Fat Burner Capsules

What is IO Genix Thermo R8?

IO Genix Thermo R8 is a fat burner in capsule form — that is the commercial name of the category, not a promise of results. One capsule brings together eight actives: 250 mg of taurine, 200 mg of L-carnitine tartrate, 125 mg of anhydrous caffeine, 125 mg of artichoke extract, 100 mg of guarana extract, 100 mg of green tea extract, 75 mg of L-tyrosine and 25 mg of cayenne. The bottle holds 120 of them.

That is where the product name comes from: eight ingredients, one single capsule. The format is what explains its real appeal. Buying a carnitine, a taurine, a green tea and a guarana separately means stacking four tubs and swallowing four to six capsules a day. Here everything fits into a single intake, and you know to the milligram what you are taking, because nothing is hidden behind a "proprietary blend".

Caffeine is the ingredient that really gives the formula its shape, and the figure to remember is not the one on the label line by line. There is 125 mg of anhydrous caffeine plus 22 mg supplied by the guarana extract, so 147 mg per capsule. That is the equivalent of a double espresso. Read that figure before anything else: it is the one that decides whether this product suits you or not. The rest of the Spanish range can be browsed in our IO Genix aisle, and the other products in the category in our fat burner capsules.

What does one Thermo R8 capsule contain?

Let us look at the doses honestly, because that is where the difference lies between a serious product and a window-dressing one. The 147 mg of caffeine is a genuine dose: it is what a strong cup of coffee contains, and it is enough to be felt. The 200 mg of carnitine, on the other hand, is modest: the published protocols on carnitine sit closer to 2 g a day, and here you are ten times below that. The same goes for taurine, whose 250 mg stays a long way from the 1 to 3 g used in the performance literature.

That is not a criticism of the product, it is a reading of what it is: a formula built around caffeine, with plants and amino acids in support. If your aim is a straightforward dose of carnitine or of taurine on its own, take them separately — you will find them in our taurine aisle.

A word on the regulatory framework, because it is stricter than the fat burner aisle would have you believe. No health claim is authorised in Europe for caffeine, green tea, guarana, carnitine or cayenne with a view to weight loss or energy expenditure. The dossiers submitted were rejected. So we describe the composition and the usage, without announcing any effect on body fat. No fat burner has ever made anyone lose a gram if their diet did not change.

The artichoke extract is standardised to 3 mg of cynarin, and the green tea extract to 50% polyphenols of which 30% catechins — two declared standardisations, which remains rare in this aisle, where "green tea extract" is often written without saying what it contains.

Ingredients list

Taurine, L-carnitine tartrate, anhydrous caffeine, dry artichoke extract (Cynara scolymus L.), dry guarana extract (Paullinia cupana Kunth.), dry green tea extract (Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze), L-tyrosine, cayenne powder (Capsicum frutescens L.). Other components: anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate), rice flour. Capsule shell: GELATINE, colouring.

Made in a facility that handles GLUTEN, MILK, EGG, SOYA, NUTS and FISH.

How do you take Thermo R8?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning on waking on non-training days, or 30 minutes before the session on training days. Frequency: one intake a day only, never after 16:00. Duration: the manufacturer recommends a course of one to two months, followed by a two-week break.

The "never after 16:00" instruction is not decorative. Caffeine has a half-life of several hours: a capsule taken at 18:00 before an evening session will still leave a notable amount of caffeine in your blood at bedtime. And shortened sleep does more damage to a cutting phase than any fat burner can make up for. If you consistently train in the evening, this is not the right product.

The two-week break has a precise reason: caffeine tolerance sets in fast, within two to three weeks for most people. Beyond that point, the same capsule does very little. The break resets the counter. It is an instruction few manufacturers write down, and this one is worth following.

One capsule a day, not two. The threshold of 400 mg of caffeine a day set by the European Food Safety Authority for a healthy adult is quickly reached once you add the morning coffee, the afternoon tea and a pre-workout. Do the arithmetic before doubling the dose. If you already take a caffeinated pre-workout, space the two intakes out or choose a stimulant-free version.

