Trim, a collagen supplement made by the Modere company is said to be an “innovative, first-in-the-world combination of two leading technologies for a body transformation experience.” And since the supplement comes in chocolate flavor, it's appealing to those who want to have their cake and eat it too. Great but does it really work? Is Modere Trim legit or is it a scam? In this honest, unbiased review, let's look at the research and ingredients in Modere Trim and see what can be discovered.
Modere Trim Benefits
Here is what this supplement is said to do:
- Supports fat metabolism
- Inhibits cellular fat storage
- Supports a reduction in fat cells
- Improves muscle tone
- Restores youthful-looking skin
- Supports joint, muscle fitness, and connective tissue health
- Supports healthy hair, nails, gums, and eyes
See the research sections below for the evidence.
Modere Trim Ingredients
The supplement comes in different flavors such as vanilla, chocolate and lemon. Each bottle has 15.2 oz (450 ml.). From the Supplement Facts Label we see that one tablespoon has the following ingredients (chocolate flavor):
Ingredient | Amount | Percent Daily Value |
Calories | 60 | |
Total fat | 4.5 g | 6% DV |
Total Carbs | 3 g | 1% DV |
Total Sugars | 0 | |
Sodium | 20 mg | 1% DV |
Proprietary Blend composed of: | 5 g | |
Conjugated Linoleic Acid | N/A | |
Liquid BioCell | N/A | |
Other Ingredients
The Supplement Facts label lists these ingredients also:
- Water
- Vegetable glycerin
- Coca
- Natural flavors (flavors not mentioned)
- Xanthan gum
- Citric acid
- Mixed tocopherols (vitamin E)
- Potassium sorbate
- Salt
- Sunflower seed oil
- Rebaudioside A (Stevia)
It's good to remember these other ingredients are inactive. They don't have any impact on whether the supplement works or not.
Modere Trim Weight Loss Research
There doesn't appear to be any weight loss research on the Trim supplement itself. No clinical studies for the supplement were listed on the Modere website. There is research on the 2 ingredients in the Trim supplement so let's look at that next.
Modere Trim Ingredients Research
So how does Trim work? The idea is that one of the ingredients kills off fat cells while another ingredient helps joints, reduces pain, and improves skin appearance.
There are 2 ingredients in Trim.
- Conjugated Linoleic Acid
- Liquid BioCell Collagen
Both of these ingredients add up to 5 grams. While we are not told specific dosages of each, since CLA is the first ingredient, it makes up most of the 5 grams.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
CLA is an omega 6 fatty acid found naturally in milk and meats. It's been around for years as a weight loss slimming supplement. In Modere supplements, the CLA is derived from safflower oil. Some researchers think CLA works by causing fat cells to die off. Understanding CLA benefits can be complicated because there are 2 main types (isomers):
- cis-9, trans-11 (foods have lots of this type)
- trans-10,cis-12 (foods have less of this type)
Not all of the types have weight loss effects. Some evidence suggests only the trans-10,cis-12 isomer has fat burning /weight loss effects. The dilemma for supplement takers is companies may not tell which type they contain. Supplements may contain a mixture of both types. The only way to know for sure is to ask companies which CLA isomer they are using.
As for weight loss research, some studies show CLA works while others find it doesn't. This may be related to the low quality of some investigations. In one review of previous CLA studies, researchers noted 3.2 grams of CLA per day was modestly effective for weight loss. Ironically, in a study lasting a year, researchers saw no difference in weight loss in women taking 3.4 grams of CLA.
If CLA really works, studies show it may help people lose a few pounds. But, this is not the supplement to use to drop 50 pounds. Since CLA is listed first in the Trim ingredients it makes up most of the 5-gram proprietary blend. This means Trim likely contains a dose similar to that used in weight loss studies. That's good.
Liquid BioCell Collagen
BioCell is a patented hydrolyzed collagen/chondroitin/Hyaluronic acid supplement. It's a supplement made by a company called BioCell Technology LLC. This company owns the patent on Biocell collagen and licenses its product to be used in other supplements. Modere is one of those companies. BioCell collagen is a combination of:
- type II collagen (derived from chicken) 300 mg
- chondroitin sulfate 100 mg
- hyaluronic acid 50 mg
Type II collagen is mostly found in joints. Some research suggests supplementing with type II collagen peptides may help reduce joint pain. Other studies also indicate chondroitin sulfate helps joint pain too. Hyaluronic acid may help with skin aging as well as joint health.
Here's a promo video.
So what's the proof for Liquid BioCell collagen? The company sponsors research. That's good. Let's look at the evidence.
