Glucomannan

Most diet supplements have weak or no evidence for weight loss. Three have credible support: glucomannan (EFSA-authorised weight management claim; ~0.79 kg additional loss at 3g/day), protein supplementation (when food protein is insufficient), and fibre supplements for satiety. This article reviews what the evidence actually shows — and what it doesn't.

Most weight loss supplements have little clinical evidence. A small number — orlistat, glucomannan, caffeine, green tea extract — have genuine, graded evidence. This review explains which work, what the realistic effects are, and what the evidence hierarchy shows.

UK SACN recommends 30g/day dietary fibre; average UK adult intake is 18g/day. Supplements can bridge this gap. Psyllium, glucomannan, and beta-glucan have the most evidence. Glucomannan has an EFSA-authorised weight management claim at 3g/day. This article covers which types work, at what dose, and for what purpose.

In the UK, genuinely effective over-the-counter weight loss products face MHRA regulatory oversight. This article examines which OTC options have real evidence, which are unregulated supplements with limited efficacy, and the safety considerations for each category.

Several dietary supplements have genuine evidence for increasing satiety through specific physiological mechanisms — gastric distension, slowed gastric emptying, and gut hormone signalling. This article examines each with clinical evidence and practical dosing.