Formula Max5

Diet pills can often be an expensive supplement to purchase, especially if they contain unusual or hard to source ingredients. It is incredibly rare to see a multi-ingredient diet pill retail for less than £20 ($25); Formula Max5 is one product that completely bucks the pricing trend, with a pack of 62 capsules costing as little as £5.99.

We take an in-depth look at Formula Max5 to see whether or not this supplement can help to burn fat and aid weight loss.

Formula Max5 Overview

What you need to know about Formula Max5

Formula Max5 is a fat burner that is available from Amazon; the product is sold at an incredibly low price! Reviews are incredibly mixed, and many of the ingredients (excluding caffeine) are found in insufficient quantities compared to the amounts used in successful clinical trials.

What are the side effects of Formula Max5?

Some side effects have been reported in customer reviews of Formula Max5. These include heartburn, increased hunger, increased sweating, nausea and feeling sick. Some reviewers refer to experiencing side effects that made them stop taking the supplement, but don’t actually state what these side effects are. A full list of the potential side effects that could be caused by consuming Formula Max5 can found below in the Side Effects Tab.

How much does Formula Max5 cost?

Formula Max5 is an incredibly cheap supplement! On amazon, customers can get a pack of 100 capsules for £7.99, or two smaller packs (each containing 31 capsules) for £5.99. Customers are instructed to start with one capsule per day, and can increase to two if they feel the need for a higher dose; even if they need to take a higher dose of Formula Max5, the product still offers excellent value for money.

Formula Max5 Key Features

Formula Max5 is a weight loss supplement that is available to purchase from Amazon. It is also sometimes listed on eBay, but at much higher prices! The product is marketed as a fat burner and thermogenic metabolism booster, but it also contains a small amount of glucomannan, an appetite suppressant.

Formula Max5 appears to be manufactured by FMax5 Supplements LTD, who are based in the UK. The company currently have no official website, although the label on the back of the packaging does list a website that does not work. The company’s registered address is below:

71-75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9JQ
GB

Although this is a prestigious address in London, we do not believe that this is actually where the company is based. There are 9106 companies registered to this exact address in the UK, and a company called 1st Formations offer a “virtual office” and mail forwarding service registered from this address. The product’s label states that returns should be sent to:

Returns Dept.
20 Southfield Place
EH15 1LZ
Edinburgh, UK.

The company can also be contacted on 07401738363, which is listed as their helpline phone number.

What does Formula Max5 claim to do?

The manufacturers claim that the product has the following benefits:

• Fat Burner
• Thermogenic Weight Management Formula
• Amazing Results for Men & Women of all Lifestyles
• Suitable for Vegetarians
• 2 Month Supply (you receive two pouches, each containing 1 month supply)

Does Formula Max5 work?

Whilst Glucomannan has some positive clinical support to show that it can suppress the appetite and help to support weight loss, it needs to be taken in a relatively high dose to be effective; studies suggest 3 grams per day, spread out over three doses (one before each meal). Each capsule of Formula Max5 contains just 100 mg of Glucomannan, making this ingredient incredibly unlikely to work to suppress the appetite!

Caffeine will increase energy levels and potentially cause a slight increase to the body’s metabolic rate for a few hours after consumption; each capsule contains about the same amount of caffeine as a regular cup of coffee.

Green coffee bean is another source of caffeine, but has no current strong clinical research linking it with significant weight loss. The main supporting study was found to be fraudulent and was retracted in 2014. Raspberry Ketones have never been tested in humans for weight loss purposes, but animal and test tube studies suggest that it could aid weight loss.

Tyrosine may reduce fatigue, but it does not appear to act as an appetite suppressant, as often claimed. Tyrosine and L-Carnitine are only present in tiny doses in Formula Max5, and are unlikely to have much of an effect.

The customer reviews are incredibly mixed about whether this supplement works or not. Well over half are positive, but the negative reviews are split between people who noticed no effects at all, and people who experienced side effects that forced them to stop using the supplement. Theoretically some of the ingredients could aid weight loss, if they are used in the correct quantities. However, it appears that most of the active and clinically proven ingredients are present in insufficient quantities to effectively aid significant weight loss consistently.

Formula Max5 Ingredients

The ingredients found in Formula Max5 are detailed below. The manufacturers state that there is a total of 500 mg of active ingredients per capsule.

