It appears based on preliminary studies that Forskolin plays a role in:
1. Lowering inflammation.
2. Raising Testosterone.
3. Stimulating the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
4, Improving insulin resistance.
Yes, it appears to have the potential to assist in fat loss because it has shown to raise testosterone levels in the body. It does this by increasing Cyclic AMP production which stimulates a hypothalamus/pituitary response.
This study (1) shows increasing testosterone reduces waist circumference, BMI and improvements in body composition.
The ability of Forskolin to raise testosterone looks to be the most beneficial. The study referenced below (2) shows lean body mass improvements due to hormonal adaptation with oral Forskolin supplementation.
A potent medicinal plant from India and East Africa. It grows up to about 2 feet tall and has purplish-blue flowers that bloom in the fall. Forskolin is one of the chemical compounds found in “diterpenoids” and forskolin (coleonol) is one of the most active.
References:
(1) Testosterone and weight loss: the evidence.
Forskolin for muscle building
Subjects in the study took 250 mg (10% forskolin extract) twice a day) for 12-weeks. The group that took the Forskolin showed a significant increase in lean body mass. The Forskolin group also showed between a 16-33% increase in free testosterone levels.
I included Forskolin in my list of 10 best keto bodybuilding supplements.
That’s a remarkable increase in testosterone. Testosterone helps both men and women maintain muscle mass, promote muscle growth and bone density.
Keeping or increasing testosterone production for both men and women can help prevent yo-yo dieting. Muscle at rest uses more energy than fat and muscle raises your metabolism. Speeding up your metabolism is one of the keys to maintaining a diet in the long term.
Forskolin might help us as we get older because testosterone diminishes as we age. The more muscle you maintain the faster your metabolism is at rest. People with a slow metabolism have a tendency to increase their body fat percentage more easily.
The dietary supplement “Forskolin” (Coleus forskohlii) improves hormone function by activating the enzyme adenylyl cyclase and increasing extracellular levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP). Forskolin shows promise as a boost to weight loss and possibly preventing muscle loss while on the ketogenic diet.
Forskolin benefits Cyclic AMP production which stimulates a hypothalamus/pituitary gland response.
Hormones secreted from the pituitary gland helps to control growth, blood pressure, energy management, all functions of the sex organs, kidneys, thyroid glands, and metabolism. Source: Wikipedia
The pituitary gland also has a role in regulating pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, temperature regulation, and pain receptors.
So, in theory, improving pituitary response could have a profound effect on the overall performance of human physiology.
Some clinical studies have demonstrated that the additional forskolin benefits are:
- Improved coronary blood flow
- More efficient cardiovascular circulation
- Improved glycogen and lipid metabolism
Is it a miracle weight loss pill?
No pill in itself will make you lose weight and burn fat if you have a bad diet. However, it does show promise and has the properties to help you do some “Speed Keto” or maybe help you get past a Keto Plateau.
When I explain the keto diet to people I always tell them it’s about what you don’t put into your mouth as opposed to what you do put into your mouth. However, fat burning supplements, antioxidants, and keto superfoods can give you a small boost on keto.
Does Forskolin help with the weight loss on keto?
It might, In this study (trial) published on Drugs.com 250 mg of forskohlii root extract (standardized to 10% forskolin) was taken twice daily for 12 weeks.
Of the 30 subjects who completed the trial, 6 were male. Subjects in the forskolin group exhibited significantly improved insulin levels and insulin resistance.
The Ketogenic Diet works by lowering insulin and raising glucagon which stimulates your fat to be used as energy. Improving insulin sensitivity is the key to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
Lowering insulin is also the key factor in preventing type 2 diabetes and maintaining a healthy body fat percentage.
Is Forskolin an Antioxidant?
It’s not considered an antioxidant, however, Forskolin seems to have more benefits than just weight-loss and muscle building. It has shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Forskolin can inhibit LPS-induced increase in TLR-4 mRNA levels.
This study on the mediators of inflammation clearly suggests that it could play a protective role in the inflammatory environment of adipose tissue in conjunction with obesity.
It’s pretty impressive that just 250 milligrams of Forskolin seem to provide benefits. Most weight loss/muscle building supplements require large dosages.
However, when shopping for Forskolin look for at least a standardization of 10%.
We definitely need more studies….but:
Follow the money
Here’s the problem. Herbal dietary supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA and drug companies can’t patent herbs and herbal-based supplements.
So, drug companies don’t want to spend millions of dollars on a double-blind, controlled study on Forskolin because there is no profit to be made.
It’s not overly expensive and if you want a “potential” boost to your keto fat loss diet then give it a try and let me know how it works.
Robert Bryant
@ketogenicinfo
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