The product fits without overlap alongside a protein and a multivitamin complex, neither of which supplies any caffeine.

Who is Thermo R8 for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult who tolerates caffeine well, who trains in the morning or in the early afternoon, and who is already in a calorie deficit. That last condition is not a turn of phrase: it is the deficit that makes you lose fat, and no capsule will change that if the plate does not follow.

It is not suitable if you are sensitive to stimulants, if you have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disorders, if you are on medication without having discussed it with your doctor, or if you sleep badly. It is not recommended for children, adolescents, pregnant women or breastfeeding women — 147 mg of caffeine per intake is already half the daily reference figure set for pregnancy.

The capsule shell is made of gelatine: the product is therefore suitable neither for vegetarians nor for vegans. People with allergies should read the facility statement above carefully.

What you should not expect from it. It does not make you lose weight. It does not target one area of the body. It does not make up for a diet that exceeds your needs. What you will actually feel is the effect of the caffeine: more alertness, a session that starts more easily, sometimes a slightly smaller appetite in the late morning. That is already useful, and it is all that can honestly be said about it. Any question about a treatment, a medical condition or significant weight loss is a matter for your doctor or your pharmacist.

Thermo R8 or a caffeine-free fat burner?

That is the real question to ask in this aisle, and it is settled in a minute.

If you cope with caffeine and you train before 16:00, Thermo R8 is coherent: 147 mg per capsule, eight actives, one single intake. You have nothing to stack alongside it.

If you are sensitive to stimulants, if you train in the evening, or if you already drink three coffees a day, take the other route. Our caffeine-free fat burner aisle brings together formulas built on carnitine, chromium or plant extracts, with no stimulant. They do not deliver the kick of Thermo R8 — that is precisely the point — and they can be taken at any hour, including the evening, without touching your sleep.

The choice is therefore settled not on the supposed effectiveness of one or the other, but on your tolerance and on the timing of your sessions. For a powder to be mixed rather than a capsule, our fat burner powder aisle offers a third option, often more heavily dosed in carnitine. And if your overall aim is structured weight loss, the whole weight loss aisle is worth a look before you choose.

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is in one Thermo R8 capsule?

147 mg in total: 125 mg of anhydrous caffeine plus 22 mg supplied by the guarana extract. That is the equivalent of a double espresso. This figure is the most important one on the label, and it has to be added to your coffee and your pre-workout to work out your total for the day.

How long does one bottle last?

The bottle holds 120 capsules and the dose is one capsule a day, which comes to 120 days. Since the manufacturer recommends courses of one to two months separated by two-week breaks, one bottle covers two to four full courses in practice.

Can it be taken before an evening session?

No, and that is the product's main limitation. The manufacturer sets the cut-off at 16:00. With 147 mg of caffeine and a half-life of several hours, an intake late in the day degrades your sleep. If you train in the evening, turn to a stimulant-free formula.

Should you take breaks between courses?

Yes. The manufacturer sets out a course of one to two months, then two weeks off. The reason is simple: caffeine tolerance sets in within two to three weeks, and without a break the same capsule ends up doing nothing. Starting again after the break restores your sensitivity.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin. There is no plant-based version of this reference. The eight actives themselves pose no problem, but the capsule that holds them does.

Is the carnitine dose high enough?

200 mg per capsule is a supporting dose, not a main one. The published protocols on L-carnitine use more like 2 g a day. If carnitine is your objective, take it as a standalone product and consider Thermo R8 for what it is: a formula built around caffeine.

Does this product make you lose weight?

No, and no product in this aisle does. No weight-loss claim is authorised in Europe for caffeine, green tea, guarana or carnitine. Losing body fat comes from a calorie deficit and physical activity. This type of formula supports an approach already in place, it does not replace it.

Where can you buy IO Genix Thermo R8?

The 120-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product on which we always ask the same question before selling it: what time do you train, and how many coffees do you drink a day. The two answers are almost always enough to point someone either to this one or to a stimulant-free formula. The whole category can be browsed in our fat burners aisle.

What is IO Genix Carni3000?

