Update 2/21/20. The SlimQuick website says that “SlimQuick brand has been the #1selling female fat burner for 6 years straight. Why? Because it works. Fast…” While that's a bold statement, I wanted to review SlimQuick because they also say that the product is clinically proven to work. Does SlimQuick really work? What is the research they talk about on their website? Those questions will be the central focus of this review. This is an updated and revised review of SlimQuick to reflect that this weight loss product has been reformulated since the first time I reviewed it. Look at the ingredients of the product you have, and if they don't match up with what you have, see my original SlimQuick review for more information on those ingredients.
According to the product website (MySlimQuick.com), SlimQuick is actually a family of weight loss supplements. More specifically, there is:
- SlimQuick Fat Burner
Image SupplementClarity.com
- SlimQuick Caffeine Free
- SimQuick Raspberry Ketone (see my review of raspberry ketones)
- SlimQuick Razor
Rather than reviewing all of these products, I want to focus on the main SlimQuick ― “SlimQuick Fat Burner.”
SlimQuick Ingredients
I searched the SlimQuick website ―MySlimQuick.com ―but could not find any ingredients for any of the different types of SlimQuick. So I went to Wal-Mart and found a bottle and snapped a picture. SlimQuick Fat Burner has the following ingredients in 3 capsules:
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value | |
| Vitamin D | 200 IU | 50% |
| Vitamin K | 40 mcg | 50% |
| Vitamin B6 | 4 mcg | 200% |
| Folic Acid | 200 mcg | 50% |
| Vitamin B12 | 12 mcg | 200% |
| Calcium Carbonate | 150 mg | 15% |
| SlimQuick 6 Ways Complex | 750 mg | |
| Green Tea Extract | NA | |
| 95% polyphenols | NA | |
| 70% Catchins | NA | |
| 45% EGCG | NA | |
| Caffeine | NA | |
| Green Tea Phytosome | NA | |
| Phosphatidylcholine (from soy) | NA | |
| Green Tea Extract | NA | |
| Rhodiola Extract (3% Rosavins) | NA | |
| Chaste Tree Extract (Vitex angus-castus) | NA | |
| Soy Extract (40% Isoflavones) | NA | |
| Brown Seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) contains Fucoxathin. | NA | |
| Uva-Ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) | NA | |
| Japanese Knotweed Extract (Polygonum cuspidatum) (50% resveratrol) | NA | |
| Phytosterols (glycine max) (40% Beta-Sitosterol) | NA | |
| L-Theanine | NA |
Mcg= micrograms
NA = not applicable (no daily value established)
As can be seen, there is a lot of ingredients in SlimQuick! Let's try to make some sense of all of this.
SlimQuick Research
On the MySlimQuick.com site they say tha:
“The active ingredients in the SlimQuick formula are backed up by real clinical research that shows they work to burn fat, reduce appetite and increase energy.”
As proof of this, they quote a clinical study that noted that overweight women who used “a key ingredient” in SlimQuick (along with eating only 1350 calories per day) lost an average of 3x more weight than women who just ate 1350 calories per day (24.6 lbs vs. 8.1 lbs).
I had to contact the makers of SlimQuick to find this study. The title of this study is:
GreenSelect® Phytosome as an Adjunct to a Low-Calorie Diet for Treatment of Obesity:
It was published in 2009 in the Alternative Medicine Review. The lead author of the study is Dr. Francesco Di Pierro, the doctor seen on boxes of SlimQuick as well as the SlimQuick website. Here is a summary of the study and its results:
44 overweight women and 56 overweight men (100 total) between the ages of 25 to 60 years old.
People were randomly split into 2 groups:
- Group A : 50 people followed a low calorie diet for 90 days. Men ate 1850 calories per day. Women ate 1350 calories per day.
- Group B: 50 people consumed the same low calorie diet for 90 days ―and were also were given 150 mg twice per day of a supplement called MonCam (300 mg total per day).