Study 1
In one study, 26 women (aged 35-59) were given 1000 mg (1 gram) of BioCell collagen for 3 months. Researchers noted that BioCell collagen lead to the following improvements:
- 76% reduction in skin dryness
- 13% reduction in fine lines and wrinkles
- 15% increase in blood flow to the skin
- 6% increase in collagen in the skin dermis
All improvements were clinically significant.
Study 2
In this investigation, 8 people (average age 29) took 3 grams of BioCell collagen or a placebo each day for 6 weeks before they were given an upper body strength training test. Researchers wanted to see if BioCell collagen improved recovery from intense exercise.
Following exercise, BioCell collagen was shown to reduce markers of muscle damage such as creatine kinase, C reactive protein, and lactate dehydrogenase. People also seemed to be able to do more exercise to muscle failure and reported less muscle soreness.
The study suffers from some problems.
1. None of the benefits of BioCell collagen were clinically significant. So, it's debatable if you would notice improvements.
2. The study only had 8 people. That's not much.
3 Researchers did not disclose the number of male vs. female participants.
Study 3
In this study, 68 men and women with osteoarthritis were given 2 grams of BioCell collagen or a placebo for 70 days. Before and after questionnaires that were given to the people noted those taking BioCell collagen:
- had less overall joint pain
- less knee and hip pain
- improved ability to do daily activities
One shortcoming to this study is both the collagen and placebo group reported significantly less pain. The effect however was greater in those taking BioCell collagen.
Study 4
In this skin aging study, 128 women (ages 39-59), were given either a placebo or 1000 mg of BioCell collagen for 3 months. After the study, the collagen supplement was said to have significantly:
- reduced facial lines and wrinkles
- fewer crows feet
- increase skin elasticity
- more collagen in the skin
BioCell collagen was also said to make the skin more youthful too. The study however did not provide before and after pictures.
Many supplements contain BioCell Collagen such as these
Modere Trim Price
One bottle (15.2 oz) is $99 plus shipping. A bottle will last you 1 month. If you sign up for Smart Ship and Save program, the cost is $94.99. With the Smart Ship and Save program you will automatically receive new bottles each month so you never run out. Either way, you slice it, this supplement is expensive.
Who Makes Modere Trim?
Modere Inc is the company. It's a multi-level marketing company specializing in personal care and wellness products. The company focuses on green/clean label products that have not been tested on animals, and are BPA-free and rainforest alliance certified.
The company, originally started in 1992 is located at 588 S 2000 W Springville, UT 84663-3047. The website is Modere.com and the company phone number is 801-418-2000. Customer service can by reached at 877- MODERE-1. The company is known by these other names too:
- LTM Enterprises, Inc.
- Maple Mountain Enterprises, Inc.
- Maple Mountain Group, Inc.
- Modere USA, Inc.
- Neways, Inc.
- Neways USA, Inc.
The chief executive officer is Robert S Conlee, who previously has worked with the supplement companies Nu Skin and Xango. The company has been Accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2018 and has an A+ Rating. See the BBB file for updates.
The original name of the company was Neways International. The company was rebranded /renamed to Modere in 2015.
How Do You Buy Trim?
Modere Trim and other supplements can be purchased directly from the company website as well as through brand partners. If you know a brand partner, she/he may be able to offer discounts. You can also purchase Trim on Amazon too.
Modere Complaints
The Better Business Bureau has at least 85 complaints about the company when this review was updated. Most of these complaints involve issues with
- billing and collections and delivery problems
- customer service
Several online testimonials mentioned waiting for a long time to speak to a customer service representative. The company responds to customer dissatisfaction so that is good. To reach customer service call 877-MODERE-1.
Modere Trim FAQ
1 Do you need to refrigerate it?
Yes. refrigerate Trim after opening.
2 What flavors does Trim come in?
Chocolate, vanilla, lime, and coconut lime
3 Is it gluten-free?
Yes, there is no gluten in either CLA or BioCell collagen.
4 Is Trim vegan?
No. BioCell collagen is derived from chicken sternum bones.
5 How much is recommenced?
The company recommends one tablespoon per day.
6 Can you add Trim to coffee?
There is no reason why you cannot do this. Hot coffee should not interfere with the ingredients or how they work.
7 Is Trim keto-friendly
Yes. One tablespoon has just 3 grams of carbs so it should fit with ketogenic diets. Trim might not be ideal for intermittent fasting, since a tablespoon has 60 calories.
