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Author: Melanie
Date: 12-27-03 21:03
Has anyone here tried any of those creams that supposedly reduce cellulite?
I personally hold an opinion that all over-the-counter diet pills, potions and creams are useless. The pills can also be dangerious. I myself have never used any weight loss pills/products.
However, I'm trying to keep an open mind for new ideas and research...
I came accross a study that claims the effectiveness of those creams: in the study, the cream was applied to one thigh for a certain period of time, and supposedly this thigh got skinnier than the other thigh :-) Sounds pretty ridiculous, but the study was in a medical journal so that made me think...
Here's the copy of the abstract:
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1: Obes Res. 1995 Nov;3 Suppl 4:561S-568S. Related Articles, Links
Topical fat reduction.
Greenway FL, Bray GA, Heber D.
Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Torrance, CA, USA.
The fat on women's thighs is more difficult to mobilize due to increased alpha-2 adrenergic receptor activity induced by estrogen. Lipolysis can be initiated through adipocyte receptor stimulation (beta adrenergic) or inhibition (adenosine or alpha-2 adrenergic) or by inhibition of phosphodiesterase. Since many women desire regional thigh fat loss, a series of clinical trials were initiated using one thigh as a double-blinded control. Trial #1: Five overweight women had injections of isoproterenol at intervals around the thigh three times a week for 4 weeks with diet and walking. Trial #2: Five overweight woman had ointment containing forskolin, yohimbine and aminophylline applied to the thigh five times a week for 4 weeks after hypertonic warm soaks with a diet and walking. Trial #3: Eighteen overweight women were divided into three groups of six and trial #2 was repeated with each agent alone vs. placebo using forskolin, yohimbine or aminophylline in separate ointments. Trial #4: Thirty overweight women had 10% aminophylline ointment applied to the thigh five times a week for 6 weeks with diet and walking. Chemistry panel, theophylline level and patch testing were performed. Trial #5: Twelve women had trial #4 repeated with 2% aminophylline cream without a diet or walking. Trial #6: Trial #5 was repeated with 0.5% aminophylline cream.
All trials except yohimbine ointment gave significantly more girth loss from the treated thigh (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Chemistry panel showed no toxicity. Theophylline was undetectable and patch testing was negative. We conclude that topical fat reduction for women's thighs can be achieved without diet or exercise.
Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Controlled Clinical Trial
PMID: 8697059 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8697059&dopt=Abstract
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Most cellulite creams contain aminophylline. You can find them on Google.com by searching for "aminophylline cream". I've heard that they are also NOT recommended for those people who have asthma.
Has anyone tried or is planning to try those creams? If so, please let me know what your experience was with them.
Best regards,
Melanie
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Author: Fabulous@50
Date: 12-27-03 21:59
In my opinion it is just another expensive Snake Oil. Oh yeah, it will help us lose inches--in our wallets!
Here is an exerpt from a News Station Website (http://www.wtajtv.com/health/thighcrm.html)
THIGH CREAM
CELLULITE
Cellulite is the lay term used to describe areas of accumulated fat, giving the skin a wrinkled or dimpled appearance (like the peel of an orange). It's most commonly found on the thighs and buttocks. Women, who tend to accumulate fat in those areas, are affected more often than men (who tend to accumulate fat around the abdomen).
No one knows exactly what causes cellulite. Some researchers believe inflamed or damaged blood vessels in the affected areas slow the circulation of blood and lymph fluid. As the fluid accumulates, the layers of surrounding fat swell, creating the puckered appearance on the skin. The amount and distribution of cellulite varies from one person to another. Body weight doesn't necessarily correlate with cellulite appearance -- some thin people develop large deposits of cellulite.
Cellulite Creams
Thigh creams are now being marketed as a cellulite treatment. Some of the creams contain an ingredient called aminophylline, an ingredient sometimes used to treat asthma. Supposedly, rubbing the creams on the thighs every day breaks down the fat cells and reduces the appearance of cellulite.
But do these products really work? A researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tested thigh creams on 14 female volunteers. The participants applied the cream to one leg and a placebo cream to the other leg (the test was double-blinded, so no one knew which cream was the real product). For six weeks, the investigator measured body fat percentage and skin fold thickness in each of the volunteers. Participants also kept food diaries to make sure their diet didn't change (which could influence the study results). Eleven volunteers finished the study. At the end of the six weeks, the researcher found most of the women had a significantly improved body image. But the actual size of their thighs didn't noticeably change.
Thigh creams are expensive and can cause irritation in some people. A few years ago, the Food and Drug Administration began investigating the creams to determine whether they should be classified as "drugs" under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. So far, no action has been taken, but several companies are under investigation for products marketed as cellulite treatments. Researchers say the best way to lose the cellulite is still through diet, exercise, and drinking plenty of fluids.
Fabulous@50
225/156/150
Program Start: May 12, 2003
“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake.”
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Author: Lesleybird
Date: 12-27-03 22:16
First of all if you have studied medical statistics like I have you would realize that the sample size is way too small to be stastically signifigant....ie. the margin of error in such a small sample group is enourmous. Secondly, a half an inch in already obese women is not much....if they all weighed 200 lbs. and had 35 inch thighs, a half an inch cannot predict much. I work in a hospital as an RN and know that a lot of people retain fluid in their legs....lots of fluid at times. How can they know that the half inch is not just because the stuff put on their legs pulled out the water in their cells? I mean the human body is 70 to 80 percent water. I would not waste my money. Go on a reasonable diet of 1500 calories with no more than 30 percent fat, and exercise an hour at least 5 days a week to burn off extra calories. I am sure that you know that fat cannot be spot reduced. The fat burned off comes from all over your body. Sometimes the spots that you hate the most are the last to go. Did you notice in the report that they said a half an inch of what they assumed was fat was lost....they did not mention a word about cellulite lost. Lesley
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Author: Lesleybird
Date: 12-27-03 22:32
One more thing. My other theory on cellulite reduction in thighs is that first, you need weight off and also do some toning exercises for your legs. Secondly, I think that a little massage of the thighs after applying some cream can help to smooth them out some....or in the very least can help the circulation which helps to mobilize extra fluid in the legs. When and if you massage your thigh stroke them in the direction of the heart only as this is the way the lymph fluid (and blood) drains. It is interesting how tissue can be reshaped in time.
I have a funny story about how we moved into our new house two years ago and I developed these ugly ridges in the fat layer on the front of my upper thighs. It took a year for me to realize that I had not just gotten really out of shape, I was leaning over a sink with a ledge sticking out to see in the mirror to put on my makeup every morning and to brush my teeth. It had created this ugly line dent in the fat on the top of my thighs! I am not that big....130 lbs. Well, when I found out what was causing it I put a mirror on the other wall and now use it. It took a few months of massage and stopping the leaning into the counter with my legs before it went away. So, I think massage can help....if only a little. Just my opinion. Lesley
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Author: TARA
Date: 12-28-03 00:06
Furthermore, many of these studies could be sponsored by a company looking to support its product.
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Author: mattsnursie
Date: 01-02-04 08:46
In my opinion, I have tried every product over the counter and by prescription for weight loss and cellulite removal. The only thing that seems to work is actually excercise and watch what you are eating.
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