Hydroxycut is one of the most popular weight loss supplements in the U.S., selling over 100 million bottles.
But does Hydroxycut contain research-backed ingredients for weight loss? Does it contain any questionable additives? Can it damage the liver? And is the Hardcore version likely to cause more weight loss?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in some of Hydroxycut Original, Gummies and Hardcore to give our take on whether or not the supplements are likely to be effective, and whether or not they're healthy.
We'll share our concerns about the risk of liver injury, and discuss whether or not Hydroxycut Hardcore can lead to greater weight loss outcomes.
Key takeaways:
- FDA published Health Hazard Evaluation, suggesting risk of liver injury
- Contains research-backed active ingredients for weight loss
- We do not currently recommend Hydroxycut
Is Hydroxycut Toxic to the Liver?
There is a concerning amount of research on acute liver injury associated with Hydroxycut use.
A 2008 medical review highlighted two case reports of patients who developed hepatitis shortly after taking Hydroxycut. Hepatitis is a serious medical condition where the liver becomes inflamed, and can lead to death if not treated appropriately.
The review authors couldn’t definitively conclude that the hepatitis was caused by Hydroxycut, because the patients could have just happened to get sick right after taking it, but the study authors described Hydroxycut supplementation in both cases "as the most likely etiology for acute liver injury."
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which regulates supplements in the U.S., published a Health Hazard Evaluation of Hydroxycut, concluding that “it is very likely that exposure to Hydroxycut can cause idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity”.
In layman’s terms, that means that the supplement can harm the liver.
A more recent case report from a medical journal detailed a 22 year old woman who experienced acute liver injury due to Hydroxycut use.
The patient was successfully treated and discharged, but the study authors noted the risks of Hydroxycut use, and even described the standard symptom duration of what they called “Hydroxycut-induced liver injury”, meaning there’s a medical standard for these side effects, which is concerning.
Hydroxycut has been used millions of times, and we're not suggesting that liver injury is likely or common with Hydroxycut use. However, we do consider these potential side effects to be concerning even if they're unlikely.
Ingredient Analysis
The vitamin ingredients in Hydroxycut Original (formerly called "Hydroxycut Pro Clinical") are shown below:
We have not come across any research studies suggesting that vitamin supplementation is effective for weight loss, nor does Hydroxycut appear to share or cite any on their website, so we will consider these ingredients ineffective.
The ingredients in Hydroxycut's proprietary blend "Hydroxycut Complex" are shown below:
Robusta coffee extract may be effective for weight loss.
A medical review published in the Gastroenterology Research and Practice journal analyzed data from three clinical trials on robusta coffee extract and weight loss, and concluded that there was a small but statistically significant weight loss effect.
A more recent review also found coffee extract to be effective for weight loss, and this review examined results from 16 clinical trials.
Many of the trials used dosages lower than the 404 mg combined dosage of coffee extract in Hydroxycut Original, so we consider this ingredient to be likely effective for weight loss.
Apple cider vinegar is included at a 100 milligram (mg) dose.
This is a very low dose, 5x lower than Goli gummies which we already reviewed and concluded to be underdosed and ineffective.
A 2009 clinical trial found that apple cider vinegar reduced body weight, but the minimally-effective dose found in that trial was 15 milliliters (mL) of apple cider vinegar, which equates to around 15,000 mg, or 150x the amount in Hydroxycut.
Plum, baobab extract and cardamom only total 100 mg, or 33 mg per ingredient on average, which is a very low dose. These dosages are so low that we will consider them entirely ineffective.
To illustrate how low of a dose 33 mg is for a botanical ingredient like baobab extract, a clinical trial on baobab extract tested its effects on blood sugar response.
They used what the researches described as a “low dose” of 18.5 grams (g), which equals 18,500 mg. This means there is over 500 times more baobab used in this “low dose” study than there likely is in Hydroxycut.
The inactive ingredients in this supplement are shown below:
Titanium dioxide is an inactive ingredient that is banned in the European Union for use as a food additive over concerns about genotoxicity (the potential to damage DNA).
Overall, we consider Hydroxycut Original to be potentially effective for weight loss, but we do not currently recommend it due to our concerns about potential liver injury, and the inclusion of titanium dioxide.