• Konjac Fibre (Glucomannan 90%) Providing 100mg: This fibre comes from the root of konjac, a plant native to Asia. The powder absorbs water upon contact and can swell up to 17 times in size, becoming gel-like in consistency. This is what makes it a good natural appetite suppressant; it not only helps to fill the stomach, but slows down digestion, meaning that the dieter can go for longer before feeling hungry again. There are several studies that highlight that the regular use of glucomannan before meals leads to a significant amount of weight loss without any other changes being made; however, these typically use around 3 grams of glucomannan per day, much more than is found in Formula Max5.
  Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6096282
• Caffeine 84mg: Numerous studies have shown that caffeine boosts energy levels and alertness, as well as mildly boosting the metabolism. The effects shown in studies are small, and some studies are inconclusive.
  Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/weight-loss/expert-answers/caffeine/faq-20058459
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine 50mg: There is some evidence that supplementation of acetyl-l-carnitine can reduce body fat, although the strongest results were seen in the elderly. The ingredient also boosts energy levels, and is used to treat fatigue.
  Source: http://examine.com/supplements/L-Carnitine/
• L-Tyrosine 50mg: Some people use Tyrosine as an appetite suppressant, but there is little clinical evidence that it is effective for this use. Large doses of tyrosine may be useful for increasing alertness, especially in people who are sleep deprived.
  Source: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1037-TYROSINE.aspx?activeIngredientId=1037&activeIngredientName=TYROSINE
• Raspberry Fruit Extract 50mg: Probably raspberry ketones. Whilst there is a small amount of evidence that raspberry ketone can cause weight loss in rats, there have never been any human trials on the potential weight loss effects of raspberry ketone.
  Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/becky-hand/raspberry-ketones_b_2727943.html
• Green Coffee Bean 50% Chlorogenic Acid (40:1) 25mg (Providing 1000mg): Contains caffeine. Whilst it was thought that this ingredient was a significant aid in weight loss, the relevant research has been discredited as it was fraudulent. Currently there is no evidence that it aids with weight loss more than any other source of caffeine. See our article for more details: http://www.dietpillswatchdog.com/shocking-truth-research-behind-green-coffee-bean/
• African Mango (10:1) 25mg (Providing 250mg): Whilst many of the studies of African Mango have been funded by supplement manufacturers (which makes them automatically biased), there are promising preliminary results that suggest IGOB131, a substance extracted from African Mango, supresses the appetite and leads to weight loss. It is unclear whether that precise extract is used here.
  Source: http://www.lipidworld.com/content/8/1/7
• Capsicum (8:1) 12.5mg (Providing 100mg): Capsaicin is found in Capsicum, (more commonly known as Chilli pepper) and is thought by some to play a role in weight loss. Some studies suggest it could suppress the appetite mildly, whilst others suggest that the heat causes a thermogenic reaction in the body, burning more calories for a period of time. However, there are also studies that show capsicum has little or no effect upon weight loss attempts.
  Source: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-945-capsicum.aspx?activeingredientid=945&activeingredientname=capsicum
• Bladderwrack Extract (1% Iodine) (5:1) 10mg (Providing 50mg): This sea vegetable is a concentrated source of minerals, including iodine, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. It is well known that iodine assists in the production of thyroid hormones, which are necessary for maintaining healthy metabolism in all cells of the body. If a person has no thyroid problems and does not have an iodine deficiency, this ingredient will do little to boost weight loss attempts.
  Source: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-726-bladderwrack.aspx?activeingredientid=726&activeingredientname=bladderwrack
• Chromium Picolinate (12.5% Chromium) 0.54mg (Providing 68mcg) (168.75% of RDA): This is used primarily to lower fasting blood sugar levels and to lower insulin levels in people who have type 2 diabetes. In terms of its potential effect upon weight loss, it is possible that taking chromium picolinate by mouth for 2 to 3 months might produce a small weight loss of about 1.1 kg. Obviously this is an incredibly small amount of weight loss, but studies are still inconclusive. It also helps to reduce insulin resistance.
  Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/932.html

Formula Max5 Side Effects

There are numerous ingredients found in Formula Max5 that could cause a range of side effects.

Glucomannan works by absorbing water in the stomach, making it very important to drink plenty of water when taking the product and adjust the dosage if problems occur. Consumers who do not drink enough water when taking glucomannan may experience constipation and stomach cramps. As glucomannan is a fibre, it is likely that its usage will increase the rate of one’s bowel movements. Diarrhoea may also occur. Those who experience diarrhoea should cease using the product immediately. Glucomannan also affects blood sugar levels. Diabetics should consult their doctor before taking any glucomannan-based product. Having said this, the amount of glucomannan found in Formula Max 5 is incredibly small compared to the amounts used in clinical trials.

