Supplement
Ephedrine is a stimulant compound from the ephedra plant that activates adrenaline-related receptors, which speeds the heart and raises how much energy the body burns. Studies found metabolic rate went up, and the evidence for that is moderate, though the five studies involved only 17 people in total. Evidence for lower body fat and appetite was limited, and limited research also found blood pressure got worse.
Sources: PMID 8384181; PMID 1310922
- Updated
- How we grade
- 20 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade B
- Conditions studied
- 14
- Outcomes
- 53
- Graded outcomes
- 0162
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic Rate Moderate Increase | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 5 studies | 17 people | ||
Studies that measured metabolic rate
| ||||||
| Subjective Well-Being | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 8 people | |||
Studies that measured subjective well-being | ||||||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 8 people | ||||
Body Composition
- Body Fat: improves
- Weight: improves
Metabolic Health
- Body Fat: improves
- Weight: improves
- Metabolic Rate: improves
Digestive Health
- Body Fat: improves
- Weight: improves
- Heart Rate: improves
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- Heart Rate: improves
- Nasal Congestion: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate Small Increase | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | 238 people | ||
| Nasal Congestion | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 238 people | |||
Studies that measured nasal congestion | ||||||
High Blood Pressure
- Blood Pressure: worsens
- Weight: improves
- Body Fat: improves
Muscle Size Strength
- Power Output
- Subjective Well-Being: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Output No effect | NoneNo effect | 8 people | ||||
| Subjective Well-Being | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 8 people | |||
Studies that measured subjective well-being | ||||||
Muscle Size & Strength
- Power Output
- Subjective Well-Being: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Output No effect | NoneNo effect | 8 people | ||||
| Subjective Well-Being | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 8 people | |||
Studies that measured subjective well-being | ||||||
Weight Loss & Maintenance
- Weight: improves
- Metabolic Rate: improves
- Body Fat: improves
Overweight
- Weight: improves
- Metabolic Rate: improves
- Body Fat: improves
High Cholesterol
- Weight: improves
- Body Fat: improves
- Heart Rate: improves
Common Cold
- Nasal Congestion: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nasal Congestion | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 52 people |
Surgical Recovery
- Nausea Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 1 person |
Key findings
- Metabolic RateImproves (the measure goes up)
- AppetiteImproves (the measure goes down)
- Body FatImproves (the measure goes down)
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Ephedrine products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade B
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Studies cited
20 studies from PubMed
- Randomised comparison of diets for maintaining obese subjects' weight after major weight loss: ad lib, low fat, high carbohydrate diet v fixed energy intake
- Multinutrient supplement containing ephedra and caffeine causes weight loss and improves metabolic risk factors in obese women: a randomized controlled trial
- A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial of a product containing ephedrine, caffeine, and other ingredients from herbal sources for treatment of overweight and obesity in the absence of lifestyle treatment
- Does ephedrine promote weight loss in low-energy-adapted obese women
- Is an ephedrine caffeine treatment contraindicated in hypertension
- Effect of herbal Ephedra sinica and Evodia rutaecarpa on body composition and resting metabolic rate: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial in Korean premenopausal women
- Effects of ephedrine and aminophylline on resting energy expenditure in obese adolescents
- Effects of chronic administration of ephedrine during very-low-calorie diets on energy expenditure, protein metabolism and hormone levels in obese subjects
- Effect of physical training on thermogenic responses to cold and ephedrine in obesity
- Efficacy and safety of single and multiple doses of pseudoephedrine in the treatment of nasal congestion associated with common cold
- Herbal ephedra/caffeine for weight loss: a 6-month randomized safety and efficacy trial
- Enhanced thermogenic responsiveness during chronic ephedrine treatment in man
- The effect of beta-adrenergic and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma stimulation on target genes related to lipid metabolism in human subcutaneous adipose tissue
- The effects of oral pseudoephedrine on nasal patency in the common cold: a double-blind single-dose placebo-controlled trial
- Efficacy and safety of ephedra and ephedrine for weight loss and athletic performance: a meta-analysis
- The thermogenic properties of ephedrine/methylxanthine mixtures: human studies
- An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: a randomized, double-blind trial
- The effect of ephedra and caffeine on maximal strength and power in resistance-trained athletes
- Contribution of BAT and skeletal muscle to thermogenesis induced by ephedrine in man
- Use of ephedrine for the short-term treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a case report