Hydroxycut Gummies Review
The active ingredients in Hydroxycut Weight Loss + Multivitamin Gummies are shown below:
The majority of ingredients in this formulation comprise an even larger blend of vitamins and minerals than the previous product we reviewed.
We consider all of these ingredients to be ineffective for weight loss, and the brand does not share any medical research on their Hydroxycut Gummies product page proving that any of these vitamins or minerals are effective for weight loss.
Robusta coffee extract is the only herbal active ingredient, and is included at a lower total dosage than in Hydroxycut Original. We still consider this to be an effective weight loss ingredient at the 200 mg dosage.
The inactive ingredients are shown below:
Corn syrup is a refined sweetener.
Citric acid is a flavor enhancer and preservative that's clinically shown to cause inflammation in some individuals, as we documented in our Olly Metabolism Gummies reviews article.
Overall, we consider Hydroxygut Gummies potentially effective for weight loss given the effective dose of coffee bean extract.
We do not currently recommend this product due to the inactive ingredients discussed above.
Hydroxycut Hardcore Review
The ingredients in Hydroxycut Hardcore are shown below:
Caffeine is included at a 265 mg dose, which we consider to be effective for supporting weight loss.
A medical review published in the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition journal analyzed data from 13 clinical trials with 606 total participants, and found that caffeine supplementation caused weight loss. The majority of studies used dosages lower than in Hydroxycut Hardcore.
265 mg of caffeine is a relatively high dose, and Hydroxycut suggests taking these capsules twice per day on day 4 and beyond, which would equal a total caffeine dose of 530 mg, which is equivalent to more than 5 cups of coffee.
We strongly advise patients to speak with their doctor prior to taking a caffeine dose this high. While it may be effective for weight loss, this caffeine dose can increase blood pressure significantly, and may be inadvisable for patients with high blood pressure or anxiety.
L-tyrosine and l-methionine are amino acids included at relatively low doses (under 100 mg).
Amino acids are typically supplemented at doses greater than 1,000 mg, and the average dose per ingredient in the "D-Norepidrol Blend" is only 32 mg. We will consider all of the ingredients in this blend ineffective.
Yohimbe extract is effectively dosed at 50 mg.
A clinical trial documented that patients taking yohimbe capsules experienced significant body fat loss. Body fat decreased by over 2% in only 21 days in the yohimbe group.
While it may be effective for weight loss, we do not recommend yohimbe extract supplementation until more safety data emerges.
A medical review documented that yohimbe side effects are typically more severe than side effects from average drug ingredients, and the study authors concluded the following: "A reexamination of whether yohimbine should be considered a 'safe' dietary supplement under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act is warranted."
Overall, we consider Hydroxycut Hardcore highly likely to support weight loss.
However, we do not currently recommend this supplement due to our concerns over its potential health effects.
Does Hydroxycut Cause Side Effects?
Other than the rare but significant adverse effects on the liver that we outlined earlier in the article, Hydroxycut may cause side effects in some individuals due to its stimulatory ingredients.
Caffeine can cause or exacerbate anxiety and increase blood pressure and heart rate. Hydroxycut Hardcore contains other stimulatory ingredients such as yohimbe extract which may also cause similar side effects.
We believe that the risk of side effects is higher with Hydroxycut Hardcore than the other Hydroxycut products reviewed in this article, due to its potency and high caffeine dose.
We find the page on Hydroxycut's site titled “Is Hydroxycut Safe?,” which concludes that the product is safe to use by healthy adults, to be questionable.
Several of the patients who experienced liver injury due to Hydroxycut use were previously healthy, as detailed in the FDA report.
Where to Get the Best Price
Hydroxycut is sold at a variety of online retailers. We want to be clear and re-state that we do not currently recommend this supplement, but below is a price breakdown for consumers who are intent on purchasing it:
Hydroxycut Original
Brand website: $27.99 (free shipping, link)
Walmart: $19.88 (plus shipping, link)
Amazon: $19.99 (free shipping, link to Amazon listing)
Hydroxycut Gummies
Brand website: $27.99 (free shipping, link)
Walmart: $19.45 (plus shipping, link)
Third-party retailers currently have significantly cheaper prices on Hydroxycut supplements, even when factoring in shipping fees.
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 additive ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
