Bio X4 is a weight loss supplement manufactured by a brand called Nucific which is primarily formulated with probiotics. The brand claims that this product also supports digestion.
In this article we’ll review the ingredients in Bio X4 based on published medical research to provide our determination on whether or not this supplement likely to be safe and effective for weight loss.
We'll focus primarily on the weight loss claims, because it's well-established in medical research that probiotic supplements can help support gut health and digestive function.
Bio X4 has a lengthy Supplement Facts label with many active ingredients, so we'll break our ingredient review into three sections based on the four different blends in the supplement: Probiotic Blend, Digestive Enzyme Blend, Weight Management Blend, and finally the Craving Control Blend.
Ingredient Review - Probiotic Blend
Bio X4 contains five separate probiotic species.
The first-listed ingredient, L. acidophilus, has actually been found to increase weight in both human and animal studies. A medical review published in the Microbial Pathogenesis journal analyzed data from many clinical trials on this probiotic ingredient and concluded the following: "Lactobacillus acidophilus administration resulted in significant weight gain in humans and in animals."
We find this to be a questionable choice for a weight loss supplement and will consider this ingredient ineffective.
A 2014 clinical trial found that B. animalis subspecies lactis 420 prevented obesity in animals, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the generic B. animalis included in Bio X4 will.
What makes it challenging to evaluate the effectiveness of this blend, as evidenced by the example above, is that Nucific only lists the probiotic species but not the specific probiotic strain. Most medical research specifies probiotic strain, and different probiotic strains within the same species can have totally different biological effects.
Overall the species and dose of probiotic used in this supplement seem safe. They are all well-studied, and we do believe that this blend can support digestive health and gut function.
However, we do not believe that this blend of probiotic species is effective for weight loss, nor does Nuficic cite any medical studies suggesting so on Bio X4's product page.
Ingredient Review - Digestive Enzyme Blend
Digestive enzymes are produced naturally by the body and we haven’t seen any evidence that healthy adults benefit from supplementing them, or that these enzymes are effective for weight loss.
There is legitimate medical research suggesting that digestive enzymes may be therapeutic for certain gastrointestinal diseases, but for the stated health claims of this product we find this ingredient blend to be questionable.
Nucific cites a clinical trial on Bio X4's product page in support of amylase. This trial was in vitro, meaning a test tube study, which is a weaker standard of evidence than human trials. The study suggested that amylase may stabilize blood sugar levels after meals, but more research is needed to say so conclusively.
We will consider this blend to be ineffective for weight loss.
Ingredient Review - Weight Management Blend
There’s only one ingredient in Bio X4’s “weight management blend,” so it’s not much of a “blend,” but in any case the ingredient is green tea extract standardized to 50% epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a core chemical constituent in green tea, and the one theorized to be responsible for green tea's weight loss effects.
We consider this to be an effective weight loss ingredient, but we don't recommend it due to toxicity concerns.
A systematic review published in 2017 examined results from 15 clinical trials on green tea extract, and found that a daily EGCG dose between 100 milligrams (mg) and 460 mg per day was effective for weight loss.
Bio X4 provides 50 mg EGCG per serving but 3 daily servings are recommended which would provide an effective total dose of 150 mg EGCG.
A medical review reported that for a supplement containing green tea extract to be approved for weight management claims by Health Canada, it must have between 126 and 300 mg EGCG; another point of evidence that Bio X4's weight loss claim for this ingredient is accurate.
Although there is convincing medical evidence backing the potential weight loss effects of green tea extract, we recommend avoiding this ingredient due to concerns over liver injury.
A Health Canada report found that in rare cases, green tea extract can cause severe liver injury. For this reason, we believe that drinking brewed green tea is a healthier option even though it may cause less weight loss.
Ingredient Review - Craving Control Blend
The final ingredient blend in Bio X4 consists of a patented plant extract called Slimaluma.
Nucific cites a medical study which found this ingredient to be effective for reducing weight and reductions in waist circumference. However, the dose used in the study was 1 gram (g).
The per-serving dose in Bio X4 is only 166 mg, which equates to a total daily dose of 498 mg for three daily servings, which is less than 50% of the effective dose found in the above-linked medical study.
A more recent medical review analyzed much of the available research on the botanical ingredient in Slimaluma, and concluded that when clinical trials were properly controlled with a placebo, the ingredient was ineffective:
"Appetite parameters showed no significant changes and metabolic parameters did not improve with C.fimbriata supplementation therefore it is unlikely to recommend C. fimbriata as a weight loss supplement and an appetite suppressant."
We consider this blend to be ineffective for weight loss.
One thing we will note given that this is the final ingredient blend in Bio X4 is that there are no harmful additive ingredients in this supplement which is a good thing. Many dietary supplements contain additives like added sugar, artificial flavoring or citric acid which we consider to be unhealthy, but Bio X4 uses non-toxic and safe inactive ingredients.
Bio X4 Real User Review
One of the most popular YouTube reviews of Bio X4 is published by a channel called "Alex Jayne" and has achieved over 420,000 views at the time of updating this article. The review appears to be unsponsored:
Our Clean Weight Loss Picks
There are food-based nutrients which have been shown in medical studies to be effective for weight loss.
Dietary fiber was shown in a medical review published in The Journal of Nutrition to cause 16 pounds of weight loss in 6 months when combined with moderate caloric restriction (750 calories per day below baseline).
Supergut Fiber Mix is our recommended fiber supplement, because it contains three different types of fiber powder and no questionable additive ingredients. Interested consumers can check out Supergut Fiber Mix at this link to the product page on the brand's official website, where it retails for under $2 per serving at a subscription rate.
MCT oil is quickly absorbed by the body and increases metabolic rate, which causes fat loss. A 2015 meta-study on MCT oil documented more than one pound of weight loss over 10 weeks. This equates to potential annualized weight loss of 6 pounds per year with less than one tablespoon's worth of MCT oil per day.
Bulletproof MCT Oil is our top MCT oil product, because the only ingredient is MCT oil derived from coconuts. There are no questionable additives. Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof MCT Oil at this link to the product page on the brand's official website, where it currently costs only $15.50 for over a month's worth of product.
Coffee is one of the few whole food ingredients associated with weight loss in clinical trials. A meta-analysis published in the Nutrients journal found that coffee intake was associated with reduced body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.
VitaCup Organic Instant Coffee Sticks is our top coffee product for weight loss, due to its convenience. No preparation or machinery is needed. The sticks can be mixed into hot or cold water (or other beverages) and consumed. The only ingredient is organic instant coffee; no questionable additives.
Interested consumers can check out VitaCup Organic Instant Coffee Sticks at this link to the product page on the brand's official website, where they retail for $1 per serving at a subscription rate.