Another name for MonCam is GreenSelect Phytosome. MonCam is what they call the tablet form of the supplement. GreenSelect Phytosome is a green tea supplement that is said to be more absorbable than regular green tea.
A Phytosome is a man-made compound that increases absorption of something, in this case, green tea extracts, including polyphenols and EGCG. GreenSelect Phytosome was created by an Italian company called Velleja Research. They call their product “MonoSelect Camellia.”
At the end of the 3 month study, the following results were observed:
- People getting Green Select Phytosome supplement lost an average of 30 pounds.
- People only dieting lost an average of 10 pounds.
- People getting GreenSelect had a 12% decrease in Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Men getting GreenSelect (but not women) saw a 14% decrease in waist circumference.
- Changes in cholesterol, LDL, HDL, insulin and cortisol were not significantly different between groups. While each group had 50 people, researchers only measured these values in 30 people of each group. I find this odd.
- People getting GreenSelect saw a 321% increase in growth hormone (compared to dieters only) when 30 people from each group were tested. This was deemed a significant change.
- Leptin, a hormone that influences eating, was seen to decrease almost 80% in those getting GreenSelect, however no leptin measurements were taken in dieters only, making this result ambiguous at best.
Note. It makes sense that weight loss alone would decrease leptin levels. When we are hungry or lose weight, leptin levels usually decrease. As such, I don't feel GreenSelect Phytosome had an effect on leptin. I think it happened because people lost weight.
- No side effects were observed during the study.
After reading the study, I see 2 potential problems with it:
1. There was no placebo. The diet-only group knew they were not getting the supplement! So how do we know they didn't say to themselves, “forget it, this will never work!” That might account for their average weight loss of only 10 pounds over the course of the study.
2. I saw no mention of food journals or how researchers made sure people really stuck to the diet.
Problems with the study aside, as I see it, real issue here is that the clinical study used to support SlimQuick is actually a study of a totally different product, called GreenSelect Phytosome!
Here is GreenSelect Phytosome on Amazon for those who are interested.
It should also be noted that even though the SlimQuick website indicates that women lost 3x more weight, the clinical study shows that it was the average weight loss of both men AND women that lead to the 3 times greater weight loss. So, even though SlimQuick is touted for women only, the data upon which they make their “3x more weight loss” claim, stems in part from a study that also used men.
Even so, If GreenSelect Phytosome has only 1 ingredient, then why does SlimQuick have so many other ingredients?
As far as I can tell, SlimQuick itself appears to have no published clinical proof that it works or works any better than the study of its main ingredient – GreenSelect Phytosome – let's now look at the different ingredients in SlimQuick and see if there is any weight loss research.
SlimQuick Ingredients
First off, the vitamins in SlimQuick will do nothing for weight loss in people who eat even a remotely healthy diet. As such, I won't address them.
The SlimQuick 6 Ways Complex has the bulk of the ingredients. They call this blend of ingredients the “6 ways complex” because the formula is supposed to help women lose weight “6 different ways.” Those ways are as follows:
- Increase metabolism
- Reduce appetite
- Boost energy
- Reduce excess water
- Support hormones
- Reduce stress
Sounds good. Let's try to make some sense of this
Green Tea
Green tea is listed 3 different times on the SlimQuick ingredients list:
- Green tea extract
- Green tea phytosome (this is the GreenSelect Phytosome product mentioned above)
- Green tea extract
As mentioned above, green tea is the active ingredient in SlimQuick. This is the “key ingredient” mentioned on the product website.
Caffeine
The list of fat burner weight loss supplements that contain caffeine is almost endless. In fact, caffeine ―and green tea ―are extremely common in weight loss products. Just a few that I've already reviewed, that also contained both caffeine and green tea include:
I feel the reason for this is because caffeine― alone ―is probably relatively ineffective for weight loss. As I pointed out in my review of NV Clinical weight loss pills, a good amount of caffeine weight loss research studies combine caffeine with other things ―especially green tea.