Acetyl L-Carnitine can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, heartburn, diarrhoea, and seizures. It can also cause the urine, breath, and sweat to have a “fishy” odour.

Caffeine is present in this supplement as a separate ingredient, but it is also found naturally in Green Coffee Bean. Significant quantities of caffeine can cause side effects such as headaches, increased urination, dehydration, jitteriness, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, heart palpitations and problems sleeping. There is also an amino acid in Green Coffee Bean called homocysteine that is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Capsicum can cause increased sweating, stomach irritation, flushed skin and a runny nose.

Chromium Picolinate can lower blood sugars levels and as such should not be used by diabetics without first consulting their doctor. Low blood sugar levels can lead to light headedness, dizziness and even fainting. Customers who have not eaten for several hours are more likely to experience these side effects.

Formula Max5 Customer Feedback

There are numerous customer reviews for Formula Max5 on the Amazon sales pages for the product. The customer reviews are fairly divided. Just over half of the reviews are positive, with customers noting that they have lost weight whilst taking this product and that they have noticed an increase in energy. However, the negative customer reviews are split fairly evenly between people who noticed no benefits or effects and who lost no weight, and people who found that the product was too strong and caused side effects.

These do what they say on the packet I’m less tired and my appetite has decreased

These are extreme like the packet says, but under the right dose they are very effective and a must have for stubborn weight loss issues.

I tried these for about 2/3 weeks. I ate what I wanted and did no exercise. I lost 6lb which is great. However they made me feel a little nauseous and sweated a lot. But I suppose that’s what there meant to do.

Made me feel ill so just not for me

Excellent results lost 3lb in a week, and no nasty side effects e.g. shakes, sleepless nights or headaches and the company were excellent to deal with. Will definitely be purchasing again

Didn’t do anything they say on the packet what a waste of money.

Don’t waste your money! Didn’t work… Put weight on! Made me feel hungry all the time. Stopped taking them after two weeks and weight started to drop off again.

Did absolutely nothing, a total waste of money – I can only assume that either others were more fortunate or that they were writing positive reviews because of some other incentive?

Used them twice, made me feel sick as a dog, so I threw them away (environmentally safely I may add). No clear instructions really in how to take them.

They give heart burn…

Ok like having to much coffee or pro plus hyper mode all day get house work done lol

Formula Max5 Money-Back Guarantee

There is no money-back guarantee offered by the manufacturers of Formula Max5. The product is covered by Amazon’s refund policy, which covers “change-of-mind” returns on unopened products, and exchanges or refunds on products that are faulty or that arrive damaged.

Where To Buy Formula Max5

Formula Max5 is available from Amazon; there are several different sizes/offers available. A packet of 100 capsules costs £7.99, with free UK delivery. A packet containing 31 capsules costs £5.99, with free UK delivery. There is also a two for one offer, which again costs £5.99 with free UK delivery; customers will receive 2 pouches, each containing 31 capsules.

Watchdog Verdict

We have a very mixed opinion about Formula Max5.

The product is incredibly cheap, with a two month supply costing just £5.99, with free UK delivery! Even if consumers are taking a higher dose per day, the product is still incredibly good value for money (provided that it works for you, of course). There is no money-back guarantee on the product, but with such a low price per pack, it might be hard to feel ripped off or ‘out of pocket’ if the product does not work for you.

There is very little information available about the manufacturers. They have no official website, but they can be contacted through Amazon.

Looking at the customer reviews, it is difficult to establish how effective this product really is! Perhaps a quarter of the reviews state that the product does not work to aid weight loss at all, whilst another quarter of the reviews state that the product was too strong, as it gave them side effects! The side effects reported appear to be related to the caffeine content. Although each capsule contains roughly the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, it could cause side effects, especially if taken on an empty stomach, late at night, or if the consumer is still drinking caffeinated drinks whilst taking this supplement.

Some of the ingredients have clinical support to suggest that they could aid weight loss, such as glucomannan, but the ingredient quantities are too small to be effective. Other ingredients have not been studied enough to know if they would actually work; raspberry ketone has never been studied in humans, but studies in animals and test tubes suggest that it could theoretically aid weight loss.

Overall, we do not recommend Formula Max5 to our readers; whilst it could be a tempting option for anyone who wants to try a diet pill at bargain basement prices, the formula is far from perfect, reviews are mixed, and there is a distinct lack of information about the manufacturing company.