The Bottom Line: Is bmiSMART I-Remove Worth A Try?
Risky. The fact that the only science backing of Litramine comes from within the ranks of InQpharm isn’t overly inspiring. And the reviews don’t inspire much more. I-Remove may be popular throughout Europe and the United States, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s suitable for everyone. There were no side effects noted by users, but it also wasn’t an overall “miracle,” either. Seventy dollars for a month’s supply may be pocket change for some folk, and in that case you might give I-Remove a shot. But I’m not convinced it’s worth it. bmiSMART is a weight loss program with big claims and several items to choose from. Their main product is I-Remove, touted as a fat binder. We’ll look at the claims and see exactly what that is. Its manufacturer, InQpharm—itself “a Zaluvida company”—sells I-Remove in both in the United States and in Canada on Amazon.com and some other online retailers, including Wal-mart. The same product is sold in various countries of the European Union (EU) under various other brand names. There are no Better Business Bureau profiles for I-Remove, bmiSMART, InQpharm, or Zaluvida. [1] Company Contact Information: InQpharm North America LLC, US Bank Building, 170 Main Suite 1135, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101. They have international offices in England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Malaysia. The Zaluvida corporate offices are in Rolle, Switzerland. [2] [3] Amazon.com lists a 180-count bottle of I-Remove (30-day supply) for $69.99 USD. This is similar to the other online retailers where I found it. [4]
back to menu ↑Word On The Street About bmiSMART I-Remove
There were zero reviews on the Walmart.com sales page. So we’ll go back to Amazon. “Elysummers” (2017, 4 stars) liked it:
[su_quote url=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3N92H0CKT0R91/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01N7GGR2Y”]I am impressed with how well it has reduced my appetite. I am an emotional eater – so any reason at all. This product is helping. I think it’s going to be a while before I see some significant weight loss but I’m going to take it one day at a time. I have tried Orlistat and Alli with all the awful side affects. I just simply could not take either product. I-Remove has no side affects whatsoever. Give this a try, it may work for you. [/su_quote]
But “Bega” (2017, 1 star) said,
[su_quote url=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2MIKOLSZXK7IC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01FUMSOEG”]I’m very disappointed, bmiSMART I-REMOVE, doesn’t work for me. Two people wrote that they lost 10 pounds, and 15 pounds in two, and three weeks respectively. I eat healthy every day, even before I bought this product, go to the gym every day, and I didn’t loose any pound. [/su_quote]
“Linda M.” (2017, 3 stars) wasn’t impressed.
[su_quote url=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2ZD5AN9R62JXO/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01FUMSOEG”]This product was disappointing for me. It didn’t help in removing fat, at least not for me. I was following a low fat, high protein diet while I was on it. But maybe for someone else it will work. [/su_quote]
And “Escher Fan” pretty much rounded out the discussion:
[su_quote url=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1CZ1MN0PF1ZHX/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01FUMSOEG”]If this is the “favorite” weight loss product in Europe then that makes me feel better because it means there are a lot of gullible people there, too, just as there are in the US. It also means they have a lot of scam products, just like we do. And this is one of them. Totally and completely worthless, no efficacy whatsoever. A scam. [/su_quote]
Every supplement affects every individual differently. Gender, age, genetics, pre-existing medical conditions, and individual body chemistry – as unique as a fingerprint – can affect how a supplement works on you. That’s why supplements always add that “individual results may vary” disclaimer, and it’s why reviews for a drug or supplement can be all over the spectrum. Only you and your doctor can figure out how it works for you, so always be forthcoming and transparent with your doctor about side effects you experience, as well as if the substance doesn’t seem to be doing anything for you.