Rhodiola
Rhodiola may help depression and this is why I think it's in SlimQuick. In other words, a person who is depressed may be more likely to over eat. I can't find any weight loss studies on rhodiola.
Chaste Tree
Other names for this herb include Vitex agnus-castus, ; Vitex rotundifolia ,Vitex trifolia and chasteberry. While I did find a few studies linking Chaste tree extract to helping PMS symptoms, I can't find any weight loss studies on chaste tree.
Soy Extract
Soy is listed twice in the ingredients of SlimQuck. It's listed simply as “soy extract” and it's also listed by another name ―Glycine Max― which they say is a source of phytosterols (plant-derived steroid), which are often thought to help menopause symptoms. Soy may indeed have some positive effects on menopause symptoms, but what effect this would have on weight loss I do not know.
In a study published in 2007in the Journal of the American Diabetes Association, titled Supplementation with soy-protein-rich foods does not enhance weight loss, 12 weeks of soy consumption (15 grams of soy per day, combined with 1000 calorie / day diet) did not help weight loss more than just reducing calories.
Granted, this is just one study, but it incorporated more soy than SlimQuick contains. Based on this study, I dont feel the soy in SlimQuick contributes anything to weight loss.
Brown Seaweed
Another name for brown seaweed is Undaria pinnatifida. It's also sometimes called Fucoidan and, as is mentioned on the ingredients list, Fucoxathin.
For more on Fucoidan research, see the review of Limu Original.
This is a compound that contains iodine. Since thyroid hormone contains iodine, the idea is that if you can supply more iodine, then more thyroid hormone would be produced. Since thyroid hormone plays a big role in metabolism (how fast we burn calories), then this might help weight loss. But, is there any evidence of this?
In a 2010 study titled The effects of Xanthigen in the weight management of obese premenopausal women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and normal liver fat, a fucoxathin-containing supplement was noted to promote weight loss in women more than a placebo. In this study there were 113 women. Women also consumed 1800 calories per day.
But, since this supplement contained more than fucoxathin, it's hard to say how much fucoxathin itself contributed to the weight loss effects. Also, the women in this study used 2.4 mg of fucoxathin.
How much fucoxathin is in SlimQuick? They don't tell us.
One possible problem with the “brown seaweed helps weight loss” debate is that, lack of iodine is not the main cause of underactive thyroid problems in the US. Rather, hypothyroidism is more likely due to a condition called Hashimoto's disease. This is a condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, making it not work as well anymore.
Brown Seaweed / fucoxathin has been in other weight loss products I reviewed in the past, such as:
See those reviews for additional information.
How To Test Your Iodine Levels
As was reported in the book, The Fatigue Solution, by endocrinologist, Dr Eva Cwynar it's possible to see if you are low in iodine. Get some USP tincture of iodine (not the clear version) and paint a 3-inch circle on your skin. The skin will look red/orange when you apply the iodine tincture. If the color disappears in 1-3 hours, you may be lacking in iodine.If, it takes 4-6 hours for the color to go away, your iodine levels are probably OK.
Here is tincture of iodine on Amazon.com. Remember, do not drink this brand of iodine! If you feel you are deficient in iodine, go to your doctor for a more accurate test of your iodine levels.
Uva Ursi
Also called Arctostaphylos uva-ursi and bearberry, among many other names. I searched the national library of medicine for “uva urisi, weight loss” and found a study from 1989 titled Evaluation of traditional plant treatments for diabetes: studies in streptozotocin diabetic mice. As the title, indicates, this was a mouse study. That said, uva urisi, was observed to reduce overeating and over drinking in mice with diabetes.
