Let's talk about supplements

Let's talk about supplements
I'll present here the supplements I think are interesting or even mandatory.
There are literally thousands of supplements out there, wildly waiting to be bought by the first who saw the 6-pack dude promoting them on the TV. Some work, others don't.
Here are the supplements I've been able to try, or I read about without any try. Please give me your feedback if you have tried any of those.
Here are some supplements I will present :

# Pure diet supplements : aimed to make sure you don't lack of anything for a healthy body.
# Weigh loss supplements : Fat burners to be precise - supplements which promote lipolysis by their thermogenic action.
# Specific supplements (I'm thinking about alpha-2 adrenergic antagonists for stubborn fat for instance)
# Performance supplements : supplements aimed to update the body composition - or to prevent protein breakdown
# Others : interesting into the diet for taste reasons (natural sweeteners)


Guarana
Guaran is made from the seeds of a small tree called Paullinia cupana. The Guarana is contained into energetic drinks, such as redbull. It is sometimes used as a replacement for caffeine - Guarana seems to slow down the gastric emptying, leading to the feeling of being full longer ; but also on blood sugar levels. Both would psychologically help, thus contributing to weight loss. Though, as you may now, heart palpitations and anxiety can happen with the Guarana.
Source
http://www.livestrong.com/article/292631-guarana-supplement-warnings/
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Chromium picolinate
It is used originially for treating chromium deficiency ; but is also seems to be used for increasing the insuline sensitivity. Would be interesting for people dealing with insuline sensitivity.

Source
http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/deficiency-of-Chromium-signs/2010/11/10/id/371438
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Sibutramine - beware
It is an antidepressant that inhibits catecholamine (norepinephrine) and seratonine reuptake.
By altering the neurotransmitter, the sibutramine is sometimes given by doctors for obese people. That supplement increases blood presure and heart rate.
You would defitely don't use that supplement, even if a fitness magazine promotes it

Source
http://www.medicinenet.com/sibutramine/article.htm
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Leptigen
Leptigen supplements increase the endogenous leptin production. We all know here leptin, used for energy expenditure, metabolism, or even eating patterns. It's the key-hormone when it comes to weight regulation(but also blood presure regulation, brain and bone synthesis or even wound healing hehe)

Source:
http://www.mindandmuscle.net/forum/34452-supplements-similar-leptigen
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Pyruvate
Pyruvate supplements seem to improve body composition, enhance fat loss and reduce cholesterol - the pyruvic acid is an acid compound that plays a role in the metabolic pathways (such as glycolyse, Krebs cycle or even neoglucogenesis).

Source
http://www.drbillofhealth.com/nutrition/pyruvate-supplements-comprehensive-review-marketing-claims/
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Hydroxy-methylbutyrate
The Hydroxy-methylbutyrate is a derivated metabolite from the amino-acid Leucine. That compound seems to have anti-catabolic (prevents protein breakdown for ATP production) effect.
Much BBs use that supplement for it's protein sparring effect during their cut, or some athletes.

Source
http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0103.htm
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Sesathin
Found in plants, acts as an antioxidant. You could find sesathin into oil and sesame seeds. While its efficiency remains unclear, it may be a potential weightloss agent.
That supplement basically works like fish-oil caps (I'll present later), by inhibiting the PPAR alpha receptors.
The PPAR alpha is an enzyme - a protein from the family of the nuclear receptors, binding the lipids, and used as a gene transcription factor for both metabolism expression - especially the lipolysis.
That enzyme is being activated when it goes into contact with specific compounds (agonists) - such as omega3 fatty acids. Sesathin is interesting also because it affects the transcription of a gene called SREBP-1 (Sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1). SREBP-1 is a gene that acts as a decamer flankink (a "polymer expander") for the LDL receptor (Low-density Lipoprotein) or even sterol biosynthesis. (sub-class of steroids hehe, but also cholesterol for instance)
Sesathin would decrease the amount of SREBP-1 enzymes in the body, but also decrease its activity. Actually that enzyme has the opposite effect of our PPAR-a enzyme, since it increases the lipogenesis (acetyl-CoA to fat conversion).
Finally, sesathin seems to have effect on the oxidation of the mitochondrials (energy burning) up to 4 times more than the fish-oil caps do.
A sister of sesathin is the sesamolin

Sources
http://benthamscience.com/cei/samples/cei1-1/D0003E.pdf
http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.nutr.21.1.193
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_oxidation
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Guggelsterones
The guggelsterones supplements enhance the T3 thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine) circulating levels - that last playin a big part in the weight loss. The T3 hormone affects much processes in the body, such as heart rate, tissues growth, body temperature

Source
http://www.livestrong.com/article/439645-guggul-for-hypothyroid/
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Fish oil caps
Everybody knows them. Those disgusting pills contains omega3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA acids) - that enhance weight loss.
In fact, more than simply balancing the omega3/ omega6 ratio, those pills enhance weight loss via an enzyme called PPAR alpha.

The omega3 fatty acids the fish oil caps provide act as a PPAR alpha receptor antagonist - thus, you improve and increase the transcription of genes involved in lipolysis, leading to an increased metabolism
The only counter-indication apply to infants, check with your doctor before giving those caps to your kids.
fish-oil caps also improve cells, immune functions, prevent the cells aging or even flammatory events.

