Nugenix Thermo is a weight loss supplement that claims to “promote thermogenesis,” which means that it can increase core body temperature and energy expenditure at rest.
We reviewed Nugenix supplements very unfavorably in our overall review of the brand, but Thermo is a new supplement sold by the brand that we’re choosing to review individually.
But can a dietary supplement really increase core body temperature? Does Nugenix Thermo contain ingredients proven to cause weight loss? Does it contain any unhealthy ingredients? And is it better or worse than popular fat burners like OxyShred?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Nugenix Thermo to give our take on whether or not it's likely to be effective for weight loss, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also discuss the risk of side effects, and compare Nugenix Thermo to other popular fat burners, in terms of formulation quality, to pick our winners (and losers).
Key takeaways:
- Effective formulation for weight loss
- Contains two ingredients we recommend avoiding
- We do not currently recommend Nugenix Thermo
Ingredient Analysis
The active ingredients in Nugenix Thermo are shown below:
Caffeine has been clinically shown to cause weight loss, but the dose in Nugenix Thermo is relatively low at 150 milligrams (mg); equivalent to around 1.5 cups of coffee.
We cannot identify any studies showing this low of a dose causes weight loss.
Morosil is a patented blood orange extract, and a clinical trial published in the Natural Product Research journal found it to cause 6.79 pounds of average weight loss over 12 weeks. The dose used was the exact same dose as in Nugenix Thermo.
Green coffee extract was shown in a 2011 medical review to cause a small but statistically significant amount of weight loss, but the doses used in every clinical trial reviewed were more than twice as much as in this supplement.
Capsimax is a patented cayenne pepper extract that’s effectively-dosed in Nugenix Thermo.
As we documented in our review of weight loss supplement PhenQ, 100 mg of Capsimax is proven in clinical research to cause weight loss.
Green tea extract can cause liver injury in a small percentage of users, as reported by Health Canada.
We do not consider this likely for Nugenix Thermo users given the low dose, but we generally recommend avoiding this ingredient.
Chromium is a mineral included at a very high dose of 571% Daily Value (DV).
We would certainly recommend speaking with a doctor before regularly taking such a high mineral dose, due to potential toxicity concerns.
Overall, we consider Nugenix Thermo likely to cause weight loss, but we do not currently recommend it due to our concerns about the ingredients highlighted above.
Does Nugenix Thermo Cause Side Effects?
Nugenix Thermo doesn't appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, so we'll provide our opinion on its risk of side effects based on its stated formulation.
We consider Nugenix Thermo unlikely to cause side effects in healthy individuals.
Caffeine is stimulatory, but the dose is relatively low in this supplement. Individuals sensitive to caffeine may wish to avoid this supplement.
Other than caffeine, we cannot identify any ingredients we consider likely to cause side effects.
The inactive ingredients in this supplement should be safe and non-toxic.
Can Supplements Promote Thermogenesis?
As detailed in the intro section of this article, Nugenix claims that Thermo promotes thermogenesis and increases body temperature.
Whether or not this is possible is discussed in an informative podcast published by a YouTube channel called “Body Science:"
Nugenix Thermo vs. Popular Fat Burners
Here's how Nugenix Thermo compares to other popular fat burning supplements in terms of formulation quality, in our opinion:
OxyShred
This supplement was shown to cause weight loss in a clinical trial published in a peer-reviewed journal, which is the gold standard for product research.
However, it contains more ingredients that we consider potentially unhealthy than Nugenix Thermo, so we give the latter brand the advantage from a health perspective.
Winner: Nugenix Thermo
MCT Wellness
Contains a few inactive ingredients we consider unhealthy, as we documented in our MCT Wellness review article.
However, this supplement contains no active ingredients we consider unhealthy, making it the healthier choice overall.
Winner: MCT Wellness
Green Tea Fat Burner
Contains green tea extract at a substantially higher dose than Nugenix Thermo, making it a riskier health choice in our opinion.
Winner: Nugenix Thermo
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.
Nugenix Thermo Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Effective formulation
- Should support weight loss
- Inactive ingredients should be safe and non-toxic
- Better-than-average weight loss supplement
- Unlikely to cause side effects
- Healthier than some competitors
Cons:
- Doesn't appear to be clinically tested
- Contains green tea extract
- Contains high chromium dose
- Brand's website charges for shipping