IO Genix Carni3000 is an L-carnitine supplement in capsule form. A three-capsule dose provides 2,000 mg of L-carnitine tartrate, of which 1,360 mg is pure L-carnitine and 640 mg tartaric acid. The bottle holds 90 capsules, which is exactly 30 doses and one month's course.

L-carnitine is not an amino acid in the strict sense but an amino acid derivative, which the body makes in the liver and kidneys from lysine and methionine. Food supplies it too, almost exclusively through animal products: red meat is by far the richest source, hence its name, taken from the Latin carnis.

Its biological role is well established: it carries long-chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane, where they are broken down to produce energy. Without carnitine, that transport does not happen. It is this mechanism, a real one, that gave the product its reputation — and we shall see below why you should be wary of drawing hasty conclusions from it. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle.

What does a dose of Carni3000 contain?

The figure to remember is not 2,000 mg, it is 1,360 mg, and the difference deserves an explanation that many product pages gloss over. L-carnitine tartrate is a salt: the carnitine molecule is bound to tartaric acid to stabilise the powder. Out of 2,000 mg of salt, around 68% is genuinely usable carnitine. When a label states “2,000 mg of L-carnitine tartrate”, it is accurate, but it is not saying the same thing as “2,000 mg of L-carnitine”. Here the manufacturer publishes both values, which does it credit and allows an honest comparison with other products.

The Carnipure mention refers to the origin of the raw material, that of a specialist Swiss manufacturer. It is traceability information that the manufacturer prints on the label; we report it as such, without turning it into an efficacy argument.

On the regulatory side, the position is clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for L-carnitine. Not on weight loss, not on fat metabolism, not on endurance, not on recovery. Its role as a mitochondrial transporter is an established fact of physiology; what oral supplementation changes in a healthy adult who already eats meat is another matter entirely, and one with no validated answer. The previous version of this page promised increased fat oxidation and support during a cutting phase, and announced limited stock to rush the purchase: those passages have been removed.

Ingredients list

L-carnitine tartrate (Carnipure), anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate), capsule shell (GELATINE). No stimulants and no added sugars. The exact composition of the shell appears on the label of the bottle you receive.

May contain traces of GLUTEN, EGG, FISH, SOYA and MILK.

How do you take Carni3000?

Dose: 3 capsules. Liquid: a large glass of water. When: 30 minutes before training; on rest days, in the morning on an empty stomach. Frequency: one dose a day. Duration: a 6 to 8 week course, followed by a week off according to the manufacturer.

Three capsules at once is not trivial for anyone who struggles to swallow supplements. Take them one after the other with a large glass of water rather than together: that is the only practical difficulty with this product, and it is solved in ten seconds.

The capsule format is a genuine advantage here over the liquid format, which is very common for this molecule. Liquid carnitine ampoules travel badly, open up inside bags and often contain flavourings and sweeteners you can do without. A bottle of capsules slips into a gym bag with no risk, and the dose does not vary from one intake to the next.

The manufacturer recommends courses of 6 to 8 weeks with a week off. One bottle covers a month: count on two bottles for a full course, then. On days without training, the dose is taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

This product contains neither caffeine nor any stimulant. It can therefore be taken late in the day with no consequence for sleep, which is not the case for most of the products in our fat burners aisle. It combines without difficulty with a protein or an omega 3.

Who is Carni3000 for, and who is it not for?

It is of interest above all to two profiles. The first: people whose diet supplies little or no red meat — vegetarians, vegans, or simply heavy eaters of poultry and fish — in whom dietary carnitine intake is structurally low. The second: those who want a product with no caffeine, because they are already sensitive to stimulants or because they train in the evening.

One important reservation for the first profile, however: the capsule shell is gelatine, of animal origin. A strict vegetarian will therefore not be able to use it, which is a regrettable paradox for a product that would make particular sense in their case. We are flagging it rather than leaving the discovery for when the bottle is opened.

The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women, asks that it be kept out of the reach of children and that you consult a healthcare professional if you are on medical treatment. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. The product may contain traces of gluten, egg, fish, soya and milk.

