Update 9/4/20. Zantrex is said to be “the first and only non-ephedra diet pill with a kick.” It's website also boasts an impressive statistic that the Zantrex-3 fat burner will promote “546% more weight loss than the leading ephedra based diet pill.” Let's put that aside for now and get to the real question: Does Zantrex 3 really work? Let's look at these and other questions in this Zantrex 3 review.
The Zantrex 3 Website
I was disappointed with the Zantrex3.com website because it did not show me the ingredients of either Zantrex3, Zantrex 3 Fat Burner or Zantrex 3 Power Crystals when I wrote this review.
Zantrex-3 Ingredients
Two capsules of Zantrex 3 has about 300 mg of caffeine and the following ingredients. I copied this list directly from the label of the bottle I saw at the store.
Niacin 30 mg (150% Daily Value for Niacin). Since niacin is known to cause a skin flushing to occur, I wonder if niacin is included in Zantrex3, so people can “feel” it working? 
A proprietary blend (1160 mg) made of:
- Yerba Mate extract
- Guarana extract
- Trimethylxanthine
- Damiana extract
- Green tea extract
- Kola extract
- Schizonepeta
- Black pepper
- Rhodiola crenulata extract
- Asian ginseng extract
- Maca extract
- Cacao extract
- Black Tea extract
One problem is that we are not told how much each of these ingredients contributes to the total 1160 mg contained 2 pills of Zantrex 3. We are told that 2 casuals has “about 300 mg of caffeine ” (I think that’s a lot). But what about the other 860 mg? They don't tell us.
Here is a brief breakdown of each of the ingredients in Zantrex-3.
Yerba Mate
contains caffeine.
Guarana
contains caffeine.
Damiana
This is sometimes used as an aphrodisiac. That research is mostly in rats.
I have reversed the order of damina and trimethylxanthine in this list for a reason. Yerba Mate, Guarana and Damina are said to be the “Active Weight Loss Compound” in Zantrex-3. I believe these three ingredients are called this because of a weight-loss study of these ingredients published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
Researchers noted that the combination of Yerba Mate, Guarana and Damina, made people full longer (because it slowed stomach emptying) and helped weight loss in 47 adults. As far as I can tell, this is the only human study on these three ingredients so far.
Trimethylxanthine
This is caffeine
Green tea
This contains caffeine
Kola extract
The extract is probably caffeine
Schizonepeta
I'm not sure why this herb is in Zantrex 3 because I can't find any weight loss or stimulant properties. There is some research that links Schizonepeta to liver damage when used in large amounts. This is due to a compound called pulegone that is in Schizonepeta. I'm not aware of any liver issues associated with Zantrex 3.
Rhodiola Crenulata
This herb is likely in Zantrex-3 because of some research noting that doses of 50mg – 340 mg of Rhodiola might help depression, reduce fatigue and improveexercise performance. It should be noted that each of these claims appear to be based on, at most, one study and, in the case for exercise, another study, using 1500 mg per day noted that rhodiola does not work.
Still, the research on Rhodiola is interesting.
My big question when it comes to Rhodiola crenulata extract is what “extract” is in Zantrex-3? They don't tell us. Given the scantiness amount of research on Rhodiola, I'm not sure what “extract” would be the correct extract to use.
Rhodiola is also found in the weight loss supplement SlimQuick.
Asian Ginseng
Researchers also call this herb “Panax” ginseng. I see no good proof that Asian ginseng improves energy levels or helps with weight loss. There is some interest in Asian ginseng for erectile dysfunction, which is why this herb is also found in the male enhancement supplement Triverex.
Maca Extract
Another name for Maca is Lepidium meyenii. Again, what extract of Maca is in Zantrex-3? I can't find any weight loss evidence for this herb, however one study noted that it improved desire for sex in men when 1500-3000 mg were given to 57 men over a 12 week period.
Maca did not raise testosterone levels however. Maca is also found in Triverex, a sex supplement for men.
Cacao Extract
Zantrex-3 calls this stuff “Cacao” but you know it by its other name —cocoa or better yet, chocolate! Cocoa is a stimulant because it has caffeine. Is caffeine the “extract” used in Zantrex3?
Zantrex 3 Caffeine Ingredients
On the label of Zantrex-3, it's said that ” Trimethylxanthine, and guarana form the “Active Energy Compound. As I've said, Trimethylxanthine is caffeine and guarana contains caffeine. So caffeine is the active energy compound. After looking at the ingredients in Zantrex-3, I'd say all of these are the ingredients that have caffeine.
- Yerba Mate
- Guarana
- Trimethylxanthine
- green tea
- Kola
- Cacao
- Black tea
How Much Caffeine in Zantrex 3?
Two capsules contain about 300 mg of caffeine.
Either way, I believe any weight loss effect of Zantrex 3 is likely due to it's heavy concentration of the stimulant, caffeine. People who have more energy, are likely to do more physical activity and hence, burn more calories.
Is Zantrex-3 FDA Approved?
The website for Zantrex-3 displays that it's made in America. It really is, but I thought this might give some people the idea that Zantrex-3 has been approved by the FDA or some other US government agency. This is not so. The FDA does not test supplements for safety—or to test if they even really work— before they are sold.
