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Cardispan |
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Introduction & Overview |
Cardispan is an injectible weight loss formulation that is said to benefit specific “problem areas” of fat. This product, which seems to consist primarily of L-Carnitine, is said to enable dieters to “get the figure you’ve always wanted!” This supplement is said to be “used intramuscularly or to problematic areas; for example, your abdomen, thighs, hips, etc.” The product’s Ebay listing claims it is helpful in eradicating “the love handles that you have.” It is advertised for use with a 5-gauge, 0.5-inch needle.
This product’s manufacturer does not seem to have any sort of Internet presence at the time of review, which we found somewhat concerning. In fact, we had difficulty locating online vendors of this product. Furthermore, questions have been raised about the effectiveness of “localized” injections for fat loss, and the usefulness of L-Carnitine has also been challenged. We will evaluate this product for its practical use in “localized” weight loss.
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| Pros |
• Does not contain Caffeine
• Said to be a “source for protein”
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| Cons |
• Consumers claim injections are painful
• Some diet bloggers question the effectiveness of “local” injections
• L-Carnitine is not said to be necessary for most individuals
• At about $130, product seems overly expensive
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| Products Formula |
Although a full list of ingredients does not seem to be provided, it appears that this product’s main ingredient is L-Carnitine.
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| Formula In Depth |
This product’s description states that L-Carnitine is a “conditionally essential” amino acid. However, some experts have stated that human beings are virtually never deficient in L-Carnitine, and in fact some studies have found that it has plays no role in weight loss. Although it is touted for its ability to enhance workouts, some studies claim that it has limited effectiveness even in this regard. In addition, L-Carnitine may be associated with various side effects. These may include: gastrointestinal symptoms, nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. L-Carnitine may also be associated with the immune disorder Myasthenia. It is said that seizures have been reported in individuals who have taken L-Carnitine.
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| Customer Feedback |
On a bodybuilding discussion board, one consumer questioned the injectible delivery method used with Cardispan. This consumer wrote, “Just as a simple physiology review, L-Carnitine essentially acts as a barrier of fatty acids and transports them in to the mitochondria so they can then be oxidized. The idea of injecting it to adipose tissue is ridiculous, the obvious reason being that adipocytes have no mitochondria!” This user went on to state, “This is yet another case where people need to realize that systemic absorption is necessary for an effect, and that they should forget about “localized” effects. I’ll admit that there are a few (very few) drugs were localized injections may be of benefit, but for the most part they are a waste.” In addition, consumers who have used these injections report “lots of pain while the liquid goes under your skin” and warned dieters to “keep in mind that it is EXTREMELY painful.”
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| Conclusion |
While an injectible delivery method might be considered worthwhile if it delivers superior results, it seems as though this product’s “localized” injection method may not be valid. In addition, for those who are squeamish about needles (and perhaps even those who are not), the pain reported with this product may not be justified.
Other supplement products do not involve the use of painful needles, or questionable ingredients. Some of the better herbal capsules contain powerful appetite suppressants like Hoodia. Hoodia based capsules act on the hypothalamus of the brain to convince the body it is full. This ingredient has performed exceptionally well in weight loss studies.
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