What not to expect from it, and this is the point on which we are most direct: this is not a fat burner. In a healthy person who eats meat, muscle carnitine stores are already close to their maximum, and muscle takes up circulating carnitine very poorly. No capsule creates a calorie deficit. If your goal is weight loss, diet and physical activity do all the work, and our weight loss aisle will not change that rule.

Carnitine or a burner with caffeine, which should you choose?

The two cross paths in the same cutting-phase basket, and they do not do the same thing at all.

A conventional capsule burner relies mainly on caffeine, sometimes combined with green tea or cayenne pepper. Its effect is noticeable: heightened alertness, a sense of energy, appetite often somewhat blunted. It is that sensation which explains its success, and it is real — but it comes from a stimulant, with the drawbacks that go with it: tolerance building up, disrupted sleep if taken late, palpitations in sensitive people.

Carnitine, on the other hand, is not felt at all. No noticeable effect, no kick, no effect on appetite. It is the better choice if you want to avoid stimulants, if you train late, or if you already drink a lot of coffee during the day. It is also the most honest thing to recommend to someone who already has three sources of caffeine in their routine.

If your priority is a stimulant-free product that you can nonetheless feel, look instead at our plant-based caffeine-free burners. And if you are already stacking several supplements, ask yourself about the total: three products doing half the same job cost more than a single well-chosen one.

Frequently asked questions

Why 2,000 mg of tartrate but 1,360 mg of carnitine?

Because L-carnitine tartrate is a salt: the carnitine is bound to tartaric acid, which stabilises the powder. Around 68% of the salt is usable carnitine, that is 1,360 mg for 2,000 mg of tartrate. Both values are accurate, but only the second lets you compare two products with each other.

Should it be taken before or after training?

The manufacturer states 30 minutes before the session, and in the morning on an empty stomach on rest days. This is a daily product: consistency matters more than the precise timing, since it produces no noticeable effect in the hour that follows.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin. That is all the more unfortunate given that vegetarians are precisely the profile in whom dietary carnitine intake is lowest, red meat being the main source.

How long does a bottle last?

Exactly 30 days: 90 capsules, three per dose, one dose a day. Since the manufacturer recommends courses of 6 to 8 weeks, count on two bottles to see a full course through.

Does it make you lose weight?

No, and no claim of that kind is authorised in Europe for L-carnitine. The product does not create a calorie deficit and does not alter appetite. It may accompany an effort, it never replaces one.

Is there any caffeine in it?

None. The formula contains only carnitine tartrate, an anti-caking agent and the capsule shell. That is what makes it possible to take it late in the day with no consequence for sleep, unlike most products in this aisle.

Can it be combined with a conventional burner?

Nothing stands in the way as far as composition goes, since the ingredients do not overlap. The real question is whether it is useful: adding together two products that do not act in the same place is expensive for a benefit that is hard to measure. Start with one and judge for yourself.

Where to buy IO Genix Carni3000?

The 90-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, around ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we point people towards when they want something without caffeine — and we tell them straight away that they will not feel a thing, because it is the truth and because it saves a disappointment a fortnight later. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Nutrex Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate?

Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate is a food supplement supplied as liquid capsules, which Nutrex Research calls Liqui-Caps: the plant-based shell holds a glycerine solution rather than a compacted powder. There are 60 in the bottle. This is the most concentrated version in the Lipo-6 range, and the words "ultra concentrate" are not there for decoration.

The formula rests on five actives: anhydrous caffeine, anhydrous theobromine, AdipoSyn™ (Citrus aurantium extract standardised to 50 % p-synephrine), GBBGO® (gamma-butyrobetaine hydrochloride) and a Rauwolfia vomitoria root extract standardised to 90 % rauwolscine. The rest comes down to the capsule itself: glycerine, purified water, chlorophyllin, and a plant-based shell with no animal gelatine.

One detail matters here, and the brand does not draw attention to it: caffeine is the only active with a figure on the label, at 200 mg per capsule. The other four are declared without individual dosages. This is a proprietary blend, and you will not know how much synephrine or rauwolscine you are swallowing. We are not going to invent those numbers on the manufacturer's behalf. If that opacity bothers you — and it is a defensible position — a good share of the capsule fat burners aisle carries fully itemised formulas.

