Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to weight loss supplements.
Burn Evolved is a weight loss supplement sold by a brand called SCULPTnation. The brand describes the supplement as a “nuclear bomb for fat loss” that can “torch body fat.”
But does Burn Evolved contain research-backed ingredients for weight loss? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? Did our Product Tester lose weight on Burn Evolved? And is the supplement better or worse than popular weight loss supps like OxyShred?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Burn Evolved to give our take on whether or not the supplement is likely to be effective for weight loss, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also share our Product Tester's experience using this supplement for weight loss, discuss the potential for side effects, and compare Burn Evolved to other popular weight loss supplements in terms of formulation quality, to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Contains effectively-dosed active ingredients for weight loss
- One mineral included at a very high dose (1,714% DV)
- We do not currently recommend Burn Evolved
Ingredient Analysis
The active ingredients in Burn Evolved 2.0 are shown below:
Chromium does cause weight loss according to a 2013 meta-study, but we would recommend speaking with a doctor prior to taking 1,714% of the Daily Value (DV) of any mineral for extended periods of time.
Gymnema leaf extract "decreases body weight" according to a 2014 medical review.
Alpinia galanga may have anti-obesity effects based on results from an animal study published in the Pharmaceutical Biology journal, but we can't find similar effects replicated in a human study.
Coleus forskohlii extract was shown in two separate human trials to cause weight loss, but the dose used in both trials was 250 milligrams (mg), which is 67% higher than the dose in Burn Evolved.
Caffeine is an appetite suppressant, and is one of the most well-studied weight loss ingredients, as we documented in our review of another weight loss supplement called TrimFit.
Grains of Paradise is an effective weight loss ingredient. It was found to cause a 0.5% body fat reduction over the course of four weeks in a clinical trial when used at a slightly lower dose than that in Burn Evolved.
Capsimax is a patented cayenne fruit extract that was found to cause a small but statistically significant amount of weight loss in a 2018 clinical trial at the same dose as that in Burn Evolved.
Evodiamine may also have a weight loss effect, according to a 2014 animal study.
Overall, we consider Burn Evolved likely to cause weight loss because it contains multiple research-backed active ingredients at effective doses.
We consider Burn Evolved 2.0 (this formulation) to be superior to Burn Evolved 1.0, because some of the active ingredients in the previous formulation were underdosed in our opinion.
The inactive ingredients in Burn Evolved, shown below, should be safe and non-toxic:
We do not currently recommend this supplement due to the relatively high chromium dose.
We Tested Burn Evolved
One of our product testers named Joshua Martinez tried Burn Evolved for 30 days. Here's his experience:
This supplement was super easy to use. The bottle opens up similar to any medicine bottle.
The capsule is vegetarian so it has a "veggie" taste to it. It doesn't taste bad, but it does have a particular taste that may not be suitable for everyone.
I started taking Burn Evolved halfway through training for a triathlon.
Prior to starting the supplement, I plateaued in my weight loss to about 172 pounds. After taking the supplement, it helped me break through that barrier and now I sit at a comfy 167 pounds ready to compete and feeling more confident.
The only side effect I noted was feeling very faintly dehydrated throughout the day when taking the pills.
Overall, I would rate Burn Evolved 7/10, and out of all the fat-burners I have tried, this one has the least effect on my overall health and did not make me feel jittery.
I plan to purchase this product again.
Does Burn Evolved Cause Side Effects?
Burn Evolved 2.0 doesn't appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, which makes it challenging to determine whether or not the supplement will cause side effects.
However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.
Gymnema leaf extract is clinically shown to have a strange potential side effect: interfering with the ability to taste sweet sensations by negatively affecting taste buds.
However, this is much less likely to be an issue with a capsule formulation, so we don't consider this to be an issue with Burn Evolved.
Caffeine can cause anxiety and jitters in some individuals, as we documented in our Trimtone review article, but the total caffeine dose in Burn Evolved 2.0 is only slightly higher than one cup of coffee, so we do not consider this likely to have an effect in otherwise healthy individuals.
There is no mention of side effects on the Burn Evolved 2.0 product page currently.
Overall, we consider Burn Evolved 2.0 unlikely to cause side effects in otherwise healthy individuals.
Burn Evolved vs. Popular Weight Loss Supps
Here's how Burn Evolved compares to other popular weight loss supplements in terms of formulation quality, in our opinion:
PhenGold
Contains research-backed active ingredients like green coffee extract, which is clinically shown to be associated with positive weight loss outcomes.
We consider Burn Evolved to be the safer and more reputable brand, because the PhenGold website contained several health claims we disagree with and find unscientific, upon our most recent analysis.
Winner: Burn Evolved
OxyShred
OxyShred Fat Burner contains three inactive ingredients and one active ingredient we consider unhealthy, as we documented in the linked article.
Burn Evolved wins from a health perspective.
Winner: Burn Evolved
Obvi Collagenic Burn
Contains four ingredients we consider unhealthy, including one which is currently banned in the EU over toxicity concerns.
Burn Evolved has the healthier formulation.
Winner: Burn Evolved
Our Clean Weight Loss Picks
Ceylon cinnamon was described as "an effective anti-obesity agent" in a 2022 meta-analysis. The study authors concluded that effects were greater at doses at or over 3 grams daily.
Illuminate Labs Ceylon Cinnamon Extract is our standardized Ceylon cinnamon supplement which is third-party tested to ensure purity and potency.
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).
MBG Organic Fiber Potency+ is our top fiber pick because it's certified organic, provides 7 g of fiber per serving and costs under $1.85 per serving at the time of updating this article.
Both of the products mentioned in this section are free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Burn Evolved Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Many research-backed active ingredients
- Should cause weight loss
- No inactive ingredients we consider to be unhealthy
- Brand dramatically improved formulation
- Safer formulation than most weight loss supplements we've reviewed
- Our Product Tester tried it and lost weight
- Healthier than competitors
- Unlikely to cause side effects
Cons:
- Relatively high chromium dose
- Doesn't appear to be clinically tested
- Our Product Tester experienced mild symptoms of dehydration
- Coleus forskohlii extract may be underdosed