Japanese Knotweed
Also called Polygonum cuspidatum, Reynoutria japonica, Fallopia japonica, and Hu zhang
While I found no weight loss studies on Japanese knotweed, I did find a study titled, Phytoestrogens from the roots of Polygonum cuspidatum (Polygonaceae): structure-requirement of hydroxyanthraquinones for estrogenic activity which notes that components of this herb appear to bind to estrogen receptors. As such this compound appears to be a phytoestrogen.
Phytosterols
This is a vague name to refer to plant-derived products that are thought to have hormone-like effects. While they don't tell us much about this, they do say that 40% of the phytosterols are beta-sitosterol.
Beta-sitosterol usually shows up in prostate supplements but since women don't have a prostate, I wonder it's in SlimQuick for another reason.
Beta-sitosterol is something that can reduce the conversion for testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The link between DHT and hair loss is well known. Women do make a little testosterone, and so they also make a little DHT too. After menopause, as estrogen levels drop, the testosterone (and DHT) might become more of a “player in the game” as far as hair loss is concerned.
So, I'm guessing that beta-sitosterol is in SlimQuick in an attempt to combat thinning hair and hair loss that might occur after menopause. I'm totally speculating about this.
L Theanine
L Theanine is an amino acid. Its scientific name is 5-N-ethylglutamine. In 2004 a study titled Anti-obesity effects of three major components of green tea, catechins, caffeine and theanine, in mice noted that mice that were fed various combinations of caffeine, catechins and theanine had reduced body weight over the course of 16 weeks. This is a mouse study, but it's interesting.
In 2008, a study titled, Administration of theanine, a unique amino acid in tea leaves, changed feeding-relating components in serum and feeding behavior in rats. Basically theanine caused rats to eat less food. This study also noted that theanine decreased insulin levels and increased a hormone called corticosterone.
I could not locate any theanine-human weight loss research
As for theanine helping stress/anxiety, a study titled Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stresses. Basically, theanine was noted to significantly reduced blood pressure as well as anxiety (as was reported on anxiety level questionnaires). This is an interesting study, but unfortunately, it makes no reference to how much theanine was used.
Ingredients With Weight Loss Evidence
- Green tea
- Caffeine (maybe)
- Fucoxathin (maybe?)
- Uva ursi (mouse research)
- L theanine (mice /rat research)
How Much Caffeine Is In SlimQuick?
The SlimQuick bottle does not specifically indicate how much caffeine it has, but the website does mention that 3 caplets of SlimQuick have about the same caffeine as 2 cups of regular brewed coffee (8 oz. cups). They also say SlimQuick Razor has the caffeine equivalent of 2.5 cups of regular brewed coffee (8 oz cups).
I don't know why they did not specifically give. the amount of caffeine in SlimQuick. I've noticed that TV ads for 5 Hour Energy also dance around how much caffeine it has.
SlimQuick vs. SlimQuick Razor
As mentioned above, there are several types of SlimQuick. One such version is called SlimQuick Razor. While SlimQuick and SlimQuick Razor share some ingredients, I wanted to point out that the same
clinical study I reviewed above, is touted in support of both products. This is the study of GreenSelect Phytosome.
Who is Dr. Di Pierro?
On the SlimQuick Box, you see a picture of Dr. Di Pierro. They quote him as saying this:
“I've reviewed the clinical research and I highly recommend SlimQuick for women looking to lose weight fast.”
His name is Dr. Francesco Di Pierro and he was the lead researcher of the GreenSelect Phytosome study used to tout the benefits of SlimQuick. In that study, Dr. Di Pierro is also credited as being the scientific director of Velleja Research, the company that created GreenSelect Phytosome.
When Dr. Di Pierro says “I've reviewed the clinical research and I highly recommend SlimQuick for women looking to lose weight fast.” remember that his research study lasted 3 months. In that study, men and women lost an average of 30 pounds in 3 months. That's an average of 10 pounds a month or 2.5 pounds per week. While that is a good amount of weight, and everyone is different, I don't know if its better than what might be obtained from just eating a few less calories per week.
Who Makes SlimQuick?