What does one Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate capsule contain?

The only usable figure is therefore the caffeine: 200 mg per capsule, 400 mg if you take both of the day's servings. For context, EFSA considers that a caffeine intake of 400 mg spread across the day raises no safety concern for healthy adults, and that a single 200 mg serving raises none either. At the full dose, this product places you exactly on that ceiling — before you count your morning coffee. That is the point to take away ahead of everything else.

No health claim is authorised in Europe for synephrine, rauwolscine, theobromine or gamma-butyrobetaine. "Fat burner" is the commercial name of the category, not a promise of results, and we will leave it at that.

How should you take Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate?

The manufacturer's protocol is precise, so follow it to the letter. One capsule in the morning, one capsule in the afternoon, between meals and on an empty stomach, leaving at least 6 hours between the two servings. Two capsules per day maximum. Never within the 6 hours before bedtime: at 200 mg a serving, your sleep picks up the bill.

If you are sensitive to stimulants, or if this is your first fat burner at this dosage level, start with a single capsule in the morning for the first week and only add the second one afterwards. This is not token caution: at 400 mg, palpitations and headaches give no warning.

The first serving goes 30 minutes before breakfast, the second in the middle of the afternoon, or 30 to 45 minutes before training if you train early in the day. As for the length of a course, the manufacturer states 4 to 8 weeks of use, followed by a break of at least 4 weeks. A 60-capsule bottle covers one month at the full dose.

During the course, do not stack other caffeine sources — coffee, tea, energy drinks, and certainly not a stimulant pre-workout from the pre-workouts aisle. Drink plenty of water. And bear in mind that the calorie deficit does all the work: this product replaces neither what is on your plate nor your training sessions.

Who is this fat burner for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at adults already accustomed to stimulants, in a properly structured cutting phase, looking for a kick from unapologetic dosages. As a first purchase in the category it is too much: start lower down the range.

The list of contraindications is long and serious. Not for anyone under 18, nor for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Avoid it in cases of caffeine sensitivity, heart conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disorders or psychiatric disorders. Do not combine it with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antidepressants, or medicines containing phenylephrine, ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. The manufacturer asks that you stop taking the product 2 weeks before any surgical procedure. Stop immediately in the event of rapid heartbeat, dizziness, severe headaches or shortness of breath, and speak to a doctor.

The product may contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGGS, SOYA, FISH, CRUSTACEANS and NUTS. The capsules are plant-based, with no animal gelatine.

What you should not expect from it: any weight loss in its own right. A thermogenic fat burner acts on alertness and the feeling of having energy, which helps you stick to a diet — the diet itself still has to be done. If you want support without the nervous-system trade-off, look instead at caffeine-free fat burners, compared in the next section.

Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate or a caffeine-free fat burner?

This is the real decision, and it turns not on potency but on your tolerance to stimulants and on the time of day you train.

A caffeine-free fat burner is the better choice in three clear-cut situations: you train in the evening and you value your sleep; you already drink three coffees a day and you do not want to stack more on top; you have high blood pressure, palpitations or simply an anxious disposition. In those cases the dosage question does not even arise, and a product built on L-carnitine, chromium or non-stimulant plant extracts will be the smarter call.

Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate keeps the advantage on one point: the convenience and the transparency of its caffeine dosage. Two capsules swallowed, nothing to mix, 200 mg per serving that you can work out exactly. The powders in the powder fat burners aisle often provide more actives with stated amounts, but they require a shaker. The category as a whole can be compared in fat burners, and the wider context — protein, satiety, activity — in weight loss.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a 60-capsule bottle last?

Exactly one month, at two capsules a day. Two months if you stay on one capsule daily, which is the pace advised for the first week and often enough for people who are sensitive to stimulants.

How much caffeine is there really per day?

400 mg at the full dose, that is 200 mg per capsule. That is the equivalent of roughly four strong espressos split across two servings. Any other caffeine source during the day adds to that total: this is precisely why the manufacturer asks you to cut them out for the duration of the course.

