Elcella has been called an affordable next-generation appetite control supplement backed by over a decade of research. The supplement is designed to boost the body's natural hormones that regulate appetite, reduce calorie intake, and manage safe weight loss without any side effects. And to make things even better, Elcella is a twice-a-day supplement with only three ingredients. If the mainstream media headlines are true, this would give the UK-based company that makes this compound a huge advantage over expensive medications like semaglutide (Ozempic) and other GLP-1 drugs. Let's explore the ingredients in Elcella, the research, and possible adverse reactions to be aware of if you decide to try this supplement.
Who Makes Elcella & Contact Information
The company is Elcella Limited, based in London, United Kingdom. Its founders are Madusha Peiris, PhD, and Rubina Aktar, PhD. Both scientists were involved in the initial research on Elcella ingredients. The company appears to be relevantly new, with the website being registered in 2024.
You can ask questions via the contact form on the website homepage. Alternatively, you can send an email to Hello@Elcella.com.
What Is The Proof For Elcella? Clinical Research & Benefits
Ironically, the Elcella.com website does not mention supporting proof, even though research does indeed exist.
In one such investigation, researchers tested the three ingredients in Elcella to see if they could activate receptors in the large intestine linked to feelings of fullness.
Twenty overweight men and women (average age 48) took the three supplement ingredients or a placebo for four weeks each.
The results showed that the supplement blend reduced participants' lunchtime calorie intake by about 13% compared to the placebo. The cocktail also significantly increased by 55%, a hormone called PYY, which helps control appetite.
This is encouraging. However, the formula did not raise GLP-1 or alter ghrelin, a stomach hormone that affects hunger.
Drawbacks to the Elcella Research
- The research involves small numbers of people.
- The study did not last long.
- Weight loss results with Elcella have not been reported.
- So far, the supplement has not been compared to Ozempic, GLP-1 medications, or GLP-1/GIP combination meds like Tirzepatide (e.g., Mounjaro & Zepbound).
Elcella Ingredients
Fortunately, this is a very straightforward supplement with no proprietary blends. There are only three ingredients.
- Lauric acid
- Alpha-linolenic acid
- Diindolylmethane
This gives Elcella an advantage over many of its counterparts. Here is a breakdown of each ingredient.
Lauric Acid
Lauric acid is a medium-chain saturated fatty acid found naturally in human breast milk, dairy products, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil. Lauric acid (also called Dodecanoic acid) may be popular with people following a ketogenic diet because it is quickly broken down and is used as energy, and is less likely to be stored as body fat.
Lauric acid -like both EPA and DHA- activates free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4) in the gut and can stimulate the release of hormones like GLP-1 and PYY, which regulate appetite and glucose metabolism
Coconut oil is one of the top sources of lauric acid, with a tablespoon providing about 6 grams. While lauric acid is a medium-chain triglyceride, the amount of lauric acid in MCT oil supplements may vary according to processing. Scrutinize MCT oil Supplement Facts labels to see how much lauric acid is contained.
Alpha-Linolenic Acid
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid found mostly in plant-based foods, including walnuts, flaxseed oil, spinach, and brustle sprouts. Research has highlighted its benefits for cardiovascular health, inflammation reduction, and potential roles in metabolic processes, including weight management and appetite regulation.
Regarding appetite, ALA is said to work by targeting Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4 (FFAR4) receptors in the colon. Activation of FFAR4 by ALA – as well as with other omega-3s – has been linked to improved glucose metabolism, anti-inflammatory effects, and maybe weight regulation via its ability to raise both GLP-1 and Peptide YY (PPY).
Much of this research involves fish oil omega-3 fats (EPA & DHA). However, ALA from flaxseed oil also appears to turn on FFAR4, although the effect may be less.
Diindolylmethane (DIM)
Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a compound formed in the body during the digestion of indole-3-carbinol, a phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and kale.
Because of its ability to block the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, DIM appears to exert favorable influences on breast and prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).
In the gut, DIM appears to increase the activity of G Protein-Coupled Receptor 84 (GPR84), a receptor for medium-chain fatty acids, which appears to reduce food intake.
How Does Elcella Work?
The three ingredients—DIM, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and lauric acid—were chosen because they work together to activate sensors in the colon called G protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84) and free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4). More specifically:
- Lauric acid activates GPR84, which sets off a chain reaction inside cells to help release the appetite-suppressing hormones, GLP-1 and Peptide YY.
- ALA activates FFAR4, triggering a different process that also boosts these hormones.
- DIM supports these effects by enhancing the sensitivity of colon cells to GPR84 and FFAR4 activation.
Translation: The ingredients increase the release of hormones like peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which help you feel full and eat less by sending signals to your brain.
This approach is said to mimic how your body naturally controls appetite and offers a simple, non-surgical way to manage weight.
Is The Supplement Processed?
Unless you grow your food, it's difficult to find something that is not processed. Since this is a dietary supplement, some processing will undoubtedly be required. The good news, however, is that Elcella is both organic and vegan.
Elcella Optimal Dosage
In the research study summarized above, participants took the following amounts twice per day: one hour before breakfast and one hour before lunch:
- 250 ng DIM
- 1050 mg alpha linolenic acid
- 1200 mg Lauric acid
Free Trial & How To Contact Elcella
The website (Elcella.com) states that you may be suitable to participate in their risk-free product trial if you live in the United Kindom.
To be eligible for the trial, you must answer the following very specific questions on the form on the website's homepage.
- Name, email, phone number, address, and whether you are a UK resident.
- Age & gender, height, & weight.
- Whether or not you have ever used an injectable before (I assume they are referring to Ozempic/Wegovy, etc.).
- If you take medications for type II diabetes.
Given the level of detail of the questions being asked, it's possible your results may be used in future Elcella research papers. Note that when the supplement is officially released to the public, those in the UK will be able to purchase it first before it is available to those in the US and other countries.
Elcella Side Effects & Cautions
The company website states that the supplement is free of side effects. However, it would take human clinical trials to determine this. What can be said is that the ingredients in Elcella are likely safe for most people, based on what is currently known.
When beginning any dietary supplement you have not taken before; it's usually wise to take less than a company recommends for at least the first week. This gives you time to adjust to the ingredients, and if you do experience adverse reactions, taking less should help minimize their severity.
Some other things to remember when taking Elcella include:
- Avoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Speak to your pharmacist if you take any medications, including blood thinners.
- Lauric acid is a saturated fat that may raise LDL and total cholesterol.
- Controversial research suggests a high intake of alpha-linolenic acid may raise the risk of prostate cancer. The research appears to point to animal sources of ALA, such as meat, dairy products, and eggs. The ALA in Elcella is derived from flaxseed oil. This reporter is not aware of research specifically linking ALA from flaxseed to prostate cancer. Speak to your urologist for more insights.
Is Elcella Really Natural Ozempic?
Given that one human study revealed the ingredients in Elcella did not significantly raise GLP-1, I think the mainstream media's use of “natural Ozemipc” in their article titles is, at the least, premature and, at worst, clickbaity. Let's see what the future research reveals. The optimal test is to directly compare the Elcella supplement to Ozempic to see which is optimal for improving blood sugar, A1c, hunger, and, most importantly, weight loss.