Update 2/28/20. Thrive DFT DUO weight management patch, by Le-Vel is described as “the next evolution of Derma Fusion Technology.” By wearing the DUO patch, the ingredients in the patch, goes through the skin and into the blood where they helps people lose weight all day long. DFT DUO Patch also contains “exogenous ketones” which will be reviewed too. I'll admit that transdermal absorption of ingredients is a novel idea for a weight loss product but, does it work? In this review, I will look at the research on the DUO Patch and its ingredients. Let's see if the Thrive DFT DUO Patch by Le-Vel is right for you.
Other Thrive Reviews
Thrive DFT DUO Benefits
- Greater absorption of ingredients (better bio-availability).
- All-day weight management and appetite support.
- Lipid metabolism (AKA “fat-burning”).
Thrive DFT DUO Research
Has the DFT DUO patch ever been tested to see if it works? In a quest to find evidence, I searched clinical databases for these search terms:
- DFT DUO Patch
- Le-Vel
No relevant clinical studies showed up.
Likewise, no mention of clinical studies was mentioned on the Le-Vel website either. It would appear, for the moment, the DFT DUO Patch has no clinical studies to prove it works.
But, there is research on the ingredients in the Patch. That will be the focus of this review.
Thrive DFT DUO Ingredients
According to the packaging I have, DFT DUO patches have the following ingredients:
- ForseLean 95
- Chlorogenic Acid (Green Coffee)
- Satiereal
- Guarana
- Green Tea
- White Willow Bark
- Beta-Hydroxybutyrate
- CoQ10
- Cosmoperine
- L-Arginine
- Limonene
- Aloe Vera
The amounts of each ingredient are not listed on the product packaging. This was also the case with the Thrive DFT patch as well (click to see review). So, for example, we don't know how much ForseLean, chlorogenic acid, etc, is in the patch. That's too bad because if we knew this, we could compare those amounts to what the clinical studies used.
That said, I've listed the ingredients in order as they appear on the packaging. Since ingredients are often listed from most abundant to least, we can assume that the patch mostly contains ForseLean 95 and has the least aloe vera.
DFT DUO vs. DFT Patch
DFT DUO is said to be the next evolution in DFT patch technology. As such, it's worth comparing the ingredients in DFT DUO to the original DFT patch to see how they compare to each other.
| DFT DUO Patch | Original DFT Patch |
|---|---|
| ForseLean 95 | ForseLean |
| Chlorogenic Acid (Green Coffee) | Green Coffee Bean Extract |
| Satiereal | Garcinia Cambogia |
| Guarana | CoQ10 |
| Green Tea | White Willow Bark |
| White Willow Bark | Cosmoperine |
| Beta Hydroxybutyrate | |
| CoQ10 | |
| Cosmoperine | |
| L-Arginine | |
| Limonene | |
| Aloe Vera |
Next, let's look at the differences and similarities between both weight management patches.
What's Different?
So, what are some of the obvious differences between the two types of patches?
- The DFT DUO patch has more ingredients (12 ingredients vs. 5).
- DFT DUO does not contain garcinia cambogia.
- The DFT DUO patch has aloe vera (maybe to reduce skin irritation?).
- DFT DUO contains beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB).
- It's recommended to use 2 DFT DUO patches each day (vs. only 1 with the original DFT patch).
What's The Same?
Here are the similarities between the DFT DUO and DFT Patches as I see it:
- Both versions list ForseLean (Coleus forskohlii ) as the main ingredient.
- Both versions contain green coffee extract (Chlorogenic Acid).
- Both versions contain C0Q10 and white willow bark.
- Both versions contain cosmoperine.
What Is Cosmoperine?
Both DFT DUO and original DFT patches contain an ingredient called cosmoperine. What's Cosmoperine? it's the key ingredient in the Patch which helps the other ingredients be absorbed the skin, and in theory, into the blood, where they can help weight loss. As such, cosmoperine is critical to how the patch works.
Cosmoperine is another name for Tetrahydropiperine (say, tet-tra-hydro-pipe-er-rine) which is abbreviated as called THP. TPH is a metabolite of black pepper. Black pepper is sometimes added to many supplements to increase their absorption.
The Sabinsa Corporation (the maker of Cosmoperine / THP) has shown evidence in their US patent that, in a test tube study of rat skin, cosmoperine can increase the absorption of coleus forskohlii. Remember, Coleus forskohlii (ForsLean) is the first ingredient listed in the DFT DUO Patch.
That's good.
The patent also shows tetrahydropiperine can increase the absorption of insecticides in worms. So, it may increase the absorption of other compounds as well.
See the Thrive DFT Patch review for more on cosmoperine.
Let's now do a quick breakdown of the different ingredients in the DFT DUO Patch. The emphasis will be on the ingredients helping weight loss in humans. (or weight management as some like to call it).
ForsLean (Coleus forskohlii)
ForsLean is another name for Coleus forskohlii, a plant related to mint. It grows natively in India and Thailand. The name ForsLean is trademarked by a company called Sabinsa (the same company which makes Cosmoperine, mentioned above).