Why are the dosages of the other actives not stated?

Because Nutrex groups them into a proprietary blend, a common practice in the United States. Caffeine is the only one with a figure. We flag that gap rather than fill it in: no figure for synephrine, rauwolscine, theobromine or GBBGO® appears on the packaging.

Can it be taken before training instead of a pre-workout?

The second serving can indeed be placed 30 to 45 minutes before the session. What you must not do is stack the two products: a standard pre-workout often adds 200 to 350 mg of caffeine, and you would go well beyond the 400 mg per day benchmark.

Does the liquid capsule make any difference?

In terms of comfort, yes: a Liqui-Cap goes down easily and leaves no aftertaste. In terms of effects, the manufacturer publishes no comparative data against a powder capsule, and we are not going to invent any. Treat it as a question of format, not of performance.

Should you take breaks?

Yes. The manufacturer states 4 to 8 weeks of use followed by a break of at least 4 weeks. Sensitivity to caffeine dulls with continuous use, and the break serves as much to restore the effect as to give your system a rest.

Is it compatible with medical treatment?

Not without medical advice. The interactions listed by the manufacturer involve monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antidepressants and decongestants in particular. If you are on any form of treatment, the answer belongs to your doctor or your pharmacist, not to a product page.

Where can you buy Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate?

The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a product we would rather talk through before selling: in our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the first question we ask is always how much coffee you have already drunk that day and what time you train. Two answers are usually enough to tell whether this is the right product or whether you should be looking elsewhere.

The rest of the range can be found in the Nutrex collection.

What is IO Genix's Caffeine 200 mg?

It is anhydrous caffeine in capsules, dosed at 200 mg per unit, in a bottle of 100. A single active ingredient, no flavouring, no sweetener, no blend: it is the simplest product in the whole stimulant aisle.

Two hundred milligrams is the equivalent of two to three espressos. The difference with coffee comes down to three things: the dose is identical from one capsule to the next, it travels in a pocket, and it requires neither finding a machine nor drinking anything. For a session at 6:00 in the morning or a competition in a car park, those are three real advantages.

The rest of the composition takes three lines: magnesium carbonate as a bulking agent, magnesium stearate as an anti-caking agent, and a gelatine capsule coloured with calcium carbonate and sodium starch octenyl succinate. As the shell is made of gelatine, the product is not suitable for vegetarians. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle.

What does one capsule contain?

* No NRV is established for caffeine. Other components: bulking agent (magnesium carbonate), capsule (gelatine, colours: calcium carbonate and sodium starch octenyl succinate), anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate). Pack size: 100 capsules. Traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGG, SOYA, SULPHITES, FISH, MOLLUSCS and CRUSTACEANS are possible depending on manufacturing conditions.

The framework needs setting out straight away, because it is what determines how the product is used. EFSA considers that a single intake of 200 mg of caffeine raises no safety concern in healthy adults, and takes 400 mg as the benchmark for the whole day, from all sources combined. One capsule therefore puts you exactly on the single-intake limit — and if you drink coffee alongside it, the total climbs fast.

A concrete calculation, because it often changes the advice: one capsule in the morning, two coffees during the day and a 200 mg pre-workout already adds up to 550 to 600 mg. You are above the daily benchmark without having given it a single thought.

On the effects, let us be precise: caffeine has no authorised health claim in Europe. Not on alertness, not on endurance, not on weight loss. We can therefore promise you nothing, and we will not. What we can describe: a molecule, a dose, an equivalent in cups of coffee, and a protocol for use. The rest you already know from experience — you have all drunk a coffee.

How should Caffeine 200 mg be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule, i.e. 200 mg. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: 30 to 45 minutes before physical or mental effort, in the morning or in the early afternoon. Frequency: one intake a day, never after 15:00. Duration: cycling advised, 5 days on for 2 days off, or 3 weeks for 1 week off.

If you have never taken caffeine in this form, start with half a capsule. The manufacturer recommends it, and it is good advice: the capsule opens, the powder can be divided, and one session will tell you whether 100 mg is enough for you. Two hundred milligrams at once, on an empty stomach, does not go the same way for everybody.

