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What the reviews found

Supplements for Weight & Body Fat

16 where systematic reviews concluded a benefit, 5 with mixed findings, 15 where they concluded no effect. Every line quotes the review and links it, so you can read the sentence yourself.

Reviews found a benefit

Systematic reviews concluded these improve an outcome tied to weight & body fat, and none concluded no effect.

  1. Chlorogenic Acid
    4 reviews cited
    Benefitbody weight
    GBCE with CGA 500 mg/day lowers body weight PMID 37710316 · 3 reviews
    Benefitbmi
    We found that GCE supplementation had a beneficial effect on body weight, BMI and WC. PMID 32507437 · 2 reviews
    Benefitwaist circumference
    Green coffee extract (GCE) supplementation (180 to 376 mg) was found to reduce waist circumference (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.39; 95% CI: -0.68, -0.10) PMID 34577880 · 3 reviews
  2. Bergamot
    1 review cited
    Benefitbody weight
    C. bergamia supplementation significantly decreased body weight (SMD: -0.64; 95% CI: -1.15, -0.13; p = 0.01; I2 = 90%) PMID 41572527
    Benefitbody mass index
    body mass index (SMD: -0.85; 95% CI: -1.35, -0.35; p = 0.0008; I2 = 90%) PMID 41572527
    Benefitwaist circumference
    waist circumference (SMD: -0.41; 95% CI: -0.65, -0.16; p = 0.001; I2 = 49%) PMID 41572527
  3. Benefitbody mass index
    increased BMI in HIV+ underweight adults. PMID 35302264 · 2 reviews
    Benefitbody mass index(as Moringa oleifera)
    In humans, moringa at higher (14-30 g/day) not lower (<10 g/day) doses improved hemoglobin (Hgb) in children with iron deficiency anemia, improved Hgb and vitamin A status in postmenopausal women, and increased BMI in HIV+ underweight adults. PMID 35302264 · 2 reviews
  4. orange
    1 review cited
    Benefitbody weight
    The extract significantly reduced body weight (mean difference (MD) -2.08 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI) -3.50, -0.67; I2 = 0%; p < 0.01) PMID 40956687
    Benefitfat mass
    and fat mass (MD -1.53 kg; 95% CI -2.92, -0.15; I2 = 0%; p = 0.03) PMID 40956687
  5. Benefitbody weight and obesity indices
    This meta-analysis found a significant reduction of body weight, BMI, WC and CRP levels associated with berberine intake which may have played an indirect role in improved clinical symptoms in diseases with metabolic disorders. PMID 32690176 · 2 reviews
  6. Catechins
    2 reviews cited
    Benefitweight loss
    Catechins or an epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-caffeine mixture have a small positive effect on WL and WM. PMID 19597519
  7. Benefitbody weight and obesity indices
    The findings of this umbrella meta-analysis support that supplementation of L-carnitine supplementation can successfully manage weight, BMI, and WC reduction. PMID 40298161 · 2 reviews
  8. Benefitwaist circumference
    it led to a significant reduction in waist circumference. PMID 41455817 · 2 reviews
  9. Benefitwaist circumference
    The artichoke supplementation has effect on the waist circumference, but not on the other anthropometric indices. PMID 33197674
  10. Benefitbody weight and adiposity
    Chicory ITF supplementation may benefit weight management by reducing body weight, BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and, to a certain extent, body fat percentage. PMID 39313030
  11. Collagen
    1 review cited
    Benefitbody weight/obesity markers (animal)(as Collagen Peptides)
    CP administration in rodents with obesity for at least 3 weeks demonstrated significant anti-obesity effects by positively influencing body mass, food intake, glucose metabolism, lipid markers, adipose tissue and adipokines. PMID 41168365
  12. Benefitbody weight
    has anti-obesity and antidiabetic properties, decreases body weight and also inhibits glucose absorption. PMID 24166097
  13. 1 review cited
    Benefitbody weight
    Chicory ITF supplementation may benefit weight management by reducing body weight, BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and, to a certain extent, body fat percentage. PMID 39313030
  14. Benefitbody weight and bmi
    The analysis of nine studies revealed significant weight reduction and BMI decreases with L. plantarum supplementation compared to a placebo. PMID 39062848
  15. Omega 6 Fatty Acids
    1 review cited
    Benefitbody weight in eating disorders
    PUFA supplements were associated with a benefit to body weight outcomes but not disease severity and mood symptoms in interventional trials. PMID 30773209
  16. Benefitbody weight (cachexia)
    Four randomized clinical trials showed a significant body weight (BW) increase in patients treated with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), β-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate (β-HMB), arginine, and glutamine or marine phospholipids (MPL). PMID 35888685

