Xanthinol nicotinate is a form of niacin – that is vitamin B3. It is water soluble and highly potent, which has made it a highly appealing ingredient in many types of supplement, including weight management supplements.
In order to obtain the benefits of niacin, it must be regularly obtained by the body through food and supplementation. The reason is that the cells of the body cannot store vitamin B3, so it must have regular access to new sources of it to be able to use it. Xanthinol nicotinate can be absorbed very quickly, making it ideal for many people who require its supplementation on a regular basis.
In diet pills this substance is mainly used as a means of speeding up glucose metabolism within the brain while boosting ATP levels in the body. The result of this action can be a rise of cerebral blood flow. When more blood flows through the brain, it means the brain receives more oxygen, nutrients and energy. The outcome can be improvements in short term memory, boosted overall brain function, as well as enhanced awareness and concentration. Many feel that this could be an important contributor to motivation. In dieting, motivation can make or break a successful strategy.
Xanthinol nicotinate is also often added to high quality weight management pills because it is believed to improve overall glucose metabolism in the body – not just in the brain. This implies that the body will experience more efficient energy levels and that there may be a reduction in blood sugar spikes and crashes which can be detrimental to mood, cravings control and energy levels.
That said, it’s important to note that using this ingredient as a part of a diet pill won’t cause fat to simply disappear from the body. It can help to inhibit excess water retention, so some water weight may be lost, but it is not a substance meant to be seen as a magical obesity cure.
A study published in the German journal Therapie Die Gegenwart (“Current Therapies”) showed the results of research focused on the lipid reducing effects of this substance. The scientists examined patients with a condition called hyperlipoproteineias. This condition occurs when lipids are not properly broken down through the body’s natural processes. As a result, those patients require medical assistance to help their bodies to break down cholesterol and triglycerides.
While those individuals may have benefitted from this ingredient, it is yet unknown whether or not the substance can affect fat loss in a typically functioning body. Further research is required.
* Machalke, K., Djaja, S., and Richter, E. Therapie Die Gegenwart. “Lipid-lowering effect of etofibrate, bezafibrate and xanthinol nicotinate in patients with hyperlipoproteinemias”. Volume 121, Issue 5, May 1982. Pages 301-311. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6953613
