Lean Xtreme

We take an in depth look at Lean Xtreme to find out.

Lean Xtreme Overview

What you need to know about Lean Xtreme

The feedback is mixed for Lean Xtreme so even if it does work, it obviously is not suitable for everyone.

This supplement is designed to reduce cortisol levels and increase testosterone and although this may help weight loss and boost exercise performance, is this really a safe way to go?

There is some evidence that Forskolin will help decrease fat mass. In one small clinical trial on 30 men, taking 250mg daily over a 12-week period seemed to favourably alter body shape and increase testosterone. However it is important to note that this was only carried out on 15 people (the other 15 were in the placebo group) so it really does require further testing.

In addition, does Lean Xtreme contain 250mg of Forskolin per serving? We just don’t know because it is in a proprietary blend.

This supplement may do something but the ingredients require further testing and it is too early along to guarantee that they will work in the way as described. Safety risks have not been evaluated either.

DS have already run into problems with Craze, which the FDA classified as potentially dangerous. Will Lean Xtreme have other effects that DS are not telling us about?

What are the side effects of Lean Xtreme?

There may be some side effects (for a full list, please see the Side Effects section below). It is also concerning if you are an athlete taking this supplement, as doing so is banned by various sporting organizations.

How much does Lean Xtreme cost?

The official website sells Lean Xtreme for $49.19 per bottle, but Amazon sells it for $29.75 per bottle.

Lean Xtreme Key Features

Lean Xtreme is a sports supplement that contains herbal ingredients to promote muscle building and weight loss. It is aimed at men and comes with the claims that it will help build muscle and abs and increase testosterone levels.

You may think that herbal ingredients would be less effective than pharmaceutical drugs but in fact, herbal ingredients can be effective and just as strong as lab made chemicals. Herbal ingredients are not necessarily safe – they can be just as strong and potentially dangerous as any other type of medication.

A good point about DS (Driven Sports), the makers of Lean Xtreme is that the company is a member of the American Herbal Products Association – a national trade association focused on herbs, botanicals and the responsible use of herbal products.

A not so good point is that DS were recently forced by the FDA to withdraw a pre-workout supplement called Craze from sale because it was found to contain dangerous amphetamine type ingredients.

Lean Extreme looks safe by comparison to Craze. It contains green tea, which is well known for its metabolism boosting effects and health benefits. It contains a trademarked supplement called 15 Hydramax containing Salvia Miltiorrhiza a Chinese medicinal extract also known as Red Sage This ingredient is being investigated as a treatment for heart disease and diabetes.

Other ingredients include Coleus Forskohlii a plant extract believed to reduce cortisol – the stress hormone that is a contributory course to weight gain around the stomach.

The supplement also includes DHEA, a chemical produced in the body and believed to increase the speed of the metabolism, build muscle and increase the activity of the thyroid gland.

Lean Xtreme also contains Phosphatidylserine which the makers say increases testosterone levels.

According to the product information, this ingredients formula will,

Provide support to help control cortisol, support thyroid function and lower stress levels by influencing cytokines responsible for cortisol signalling!

Other supplements include Active Xtreme a testosterone booster, Triazole –another testosterone booster and Splyce an energy enhancer which contains Taurine.

DS were in the news recently after one of their products, a pre workout supplement called Craze was found to contain a form of amphetamine.

The problem ingredient was a herbal extract called Dendrobium a controversial ‘natural’ replacement to DMAA (banned in 2014). Craze was withdrawn from the market following a FDA investigation.

What does Lean Xtreme claim to do?

According to the product advertising, there are three key benefits to Lean Xtreme:

• Cortisol control support: DON’T let the destructive side of cortisol hold you back!
• Maintain mass: Promotes optimal thyroid and testosterone output!
• No Jitter fat loss support: Stacks perfectly with the stimulant fat burner of your choice!

This supplement,

Is based on a TRIFECTA of SCIENTIFICALLY DRIVEN compounds. 5-AT™, 15-dihydramax™, and Phosphatidylserine (PS) all provide support to help control cortisol, support thyroid function and lower stress levels by influencing cytokines responsible for cortisol signalling!

Trifecta? We thought this was a medical term but it just means a three way bet or Triple as in horseracing or football. And,

Phosphatidylserine (PS) works in an even more DIRECT APPROACH. It may help blunt the effect of Adrenocorticotropic hormone, which is the hormone that tells the adrenal gland to release cortisol!

The information continues,

A study looking into the effect of PS on the testosterone: cortisol ratio during exercise surmised that participants using PS had 66% HIGHER TESTOSTERONE and 164% LOWER CORTISOL!

DS do not provide any links to clinical evidence to prove these claims. But we get the picture. Lean Xtreme is supposed to raise testosterone and reduce cortisol levels.

Does Lean Xtreme work?

We have some serious concerns about this supplement. The ingredients lack clinical testing and there are no guarantees about its long-term safety.

The product information has made unsubstantiated claims about the testosterone boosting capabilities of Lean Xtreme, which are not really backed up with much evidence, as neither are the claims about the cortisol. The fact that the formula is in a proprietary brand is not good for customers either. There is some evidence that PS may help improve exercise recovery and cognitive ability but the serving size is too small.

Lean Xtreme Ingredients

Lean Xtreme is a general purpose weight loss supplement that the makers say will enhance testosterone and reduce cortisol. The formula is in a proprietary blend, which means we cannot provide specific information – just an overview of ingredients. Each capsule is equal to one serving and contains 455mg.