Mixed: a benefit on one measure, no effect on another

  1. Cinnamon
    4 reviews cited
    Benefitbody weight/bmi
    The results of this study showed that supplementation with cinnamon significantly reduces BMI and body weight. PMID 35365881 · 4 reviews
    No effectwaist circumference
    on waist circumference (ES: -1.05 cm; 95% CI: -2.26, 0.15, p = .087) were not considerable. PMID 35365881
  2. Benefitbody weight
    C. vulgaris supplementation demonstrated significant reductions in weight (Weighted Mean Difference [WMD]= -1.62, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -2.24, -1.00) PMID 41652544
    No effectbody mass index
    the changes in TG, HDL-C, and BMI were not satisfactory. PMID 29037431
  3. Benefitbody weight
    Curcumin supplementation was associated with decreases in body weight (up to 0.82 kg), BMI (up to 0.30 kg/m2), triglycerides, total cholesterol, and fasting glucose levels. PMID 42280140 · 2 reviews
    No effectwaist circumference
    showing limited or no efficacy on BMI and waist circumference PMID 42116302
  4. Olive Oil
    2 reviews cited
    No effectbody fat distribution
    the consumption of olive oil does not seem to alter the distribution of body fat PMID 37278997
    Benefitbody weight
    A diet enriched with olive oil can be an important weight control strategy in people without previous cardiovascular events. PMID 30461730
  5. Benefitbody weight
    Spirulina had ameliorative effects on weight (WMD = -1.85 Kg; 95% CI: -2.44, -1.26; p < .001; I2 = 82.4%, p < .001), and waist circumference (WMD = -1.09 cm; 95% CI: -2.16, -0.01; p = .046; I2 = 0.0%, p = .757) PMID 32967062 · 2 reviews
    No effectbody mass index
    no significant effect was shown on body mass index, even after sensitivity analysis (SMD = -0.53 Kg/m2 ; 95% CI: -1.25, 0.19; p = .149; I2 = 92.9%, p < .001) PMID 32967062

Reviews found no effect

Reviews studied these for an outcome tied to weight & body fat and concluded they made no difference.

  1. Beef Protein
    1 review cited
    No effectfat mass
    no significant differences were found between both conditions for fat mass (SMD = 0.15, p = 0.256), upper-limb muscle strength (SMD = 0.16, p = 0.536) or total iron intake (SMD = 0.29, p = 0.089). PMID 31242624
  2. Bilberry
    1 review cited
    No effectbody weight(as Vaccinium myrtillus)
    anthropometric indices including body weight (WMD: 0.04 Kg, 95% CI: -0.44% to 0.53%, p = 0.86) PMID 40751398
  3. No effectbody mass index
    body mass index (BMI) (WMD: -0.18 kg/m2; 95 %CI: -0.43-0.07; P =0.171) PMID 39079610
    No effectwaist circumference
    waist circumference (WC) (WMD: -0.95 cm; 95 % CI: -3.05-1.16; p =0.372) PMID 39079610
    No effectbody fat percentage
    percentage of body fat (PBF) (WMD: -0.99; 95 % CI: -2.33-0.35; p =0.141) PMID 39079610
  4. No effectbody weight/bmi
    Ginger supplementation does not seem effective in improving major measurements/indices of weight, including body weight and BMI. PMID 41101746
  5. No effectfat mass, leptin, and ghrelin
    with no effects on FM, leptin and ghrelin. PMID 38031409
  6. No effectbody weight(as β-Hydroxy β-Methylbutyrate)
    no beneficial effects of HMB on quality of life or body weight was found in two of four and three of five studies, respectively. PMID 35301826
  7. No effectbody weight/bmi
    with no consistent effects on body weight or BMI PMID 42300210
  8. No effectbody mass index
    No significant effects were identified on hip circumference, alanine aminotransferase, waist circumference, tumor necrosis factor-α, creatinine, C-reactive protein, body mass index, total cholesterol, fasting insulin, body fat percentage, and aspartate aminotransferase. PMID 42588058
  9. No effectbody weight
    No significant effects of melatonin were observed on body weight, waist circumference, body fat percentage, body mass index, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure, aspartate aminotransferase, or gamma-glutamyl transferase. PMID 41515249
  10. No effectbody weight and bmi
    No significant effects were observed on body weight, BMI, fasting glucose, HbA1c, lipid profiles, or systolic blood pressure. PMID 42514320
  11. No effectskeletal muscle mass and body weight(as Omega-3 Fatty Acids)
    None of the investigated omega-3 PUFAs supplementation was associated with significantly increased skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, or overall body weight. PMID 37442370
  12. No effectbmi
    trivial improvements in triglycerides, apoA-I, apoB/A-I, apoE, Lp(a), FFA, blood pressure, and BMI PMID 42275989
  13. No effectbody weight
    It significantly improves high-density lipoprotein but not low-density lipoprotein, body mass index, and weight. PMID 37929766
  14. No effectbmi z-score, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and glucose metabolism
    Current evidence does not support clear benefits for BMI z-score, waist circumference, body fat percentage, or glucose metabolism. PMID 42588161
  15. No effectbody weight/bmi
    weight change, and body mass index change (all p > 0.05) PMID 41738711

Not enough to say

Reviews of Capsicum, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lignans, Mango, Pectin could not conclude either way on weight & body fat.

How this page is built

Each finding is the conclusion a set of systematic reviews reached on one outcome — whether an ingredient helped, made no difference, or could not be judged — with a sentence quoted from one review, checked to appear in its PubMed abstract. It records the direction, not the size, of an effect. Reviews run in populations such as people with cancer, pregnancy, surgery or children are left out, because applying them to a general reader would mislead. Evidence last refreshed September 2026. Abstracts courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed).

Other goals

Educational only. A review finding a benefit on average does not mean a supplement will help you, or that it is safe alongside your medication. If you are treated for weight & body fat, talk to your clinician before adding anything.