8 Can it help/hurt blood pressure?
The Trim supplement has not been studied to see if it affects blood pressure. Preliminary evidence in animals suggests CLA may lower blood pressure by boosting nitric oxide levels inside blood vessels. But a review of 9 human studies found just the opposite – CLA did not reduce blood pressure.
9 What type of collagen does Modere Trim contain
BioCell collagen is type II. Type II collagen is mostly found in joints. Some studies have shown type II collagen may help osteoarthritis pain.
10 Does it contain glucosamine sulfate?
No Trim contains chondroitin sulfate. Various studies have documented glucosamine sulfate can help arthritis pain. Other studies indicate it may help wrinkles too.
11 How does Modere Trim taste?
Some have reported the supplement tasted great while others said the taste was so-so, not great but not bad and that it has an aftertaste.
12 What's the Modere money-back guarantee
You have 30 days to send it back for a full refund or exchange if you're not satisfied. You pay shipping and handling to send it back. You will get a refund within 1 week after the company receives your items. Call customer service first at 877-MODERE-1.
If you live in the United States, this is the return address:
Modere Returns Department
588 S 2000 W
Springville, UT 84663
If you live in Canada, return supplements to this address:
Modere Returns Department
4240 Harvester Rd
Unit 2
Burlington, ON L7L 0E8
13 Does Trim contain caffeine?
No. The Trim supplement is caffeine-free. So it won't give you energy or put extra pep in your step. However, there is caffeine in the Modere Energy Shot, Burn and Go Fruit Punch. Read the labels to know if your Modere supplements contain caffeine or not.
14 Modere Trim vs. Plexus Slim
Plexus Slim (the pink drink) has been around for several years. No clinical studies have compared Plexus Slim to Trim to see which would work better. Both supplements contain drastically different ingredients. For more information see:
Modere Trim Side Effects
So is Modere Trim collagen safe? Here are some things to consider when trying this supplement. This list is not complete:
- Start with less than recommended for the first week to see if you feel
- If you take medications, ask your doctor first
- Those with diabetes and pre-diabetes (metabolic syndrome) should consult their doctor
- Stop taking at least 2 weeks before surgery
- If pregnant or breastfeeding ask your doctor first. CLA seems to reduce fat content from breast milk
- Some studies have noted that CLA – the same type thought to have slimming effects – may also raise blood sugar levels. In theory, CLA might raise the risk of prediabetes. Preliminary evidence also hints CLA may lower HDL levels. Interestingly, the type of CLA found in food does not appear to have these detrimental effects.
- Some reports exist on CLA causing liver failure. One person needed a liver transplant. That said, there only appear to be 3 documented cases of CLA-induced liver damage known to exist. In one online testimonial, someone did mention having elevated liver enzymes.
What Do I Suggest?
- For temporary wrinkle removal: Argireline. It's basically liquid Botox. Here's the proof.
- For joint pain: Glucosamine sulfate
- For weight loss: konjac root extract. It's a fiber that makes you feel full.
Modere Trim Pro & Con
Pro | Con |
Only 2 ingredients | Expensive |
Ingredients have research | No research on Trim supplement |
More research needed on ingredients | |
Proprietary blend |
Does Modere Trim Really Work?
My guess is results will vary. If I had to further guess I'd say the weight loss effects might not be significant for most people. Modere Trim is expensive. While the idea of a good tasting supplement for weight loss, arthritis pain and skin health will surely appeal to many, you can save money by purchasing the ingredients separately.
Here's Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Jennifer says
Someone just told me about this stuff today! I was curious especially when I heard it came in chocolate flavor. I noticed you said it also has poly sorbate. Is that stuff safe?
Joe Cannon says
Jennifer, so poly sorbate is used as an emulsifier. It helps the ingredients mix well together. I don’t see anything saying polysorbate is not safe for humans. The FDA says it is. If it helps, my hunch is there’s probably only a little bit of polysorbate in a tablespoon of Modere Trim. One thing Im curious about is what kind of polysorbate is in Trim? There are different kinds. Are they using polysorbate 20 or polysorbate 80 for example? The label doesn’t say and I wish it did.
Jennifer says
Thanks Joe, this was just what I was looking for. I was so confused by whether it worked or not the research on the Bio cell collagen is very interesting. I think I will try that. Thanks for the tip on argireline botox too! I have never heard of that before.
Joe Cannon says
Jennifer, thanks for sharing. I agree the research on BioCell collagen is interesting. I would like to see a few more/bigger studies but I cant deny what’s out there so far seems to be showing something is going on. Glad to help with argireline. Ive in so many expensive products and buying it directly is so much cheaper 🙂 If you try it, apply to just a small part of skin first to see what happens.