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Synephrine

Synephrine is a plant constituent which is found, for example, in bitter oranges (Citrus aurantium) and which is chemically related to ephedrine. Some products offered as sports and weight loss supplements contain synephrine in the form of added bitter orange extract. Often such products contain caffeine and other active ingredients. They are sometimes referred to by manufacturers as food supplements or dietetic foods. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has assessed the risks posed by such products.

In terms of the quantities of the substances synephrine – usually in the form of bitter orange extract – and caffeine added to the various supplements, there are very big differences between various products. Both substances influence the cardiovascular system. If synephrine and caffeine are taken at the same time, these effects can mutually reinforce each other. This notably applies to their potential to increase heart frequency, possibly even in cases of cardiac arrhythmia, as well as to their potential to increase blood pressure. Other active ingredients contained in bitter orange extracts may also enhance cardiovasculareffects of synephrine.

The BfR recommends that quantities of health-relevant components of Citrus aurantium ingested through such products should be limited to the intake levels from conventional foods such as oranges and bitter oranges. For synephrine, this means that no more than 6.7 milligrams per day should be consumed in the form of a food supplement. This quantity of synephrine represents the intake via conventional foods with maximum contents of synephrine for average consumers. This would ensure even for frequent consumers that their total intake of synephrine from both conventional foods and food supplements does not exceed 25.7 milligrams.

For some products currently available on the market, there are, due to the dosage levels, sufficient reasons to suspect that the products do not meet the requirements of Regulation No. 14 (EC) 178/2002. For this reason, they are classified as unsafe. This takes into account that the target group of the food supplement are persons who, as a result of physical exertion, already put an increased strain on their cardiovascular system which may be further exacerbated if they are overweight.

Health assessment of sports and weight loss products containing synephrin and caffeine (408.2 KB)

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