back to menu ↑bmiSMART I-Remove Claims
Achieve up to 3x more weight loss than dieting alone. … Clinically proven, yet gentle on your body, I-REMOVE™ will help you reach your weight loss goals. I-REMOVE™ is manufactured in Germany, subject to the strictest quality controls and approved by the German government. [1]
The main ingredient in this product is Litramine, a trademarked substance which allegedly
… binds fat into molecules too large to be absorbed, thus is secreted naturally. Food cravings are reduced by stabilizing blood glucose levels. Reduced Calories lead to Weight Loss! [1]
They don’t proclaim I-Remove as an alternative to diet and exercise; rather, they say it gives your efforts a good push:
Dieting takes effort… I-REMOVE can triple the payoff. Combine your dieting effort with I-REMOVE and find out just how motivating triple results can be! … Made with Litramine™, the #1 selling weight-loss ingredient complex in Europe for the past five years, I-REMOVE Fat Binder can prevent up to 28% of the fat you eat from being absorbed. And it’s clinically tested and guaranteed to help you lose weight. [5]
They also state warnings very clearly: Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take this product. If your Body Mass Index is below 18.5 you shouldn’t take it. If you’re taking other medication you should clear it with your doctor first. And, “This product contains trace amounts of oxalic acids, which are found in many other green vegetables. If you have kidney disease or kidney stones, avoid taking this product on a regular basis.” [1]
How It’s Different: Unlike other “quick-fix” solutions, I-REMOVE says NO to unsafe stimulants and synthetic metabolic enhancers. Products containing such ingredients can result in unwanted side effects. Additionally, having undergone rigorous clinical research, I-REMOVE has been shown to be effective at promoting up to three times more weight loss than healthy eating and exercise alone. So, if you’re looking for a gentle-on-your-body, thoroughly tested and effective weight-loss supplement, don’t compromise with another “quick-fix” solution, get I-REMOVE. [6]
back to menu ↑bmiSMART I-Remove Ingredients [4]
1000 mg Litramine Proprietary Complex, comprised of Cactus powder (Opuntiaficus-indica) (Leaf) and Gum Arabic (Acacia sp.). Calcium, 42 mg Sodium, 10 mg Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, gamma cyclodextrin, silicon dioxide, magnesium Stearate.
back to menu ↑The Science (or Lack Thereof) Behind bmiSMART I-Remove
So let’s look at Litramine and see if there’s evidence to back up the claims. The main ingredient in Litramine is Cactus; specifically Opuntiaficus-indica, known to laymen as prickly pear or nopal cactus. Litramine combines this with gum Arabic, also known as acacia gum, usually used to modify the physical properties of a food. [7] According to the in-house testing,
InQpharm’s proprietary technology significantly increases the fat-binding properties of this ingredient, resulting in an efficacy that is unmatched by similar products—up to 9 times more effective than standard nopal cactus supplements. [8]
But what about outside-house science? There is a Litramine study in the database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a vast archive of science journal articles from all over the world. But when I pulled up this study and checked to see a, who had funded it, and b, what the researchers’ affiliations were—if any—to the company, I found that two of the four researchers actually are InQpharm employees. So it’s not really an unbiased study. [9] I didn’t find a specific journal article about prickly pear, but both WebMD and the Mayo Clinic website have information available.
Prickly pear cactus contains fiber and pectin, which can lower blood glucose by decreasing the absorption of sugar in the stomach and intestine. Some researchers think that it might also decrease cholesterol levels, and kill viruses in the body. [10]
Some preliminary evidence shows that prickly pear cactus can decrease blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Research also suggests that prickly pear cactus extract may lessen the unpleasant effects of a hangover. However, more research is needed to confirm these benefits.
It’s too early to call prickly pear cactus a superfood, but it can be part of a healthy diet. Indeed, prickly pear cactus is popular in many areas of the world, particularly Latin America, because it’s high in fiber, antioxidants and carotenoids.
If you’d like to try prickly pear cactus, consider easing into it. Side effects for some people include mild diarrhea, nausea, increased stool volume, increased stool frequency and abdominal fullness. [11]
I did find a study on gum Arabic, published in the 2012 Nutrition Journal,
Gum Arabic (acacia Senegal) is a complex polysaccharide indigestible to both humans and animals. It has been considered as a safe dietary fiber by the United States, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since the 1970s. … A total of 120 healthy females completed the study. They were divided to two groups: A test group of 60 volunteers receiving GA (30 gm /day) for 6 weeks and a placebo group of 60 volunteers receiving pectin (1 gm/day) for the same period of time. … Conclusions: GA ingestion causes significant reduction in BMI and body fat percentage among healthy adult females. The effect could be exploited in the treatment of obesity. [12]
So there is outside scientific evidence, but I wouldn’t call it substantial.
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