Yes, supplements do have regulations, but they are not “approved” by the FDA before they are sold. Read my Supplement Questions page for more on supplement laws.
546% More Weight Loss?
The Zantrex-3 website makes the claim that it will promote “546% more weight loss than the leading ephedrine-based weight loss diet pill.” It also says “…and that’s a fact.” Let's set aside the fact that in America there are no ephedrine-based diet pills because ephedrine is banned from weight loss supplements.
When you click on the 546% more weight loss statement, you are taken to a pdf file that reads at the top “Published Clinical Studies Do Not Lie.”
But, the study is not a published clinical study. I say this because they do not tell us where this study was “published.” What we see in this pdf file is a comparison between Zantrex 3 and an unknown product, called “America's Best Seller” which they say contains ephedrine.
This “study” does not even appear to be a head-to-head comparison of these products. Rather, what we see seems to be two different vague summaries two different products with the results tilting in favor of Zantrex-3.
But, since I can't see where the studies were published, I'm not even sure either of these “studies” are real. There is an asterisk next to both “studies” but when I look for what that asterisk refers to, nothing can be found.
At the bottom of the pdf —in small print —we read that “the 546% more weight loss claim is based on Zantrex-3's active weight loss component.”
The ingredients they are referring to are Yerba Mate, Guarana, and Damina. I have linked to the study of these ingredients, which was published in 2001. This was the only study of these 3 ingredients I could find, so I believe this is the study that is the basis for using Yerba Mate, Guarana and Damina in Zantrex 3 as their “active weight loss compound.”
But, in the summary of this study, I didn't see any claim that these ingredients promoted 546% more weight loss. In fact, the study was only of these 3 ingredients and weight loss. There was no comparison to any other weight loss product. If this is the study they are referencing, I'd like to know where the “546% more weight loss” claim came from.
Zantrex 3 Fat Burner & Power Crystals
When I first heard that there was a Zantrex 3 Fat Burner and Zantrex-3 Power Crystals I wondered, “If Zantrex 3 is so great, why would anyone need these other products?” If I review these products in the future I will link to it here. Zantrex 3 is in a blue bottle. Zantrex 3 Fat Burner is in a red bottle.
The Zantrex-3 bottle does warn that people should not take the Red bottle at the same time as taking the blue bottle. This may be because of overloading on caffeine and other stimulants.
Who Makes ZanTrex 3?
Zantrex 3 is made by Zoller© Laboratories. On the Zantrex 3 website, they list their address as 5742 West Harold Gatty Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84116.
They list a phone number of (800) 392-3689.
When I looked up this address on Google, the street view shows a sign that says “Basic Research.” Google also notes this address as having the name Klein-Becker Strivectin. The Better Business Bureau gives Zollar laboratories a rating of A+. They also give Basic Research has an A + too
Zantrex 3 and Snooki
The Zantrex-3 website used to show pictures of Snooki (of the Jersey Shore fame) in what “looks like” a papazari photo and a picture apparently taken in her bedroom. Zantrex-3 was seen sticking out from her purse and on her nightstand. The caption says “Another celebrity caught cheating with a controversial diet pill.”
Maybe she used Zantrex 3 or maybe she didn’t. Let's assume Snookie would not allow her picture to be used on the Zantrex 3 website if she was not being reimbursed for it.
Zantrex-3 “As Seen in” Magazines
Zantrex 3 “As seen in” various magazines like Shape, Glamour and Cosmopolitan is also mentioned on the Zantrex 3 website. But, what does “As seen in” really mean? Well, it doesn’t necessarily mean that those magazines wrote glowing reviews on Zantrex 3. Maybe they did or didn’t. I don't know. I will point out that technically, “As seen in” could even mean that Zantrex 3 took out an ad in those magazines. People who read those magazines probably saw the ad.
Zantrex 3 Side Effects
The following side effects are based on what might happen in some people, given its ingredients.
- The box of Zantrex-3 does contain this warning” “Do not take Zantrex-3 fat burner (red bottle) and Zantrex-3 (blue bottle) at the same time.”
- Zantrex 3 has a LOT of stimulants (about 300 mg of caffeine according to the bottle). I believe it should be avoided by anyone who has heart or blood pressure problems.
- Black pepper may increase levels of some seizure medications. Black pepper may increase the absorption of other medications also.
- In one report a 38-year-old woman who took Zantrex 3 for two months developed grand mall seizures and blurry vision. After stopping, her problems went away.
- Asian ginseng. Animal research suggests that Asian ginseng may increase blood clotting and as such may be inappropriate for people who take blood thinner medications.
- Asian ginseng might interact with MANY medications, including insulin. On the plus side, some evidence suggests that Asian ginseng may prevent some types of cancer. That doesn’t mean Zantrex-3 prevents cancer.
- Some warn that Yerba Mate may increase the risk of some types of cancer. That doesn't mean Zantrex-3 causes cancer though.
- Schizonepeta is linked to liver damage when taken in large amounts. I don't know if that means Zantrex 3 would also cause liver damage. I could not find any direct proof that Zantrex 3 caused liver failure. Still, talk to your doctor especially if you have liver problems.
Does Zantrex 3 Work?
Zantrex 3 appears to be a bunch of stimulants. Based on that it cant be recommended. There are safer things out there such as this supplement:
What do you think?