The SlimQuick website says SlimQuick is a product of SlimQuick laboratories. SlimQuick Laboratories is a subsidiary of the company, Wellnx Life Sciences. That is the company listed on the SlimQuick Box. The address given for Wellnx is 1201 N Orange Street Suite 741 Wilmington DE 19801.
Wellnx is also the company behind the weight loss supplement NV Clinical
The Better Business Bureau gives Wellnx/SlimQuick Labs a rating of “A+” when this review was updated. See the BBB file for updates and more information. The corporate address for Wellnx is 6335 Edwards Blvd., Mississauga, Ontario, L5T 2W7, Canada.
How To Return SlimQuick
SlimQuick is sold in many stores so I recommend people buy it locally and if they need to return it, to just return it to the store it was purchased from. You can also buy SlimQuick on Amazon too.
If buying SlimQuick from the product website, the return policy is pretty straight forward:
1. Call customer service (1-877-370-6152) and get a Consumer Return Authorization (CRA #)
2. Put the CRA # on the outside of the box and return to the address they give you.
This is a straight forward return policy and is VERY different from the return policy for their other product―NV Clinical.
As an aside, check out the return policy for the arthritis supplement Provailen, one of the most bizarre return policies Ive ever seen!
SlimQuick Side Effects
I'm not aware of any widespread SlimQuick side effects. That said, here is a list of potential/theoretical side effects of some of its ingredients. Speak to your doctor if you think any of these apply to you or if you have any health issues. This list is not complete.
- Soy might interact with some breast cancer drugs.
- Soy might reduce thyroid hormone levels.
- Uva-Ursi contains a skin whitening compound called hydroquinone. One case reported noted that long term use of uva-ursi was associated with a reduction in vision. According to the book, The Honest Herbal, other possible side effects of uva-ursi include ringing in the ears, vomiting and convulsions.
- Japanese Knotweed appears to have an estrogen-like effect. This may mean the herb may interact with hormone replacement therapy. People who have breast cancer, ovarian cancer or other cancers that are sensitive to estrogen levels should speak to a doctor before using this product.
- Japanese knotweed also contains resveratrol which might alter the way some medications are metabolized.
- If theanine reduces blood pressure, it might interact with high blood pressure medications.
- This report noted liver failure requiring a liver transplant following the use of SlimQuick. In this 2016 review, the authors cite 6 cases of liver problems from SlimQuick between 2007-2011
- Don't take SlimQuick if your pregnant/breastfeeding. Stop taking SlimQuick (and other supplements too) at least 2 weeks before having surgery.
SlimQuick And Liver Problems?
In 2012, a case report was published that seem to show a connection of SlimQuick with liver problems. In this 2016 review of, 6 cases of liver problems were attributed to SlimQuick supplements from 2007-2011.
Some animal research suggests that EGCG (which is in SlimQuick and many other supplements) may be the culprit responsible although if you read the case report, researchers also found reports that other ingredients in SlimQuick ( uva ursi and mate ) might also cause liver toxicity problems. Green tea is known to be pro-oxidant (in other words, produces free radicals!) at high levels. There are many ingredients in SlimQuick. That means nailing down exactly what might be causing these issues, could be difficult.
Something else to consider with this case report is that the 24-year-old woman in this report, carried a gene for a condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. One of the side effects of this condition is liver problems. Could it be possible that ingredients in SlimQuick only cause liver problems in those who might already be susceptible to them? I honestly do not know. That said until more is known, I feel people who have a personal or family history of liver issues should speak to their doctor before taking SlimQuick.
Does SlimQuick Work?
I find it interesting that the very study used to support the use of SlimQuick and SlimQuick Razor for weight loss involves a totally different product called Green Select Phytosome So, if that's the case, why does SlimQuick have all those other ingredients? I'd suppose it's possible that all the ingredients in SlimQuick help GreenSelect Phytosome work better, but the geek in me would like to see some proof of this.