The Coleus forskohlii plant contains a ingredient called forskolin which some research finds may help weight management. The DFT Duo patch contains “ForsLean 95” which is said to be 95% pure forskolin.
ForsLean and ForsLean 95 are both forskhoin. Both are made by the same company.
The way ForseLean (coleus forskohlii / forskolin) is supposed to work (in other words, help weight loss) is by increasing production of an enzyme called hormone-sensitive lipase, which burns fat.
There are some studies on ForsLean. Let's look at ONLY the human studies because that's most appropriate for us.
In a study published in 2015, thirty overweight people were given either 250 mg of coleus forskohlii or a placebo for 3 months. Everybody in the study followed a low calorie diet. These researchers noted coleus forskholii produced no greater changes in weight or other things tested than those who only took a placebo and reduced their calories.
A previous study from 2005 also noted no significant weight loss. This study involved 19 women who took either ForsLean (500 mg/day) or a placebo for 3 months.
This study did however hint ForsLean might help women from gaining weight.
Oddly, these studies differ from another study from 2005. This investigation involved 30 overweight men who were given either ForsLean (500mg/day) or a placebo for 3 months. These researchers noted a decrease in body fat in ForsLean group compared to the placebo group.
See the Coleus Forskohlii review for more information
Chlorogenic Acid
This is the clinical name for green coffee bean. It's a popular ingredient in weight loss supplements, but does it really work?
Searching clinical databases for:
- Chlorogenic Acid weight loss
- Green coffee weight loss
Reveals a lack of quality human research on this compound.
One of the very best studies of green coffee bean and weight was mired in controversy and eventually retracted from publication and so it 
For now, I feel chlorogenic acid needs better human studies to know if it really works or not.
See the Green Coffee Bean For Weight Loss Review for more on the studies and other issues.
Satiereal
Satiereal is a compound isolated from Saffron (scientific name, Crocus sativus), which is a spice. The name satie-real, seems to refer to the ability of this molecule to really satiate people (satiate means to make someone feel full). This supplement made by a company called INOREAL who holds a Patent on Satiereal.
One study on Satiereal, noted women seemed to snack less and weighed less. This study involved 60 women who either received 176 mg of satiereal or a placebo for 8 weeks.
See the Thrive DFT Patch review for more on Satiereal
Guarana
This is another name for caffeine. If cosmoperine can increase caffeine absorption through the skin, this might lead to someone having more energy, just as any other caffeine product might.
In a review of transdermal caffeine absorption, researchers cited a 1970s study noting a 50% absorption of caffeine through the skin when it was combined with acetone (which is a ketone, see the Beta hydroxy Buterate section for more on this).
Does cosmoperine improve caffeine absorption transdermally? The evidence can't be located.
Green Tea
Green tea contains caffeine and other compounds like EGCG. I'm not convinced either helps people lose weight. See the review of Mega T Green Tea for more insights.
See the review of supplements and liver failure too.
Beta HydroxyButerate
Beta hydroxybutyrate is a type of Ketone, an acid-like molecule that forms during low carb diets. It also goes by beta hydroxybuteric acid or just “BHB.” The BHB is a molecule is the key ingredient in ketogenic diet supplements.
When BHB or other ketones are taken externally (as in supplements) they are often called “exogenous ketones.” When we make them naturally during low carbohydrate diets, they are called endogenous ketones.
It turns out that ketones (like BHB) can be used as a fuel source as we decrease are carbohydrate intake. The US military has looked at ketones (a product called “Delta G”) to help fuel solders too.
So why is BHB in the DFT DUO Patch?
The general theory is that BHB is supposed to help the body go into ketosis (high levels of ketones in the blood) without us actually eating a low carb diet.
This sounds good to be true right?
But…
The real question is, do exogenous ketones like beta-hydroxybutyrate help weight loss?
Let's look at the research…
Beta HydroxyButerate And Weight Loss
The idea of taking exogenous ketone supplements (like BHB) to help people lose weight is quite popular in some circles. But, is there any evidence it actually works?
Searching clinical databases for Beta hydroxybuterate and
- weight loss
- obesity
- hunger
- appetite
- Exogenous ketons weight loss
- Exogenous ketones appetite
Revealed little human proof.
One lab rat study noted that feeding ketones to rats -through a tube in the stomach – for 28 days, lead to a rise in ketones in the blood and lower blood sugar levels. The rats seemed to gain less weight but no weight loss was seen.
When I become aware of human studies on exogenous ketones, this section of the review will be updated.
See the Pruvit Keto OS review for more on BHB supplement research.
How To Test Your BHB Ketone levels
If you want to measure your ketone levels, both the Precision Xtra glucose meter and Keto Mojo meter will let you test your BHB ketone levels
Normally blood ketone levels are less than 0.6 millimoles per liter (0.6 mmol/L). If BHB supplements raise ketone levels, the number will be higher than this. Diabetics: See the side effects section below.
If you test your ketone levels, let me know what happens.
L Arginine
Arginine is an amino acid. It is usually found in pre-workout supplements and those designed to help a mans “performance,” But, what about weight loss?
There are some lab rat studies suggesting arginine might help fat loss and build muscle. It other lab rat studies suggest arginine might also improve brown fat production too. Brown fat burns more calories than white fat. Thus, having more brown fat might lead to greater weight loss.