• Green Tea Extract (leaf): Clinical research has found that green tea has proven health benefits and the antioxidants (ECGC and polyphenols) found to have anti obesity and fat burning properties because of the effects upon the metabolism. The weight loss effects are not extreme but it may help promote modest weight loss if combined with diet and lifestyle.
• Salvia Miltiorrhiza (root): This red sage extract is in the form of a branded supplement 15-hydramax™. According to a DS blog, the active component is 15, 16-dihydrotanshinone a compound derived from Salvia. This ingredient is in the experimental stage. It is being tested on animals and on cells in the lab. There is no evidence that it will improve heart health. There is little information from reputable sources and it is unknown whether it is safe.
• Coleus Forskohlii (root): According to the advertising, Forskolin the active component of Coles Forskohlii mimics the hormone that tells the thyroid gland to release its hormones and can also help promote the conversion of the T4 hormone to the ACTIVE T3 hormone. This is not actually true. The truth is that this plant extract has been touted for its ability to stimulate thyroid hormones and increase testosterone but it lacks clinical testing. The medical opinion is that this ingredient requires further clinical evaluation. There is not enough evidence to prove that this ingredient works in the way as described. If it did work, messing with your thyroid hormones is potentially dangerous.
  Source:http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/oby.2005.162/full
• Phosphatidylserine: Sometimes called PS, this natural compound is found in meat products and white beans. It is believed to help recovery after exercise and improve cognitive functioning. However supplementation of less than 400mg has been found to be ineffective and most results of clinical testing have been based on 800mg or 600mg doses of PS.
  Source:http://www.jissn.com/content/8/1/16
• 7b-hydroxy, 17b-dihydro DHEA (5-AT™): This branded supplement is a by product of DHEA a type of hormone made in the body and also produced synthetically. Some people think it acts like an antioxidant and stimulates the immune system. According to DS, it can lower the levels of the hormone cortisol but there is no real evidence to prove this and this ingredient requires further clinical evaluation for efficacy and for safety.
• Black Pepper Extract (fruit) (BioPerine): Black pepper may help increase biovailabity of ingredients. The idea here is that this extract will make the other ingredients stronger and more effective.

Lean Xtreme Side Effects

There is some customer feedback and despite a range of positive and negative opinion, very few people have mentioned side effects. These have included:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Joint discomfort
• Gastro intestinal discomfort

In addition, a few customers have noticed joint pain and greasy hair after taking this supplement. However, some ingredients have not been tested for long-term safety so it is important to take note of any adverse effects and discontinue use should you experience a reaction.

DS print a highly visible warning , so that customers can see the risks,

product may contain ingredients banned by certain organizations. Tested athletes should not use this product and user accepts all risks, liabilities, and consequences in regards to testing.

(This is because testosterone boosters are banned in some competitive sports.)

Lean Xtreme Customer Feedback

Some customers are pleased with Lean Xtreme. One reviewer stated,

Great non-stim fat loss product that can be added to almost any weight loss stack. Progress is slow, but then again, I haven’t been consistent in the gym. 4 Stars.

And,

This stuff really works. I take one a day to keep myself lean and trim. Try it! You will like also.

One customer urged caution,

This is an anti-cortisolic. Suppressing cortisol too much and for ‘too long’ can be detrimental to your health. Eventually it can affect your lipids and your bile/liver function… so please be careful. You will notice greasier hair, and dry joints (sometimes painful). Some people do not get this side effect as badly as others.

I noticed joint probs after being on this. After some digging I found out it dries out your joints. Plus it didn’t change anything on my body. After I went off it my joints went back to normal.

Some customers felt it did nothing at all,

Do not waste your money. I want to believe but meh! I tried 2 bottles and follow strictly with the instructions. Nothing happens, zero result!

Lean Xtreme Money-Back Guarantee

No guarantee is offered.

Where To Buy Lean Xtreme

Lean Xtreme is not on sale from the stores and shops and it appears you can only buy it online. You can buy Lean Xtreme direct from the DS website. At the time of writing, it was out of stock but it usually costs $49.19 for 90 capsules (1 month’s supply).Shipping details are not provided.

Lean Xtreme is available from Amazon.com. 90 capsules (1 month’s supply) costs $29.75 and includes free shipping. You can also buy Lean Xtreme via Amazon. One bottle of 90 capsules costs £34.49 plus shipping charges depending on the seller.

Watchdog Verdict

We are not very impressed with Lean Xtreme. This is a herbal supplement so sounds as if it should be safe, however we have concerns about ingredients safety. Is it good to mess with your hormones and thyroid gland with an OTC supplement? It may cause side effects and most of the ingredients in this supplement have not been fully tested for efficacy and safety. If you take part in competitive sports, this supplement could see you disqualified.

DS is a member of the trade organisation the American Herbal Products Association so this is not a fly by night company. However, does this really help the customer? This company have already sold a dangerous supplement called Craze, which showed up as containing amphetamine type ingredients, despite being herbal.

Lean Xtreme may work for some people. Some men have reported that it has helped with their weight loss and training. That said not everyone is satisfied and it seems that this is a specialised supplement that will only appeal to a very limited number of people.

It is an easy decision. Lean Xtreme is just not good or safe enough to add to our approved list so we have no other option but to reject it.