
- Saffron
This is the only ingredient I could locate human evidence for when it comes to reducing cravings. Is it possible the other ingredients in the product work together to produce a better effect? Of course. CraveFix 96 uses the same amount of saffron as the study summarized above. That's good.
Who Makes CraveFix 96?
The company is called BioTrust (BioTrust.com). They are located at 111 Congress Ave Ste 400 Austin, TX 78701-4143. Their contact phone number is: (800) 766-5086. BioTrust had a BBB rating of “A+” at the time this review was updated. See the BBB file for updates and further information.
How Long Until It Works?
According to the product's website, people should notice effects after about a month of use. Because we are all different, and without specific research on the product itself, it is possible some might notice the effects sooner or a bit later than this.
CraveFix 96 Side Effects
Based on the ingredients, I think CraveFix 96 is safe and not likely to be an issue for healthy people. Those who take medications should or have health problems should speak to their pharmacist and doctor first. There is evidence that naringin might interfere with the way some medications are processed in the body. Stop taking CraveFix 96 at least 2 weeks before having surgery. Women who are pregnant or nursing should speak to their doctors first.
Does It Work?
CraveFix 96 contains an interesting spice – saffron- that has been studied to have many health benefits. Preliminary evidence suggests saffron might curb appetite. CraveFix 96 contains the same amount of saffron as the study summarized above does. That's good. While the product itself appears to lack published proof, I wonder if some people might notice benefits because of this spice. Did it help you?
Here are BioTrust supplements on Amazon