But, what about people? Human studies of these effects cannot be located.
See the SeroVital review for more on L arginine.
Limonene
Limonene is a compound found in various citrus fruits like lemons and plays a role in their appealing aroma. Various websites discuss how limonene can help with weight loss. However, few websites provide any research to back up those claims. Searching the clinical literature for “Limonene weight loss” revealed no human studies so far.
Lack of research does not mean it doesn't work. Rather, it only means we don't yet have clinical evidence in humans. There is some speculation limonene may cause skin irritation.
Might that be why the DFT DUO Patch contains aloe?
Aloe Vera
My guess is aloe vera is present to reduce skin irritation, that some people have reported while using the Patch. See the comments at Thrive DFT Patch for more on this.
DFT DUO Active Ingredients
If the Thrive DFT DUO patch works (helps weight loss/ weight management),I suspect the following are the primary active ingredients
I've chosen these because they appear to have more human evidence than the others. Of those two ForsLean has the most evidence. It's not perfect, but it does exist. The research on both compounds involves taking them orally. Whether or not the same results would be obtained transdermally (applied to the skin), needs more human research.
How To Apply The DFT DUO Patch
Here are the directions on the official Le-Vel DFT DUO Packaging:
1. Clean and dry skin on each side of the body where you wish to apply.
2. The patches should be preferably paced on lean areas of the body such as biceps (inside or outside), shoulders, inside forewarns or top parts of buttocks.
3. Peel the two DFT DUO pieces from the backing and press the adhesive side of each onto the dry areas of the body you want to use, one
patch on the right side and the other patch on the left side of the body.
4. Try to rotate the application areas every day or every other day (this may be to reduce skin irritation from the patch).
DUO Patch vs DFT Black Label Patch
Another weight management patch offered by Le-Vel is called the Black Label patch. Here is a side by side comparison of both patches so you can see the differences:
| DFT DUO Patch | DFT Black Label Patch |
|---|---|
| Forslean 95 | ForsLean |
| Chlorogenic acid (green coffee bean extract) | Green coffee bean extract |
| Satiereal | Garcinia cambogia |
| Guarana | CoQ10 |
| Green Tea | Cosmoperine |
| White Willow Bark | Satiereal Saffron Extract |
| Beta Hydroxybuterate | Green Tea Extract |
| CoQ10 | White Willow Bark |
| Cosmoperine | 5-HTP |
| L-Argine | L-Theanine |
| Limonene | L-Arginine |
| Aloe Vera | Quercetin |
| Guarana | |
| Yerba Mate | |
| Vitamin B12 |
Notice Forslean is the 1st ingredient in each. This tells us the company feels this is the most important. As to the question of which patch is better, good question. It would take clinical trials to know for sure.
See the Thrive DFT Patch review for more insights.
The Thrive Experience
It should be mentioned the DFT DUO patch is only one part of a system that Le-Vel encourages people to use. This is often called the “Thrive Experience.” Other aspects of the program include meal replacement shakes, probiotics, vitamins and other products. Other Thrive products previously reviewed here include:
Do they all work better together? Clinical studies appear to be lacking although online testimonials online are interesting. The comments on those other reviews also reveal not everyone sees benefits. For what it works, if the Thrive Experience really works, I think eating fewer calories is critical to its effectiveness.
DFT DUO Patch Side Effects
The Thrive DFT DUO Patch is probably safe in healthy people. No adverse side effects were known when this review was updated. The following are some things to consider for those who may not be “healthy.” This list is not complete.
- Dont apply the patch to the same area all the time. Rotate to reduce skin irritations.
- Speak to your doctor/pharmacist first if you have diabetes or blood sugar problems.
- Diabetics should speak to their doctor before taking any exogenous ketone supplement.
- Speak to your doctor /pharmacist first if you take any medications, including blood thinners.
- Speak to your doctor /pharmacist first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Stop using the patchat least 2 weeks before having surgery.
- If applied close to bedtime, in theory, the caffeine in the patch may keep people awake.
- The effect of exogenous ketones in those who are not on a low carb diet needs more research.
- The product contains aloe vera. This may be an issue for those allergic to aloe.
Thrive DUO Patch Pro & Con
Here is a quick overview of some of what I liked and didn't like about the Thrive DUO Patch. These are my opinions so take them for what they are.
| What's Good | What's Not So Good |
|---|---|
| Patent shows cosmoperine facilitates forslean absorption (in rats) | Lack of human studies |
| Likely safe in healthy people | Do ingredients delivered via a patch do the same as when taken orally? |
| May have less skin irritation | Two patches recommended (vs. 1 in DFT patch) |
| Expensive |
Does DFT DUO Patch Work?
Does the DFT DUO Patch help weight loss? While I'm skeptical, some below have said it worked for them. I remain intrigued by cosmoperine, the molecule that helps the other ingredients to be absorbed through the skin. If you can afford the Le-vel DUO Patch then, great; give it a try and let me know what happens. If you are on the fence or can't afford the Thrive Experience, then I'd say wait for clinical studies to prove the patch works first.