Tuesday June 17, 214 (foodconsumer.org) -- A combinational supplementation with caffeine and ephedrine with or without leptin can significantly induce weight loss and visceral fat loss, a study in the journal Obesity shows. 

In the trial, 90 obese men and women were randomly assigned to receive one of the three treatments for 24 weeks: 200 mg caffeine/20 mg ephedrine three times a day, leptin A-200 in a dose of 20 mg per day, or leptin A-200 plus caffeine/ephedrine. 

At the end of the 24-week treatment, the combinational supplementation with caffeine and ephedrine without or with leptin A-200 led to significant amounts of weight loss (5.9% vs. 6.5% respectively) and also induced loss of whole body fat mass (9.6 % and 12.4%, respectively), compared to the group taking leptin only. 

Only treatment with leptin, caffeine and ephedrine significantly reduced visceral fat mass (11.0%) while none of the three treatments resulted in any difference in lean mass.

The study concluded "CE (caffeine/ephedrine) is a modestly effective weight loss agent and produces significant reductions in fat mass. Leptin A-200 was not effective in producing weight loss and did not have any significant additive or synergistic actions when combined with CE."

Liu AG, Smith SR, Fujioka K, Greenway FL.  The effect of leptin, caffeine/ephedrine, and their combination upon visceral fat mass and weight loss.  Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013 Oct;21(10):1991-6.