Source
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fish-oil/NS_patient-fishoil
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DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol) - beware
The synthetic form acts as an mitochondrial uncoupler - symply put it speeds up the metabolism by slowing down the energy pathways.
The production of the ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate, which provides the very basic energy required for living ) is usually made via the mitochondrial oxidatation leading to fat and CHO burning. By uncoupling this process, the DNP lead cell to burn more fuel to obtain the same amount of energy, meaning an increased metabolic rate.
The first things that could happen are simply the increase in the body temperature, or make you sweat. You would defitely don't use that supplement, even if a fitness magazine promotes it

Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2,4-Dinitrophenol
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Xenical - beware
That supplement inhibits the pancreatic triacylglycerol lipase (conversion from dietary fat molecules to monoglycerides and free fatty acids ). That simply means Xenial prevents the gut from absorbing and and digesting dietary fats - not to mention the water absorption inhibition - leading to cramping and severe diarrheas

Source
http://www.askmen.com/sports/health/26_mens_health.html

You would defitely don't use that supplement, even if a fitness magazine promotes it
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Yohimbe
I use the synthetic form of that one. The Yohimbe comes from a plant, the Pausinystalia yohimbe. It is an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor antagonist. These receptors block the Alpha2 receptor, find in majority in the fat we call stubborn (inverted ratios of alpha and beta receptors - these last making the fat transportation possible). The Yohimbe is also used for treating erectile dysfunctions (by it's ability to promote vasodilatation).
Though, impaired sleep, nervousness and headache are sometimes observed with it.

Source
Me
http://www.strongandfit.net/2009/04/yohimbine-hcl-and-stubborn-fat.html
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Ephedrine
This supplement is sometimes called Ephedrine HCL, synthetic form of a compound found in central Asia (the Ephedra sinica).
The first thing that supplement does is to jack up your heart rate. It seems that Ephedrine and caffeine are often used in combination (as yohimbe in fact). Much people use it, even if it comes with a load of bad effects, such as :
- High blood pressure
- Heart palpitations
- Sweating
- Insomnia
-and so on

Source
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/issa92.htm
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Oleoylethanolamide
The Oleoylethanolamide promotes satiety thus leading to a weight loss. The Oleoylethanolamide is a fatty acid being synthesized in the intestines, related to the cannabinoids (that you can find in cannabis) - but the Oleoylethanolamide doesn't bind to the cannabinoid receptors (too bad eh). Oleoylethanolamide is interesting because it's a PPAR alpha receptor antagonist.
Source
http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/supplements/supplement-guide-oleoylethanolamide
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Yerba mate
The other name of it is Ilex paraguayensis. That compound contains Mateine - a xanthine alkaloid, that you can find in caffeine, theobromine or theophylline. They all seem to improve the metabolic rate when you rest.
Though its effects are not really been proved, some people use it with caffeine for pushing a bit more fat burnind, and metabolic stimulation - since it acts as a thermogenic

Source
http://fat-burners.realsolutionsmag.com/fat-burner-Yerba-Mate.html
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Chitosan
Sometimes added into weird fat burners, the Chitosan is a polysaccharide. That long-chain polymer is mainly found in the exoskeletons of the arthropods (crabs, shrimps,lobsters). I imagine the dude looking for fat burner while he was looking at his belly on the beach.
That supplement binds to the intestinal fat, preventing its absorption by the digestive system - meaning the reduction of the fat bioavailability. In extenso, side effects include constipation
This seems to be a pretty useless supplement

Source
http://www.trulyhuge.com/chitosan-benefits.html
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Plantago psyllium
The psyllium is a water-soluble fiber, issued from the plantago ovata. You won't really find any supplement that only contains that compound, but it could be used into thermogenic/ fat burner supplement.
Don't expect that much from that.

Source
http://www.livestrong.com/psyllium/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/284975-psyllium-fiber-weight-loss/
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Olean
That supplement is used as aspartame replacement. Olean (brand - real name : Olestra) is a sucrose molecule which is esterified from 6 to 8 Long-chain fatty acids (LCFA)- meaning it has the properties and structure of dietary fats, but that compound is not hydrolysed in the intestine. In extenso, high usage of it could lead to diarrhea

I personnaly would avoid that, sounds too weird to be good.

Source
http://www.myfit.ca/archives/viewanarticle.asp?table=supplements&ID=49&subject=Olestra
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Clenbuterol - beware, classified as steroid steroid
Clenbuterol is a beta2 adreneric agonist that stimulates the nervous system (selective, since it doesn't bind to the beta1 adrenergic receptors, as ephedrine does) and bronchodilator (leading to an increased airflow in the lungs, making the aerobic energy pathway more efficient) It seems to be an efficient weightloss agent, but also an anabolic one.
That supplement also seems to enhance insuline sensitivity

Sources
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/-how-to-use-clenbuterol-78942.html
http://www.ehow.com/about_5428166_ephedra-vs-clenbuterol.html
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Octopamine - beware
The Octopamine compound is a Beta3 adrenergic receptor agonist. That one stimulates the cyclic Adenosine monophosphate production, being responsible for the activation of the sensitive lipase hormone.
That enzyme is responsible of the fat breakdown (lipoloysis), the Octopamine compound affect thermogenesis, and insuline sensitivity.
The issue with that compound is the way beta3 adrenoreceptors work. These last are found in both skeletal muscle and the white adipose tissue , they play a role in the glucose homeostasis (balance between insulin and glucagon to maintain blood sugar levels) - but it's hard to purely identify B3 agonist against B2 and B1 ones - meaning unwanted effects could happen (nothing guarantee Octopamine is not at the same time a B1 and B2 agonist)

Source
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/octo.htm
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Let me know if you have any other supplements. As you may have noticed, I don't presented products - that actually use those (sometimes pretty dangerous mixes are done with all the supplements here, since we saw how certains have specific actions. )

My final word about supplement is : if you can do without them, don't hesitate. I would myself only recomment fish-caps, and Yohimbe (or the synthetic compound) for stubborn fat.
The rest only aims to increase fat loss (or improve performance) - but they often carry more unwanted effects. I'd rather train consistent than eating those shrimps exoskeleton...