Weight HighEvidence-based weight loss information

Forskolin Weight Loss Reviews

By Norma Ector · · Updated

Leaves of Coleus forskohlii, the plant forskolin comes from
Contents

Photo by Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Forskolin is a compound from the root of the Indian coleus plant, a member of the mint family. The plant has a long history in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, and forskolin is now sold as a weight loss supplement.

Marketers claim it melts fat, builds muscle, and helps the heart and brain. The human research is much thinner than those claims suggest.

Benefits of Forskolin

1. Fat Loss

In lab studies, forskolin raises cAMP, a messenger molecule that helps trigger the breakdown of stored fat. That is the main reason it is marketed as a fat burner.

In people, the results are modest at best. One small trial in men found lower body fat percentage but reported no weight loss, and a trial in women found no significant fat or weight loss.

2. Muscle Definition

In one 12-week trial of 30 overweight and obese men, free testosterone rose in the forskolin group, and lean mass showed only a non-significant trend upward.

That single small study does not show that forskolin builds muscle or improves definition. Strength training and enough protein are what build muscle.

3. Cognitive Function

Claims that forskolin improves focus, memory, or dopamine levels are not supported by human studies. The cAMP research behind these claims comes from cells and animals.

4. Cardiovascular Health

Forskolin can relax blood vessels in lab studies, which is why it is sometimes linked to blood pressure. It is not a proven treatment for high blood pressure or heart disease.

That same effect means it could lower blood pressure too much if you already take blood pressure medicine.

Overall, forskolin's claimed benefits rest mostly on lab research. The human evidence for weight loss is limited to a few small, short trials with mixed results.

It is not a proven weight-loss supplement.

It is also important to speak with a healthcare professional before taking any supplement, as it can interact with certain medications.

How Does Forskolin Work?

Forskolin Weight Loss Reviews

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Forskolin activates the enzyme adenylate cyclase, which increases cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in cells.

cAMP helps regulate many processes, including fat breakdown. But raising cAMP in a lab dish is not the same as causing weight loss in people.

Possible Side Effects

Short trials lasting up to 12 weeks reported few side effects. Long-term safety has not been studied.

Because forskolin can relax blood vessels, it may cause low blood pressure, dizziness, or headache in some people. People with existing medical conditions should talk to their doctor before taking it.

How to Take Forskolin

Forskolin is usually sold as capsules of Coleus forskohlii root extract. If you decide to try it, follow the label and talk to your doctor first.

Dosage

There is no established effective dose for weight loss. The main trials used 250 mg of a 10% Coleus forskohlii extract twice a day, which is about 50 mg of forskolin daily, for 12 weeks.

Do not take more than the label directs.

Where to Buy Forskolin

Forskolin is sold in health food stores and online, mostly as capsules.

Supplements are not reviewed by the FDA for safety or effectiveness before they are sold, and labels may not match what is in the bottle.

If you buy forskolin, look for products with third-party testing seals, such as USP or NSF, which check that the label matches the contents.

Avoid products that promise fast or dramatic weight loss. Those claims are a red flag.

When shopping in health food stores, read the label carefully and check the amount of Coleus forskohlii extract per serving.

Does Forskolin Work for Weight Loss?

Not in any meaningful way, based on current evidence. In the best-known trials, forskolin did not lead to significant weight loss. It is not a proven weight loss supplement.

Research on Forskolin for Weight Loss

Forskolin for Weight Loss

Photo by Andres Ayrton from Pexels

Only a few small clinical studies have tested forskolin for weight loss. Here is what the two most cited trials found.

  1. A 2005 study in Obesity Research gave 30 overweight and obese men either forskolin or a placebo for 12 weeks. The forskolin group had lower body fat percentage and fat mass, but the trial did not report a difference in body weight, and lean mass only trended upward.
  2. A 2005 study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition tested forskolin in mildly overweight women for 12 weeks. It found no significant change in body weight or body fat, and the authors concluded forskolin "does not appear to promote weight loss."

Both studies were small and short, and the women's trial was partly funded by the extract's maker. These results do not support forskolin as a tool for weight loss.

Speak with your doctor before taking any supplement, including forskolin.

How Long Does it Take for Forskolin to Work?

There is no reliable answer, because forskolin has not been shown to cause meaningful weight loss. The trials above ran for 12 weeks.

Is Forskolin Safe?

Short-term use appeared to be well tolerated in small trials, but long-term safety is unknown.

Talk to a doctor before taking forskolin, especially if you take any medications or have any health conditions.

Forskolin comes from the root of Coleus forskohlii. In traditional medicine, the plant was used for heart, lung, and digestive complaints. Today it is mainly marketed for weight loss.

Claims that forskolin speeds metabolism or suppresses appetite in people are not supported by good evidence.

Because forskolin may lower blood pressure, it could interact with blood pressure medicines. It may also interact with blood thinners.

Avoid forskolin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, since its safety has not been studied in these groups.

According to NCCIH, many weight-loss supplements have not been tested for safety, and what's on the label may not be what's in the bottle.

Other Uses for Forskolin

Forskolin work for Weight Loss

Photo by Sarah Chai from Pexels

Beyond weight loss, forskolin has been studied in the lab and in small trials for conditions such as asthma and glaucoma.

None of this research has made forskolin an approved treatment for any condition. Do not use it in place of prescribed treatment for asthma, glaucoma, high blood pressure, heart failure, or any other illness.

Conclusion

Forskolin is a compound from the root of the Indian coleus plant, with a long history in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

Small trials show, at most, a modest change in body fat without real weight loss. The evidence does not support it as a weight-loss supplement.

If you still want to try it, talk to your doctor first, especially if you have a medical condition or take medications.

FAQs

What is Forskolin?

Forskolin is a compound found in the root of the Indian coleus (Coleus forskohlii) plant, a member of the mint family.

The plant has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

What are the benefits of Forskolin?

Forskolin is marketed for weight loss, but the evidence is weak.

In one small trial in men it lowered body fat percentage, but no weight loss was reported, and a trial in women found no significant weight loss.

It is not a proven treatment for blood pressure, heart disease, or asthma.

How does Forskolin work?

In lab studies, forskolin activates the enzyme adenylate cyclase, which raises cyclic AMP (cAMP) inside cells.

cAMP helps regulate fat breakdown, but that lab effect has not translated into meaningful weight loss in human trials.

Is Forskolin safe?

Short trials of up to 12 weeks reported few side effects, but long-term safety is unknown. Forskolin may lower blood pressure and could interact with blood pressure medicines and blood thinners.

Talk to your doctor before taking it, and avoid it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Sources

More in Weight Loss