The 15:00 rule is the one that matters most, and it is stricter here than on many products: the manufacturer asks that no caffeine be taken in the 6 hours before bedtime. The half-life of the molecule is around five hours in an average adult, more in some people. A capsule at 18:00 still means a hundred milligrams or so in circulation at midnight.

Cycling is not a whim either. Tolerance to caffeine sets in within a few weeks, and the doses then have to go up to recover the same sensation — which is neither desirable nor sustainable. Five days on for two days off is enough to maintain sensitivity.

Two practical remarks. The manufacturer advises increasing water intake to 2 or 3 litres a day during use, caffeine having a mild diuretic effect. And it advises against taking it at the same time as other stimulants — tea, coffee, guarana — which amounts to repeating the daily total calculation.

Who is this product for, and who is it not for?

It is for adults only, and suits those who tolerate caffeine well and want a precise, portable dose with no taste and no preparation. It is also the most economical format in the category: 100 capsules, i.e. more than three months at one intake a day, for the price of a few energy drinks.

The manufacturer is categorical about the contraindications, and we repeat them as they stand. This product is not advised for children or for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and is ruled out in the case of a heart condition, high blood pressure, an anxiety disorder, insomnia or hypersensitivity to caffeine. If any of those apply to you, this product is not for you, and that is not negotiable.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the shell is made of gelatine. Nor is it suitable if you train in the evening, for the sleep reasons set out above.

The possible side effects are well known and the manufacturer lists them: nervousness, irritability, palpitations, headaches, digestive upset. They appear mainly in people who are not used to it or at cumulative doses. That is precisely why the trial half-capsule makes sense.

What not to expect from it: nothing more than a well-measured coffee. Caffeine does not make up for a short night, it masks it — and the sleep debt itself remains entirely. Nor does it make you lose weight, whatever the label on half of the fat burners aisle may say. What it does do is make a session easier to get started, which is already something.

Caffeine on its own or a complete pre-workout?

That is the real choice, and the answer depends on what you are trying to achieve.

A complete pre-workout provides, on top of the caffeine, pump and endurance ingredients: citrulline at 4 or 6 g, beta-alanine at 3.2 g, often tyrosine or betaine. It is the better choice if you want the complete formula without having to put anything together yourself, and if the sensation of a pump is part of what you are looking for. Its drawback: you pay for the whole thing, including the ingredients you have no interest in, and you do not choose the caffeine dose.

Caffeine on its own does exactly the opposite. You know what you are taking to the milligram, you adjust in half-capsules, and you can combine it with whatever you want — citrulline on its own, beta-alanine on its own, or nothing at all. At 100 capsules a bottle, it is also by far the cheapest option per session. It is the rational choice if you already know what works for you.

And if you train in the evening, neither suits: a caffeine-free pre-workout is what to turn to, even if it means losing that kick. On this point, a night's sleep is worth more than a good session.

Frequently asked questions

How many coffees does 200 mg correspond to?

Two to three espressos, according to the manufacturer. It is an average equivalent: the content of a coffee varies a great deal with the grind, the machine and the volume. The useful benchmark is EFSA's — 200 mg in a single intake, 400 mg over the day from all sources combined.

Can the capsule be opened to take half a dose?

Yes, and it is even what the manufacturer advises for a first trial. The capsule opens, the powder can be divided. The taste of pure caffeine is extremely bitter: better to close the half back inside the capsule and swallow it than to put it on your tongue.

How late in the day can it be taken?

The manufacturer asks that none be consumed in the 6 hours before bedtime, and in practice that you stay before 15:00. That is consistent with the half-life of the molecule, around five hours in an average adult — and a good deal more in some people. An evening intake costs a night.

Why take breaks?

Because tolerance sets in quickly: after two to three weeks of daily use, the same dose no longer produces the same effect. The manufacturer advises 5 days on for 2 days off, or 3 weeks for 1 week. That is what allows you to keep one capsule effective without raising the doses.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is made of gelatine, of animal origin. The manufacturer also reports possible traces of gluten, milk, egg, soya, sulphites, fish, molluscs and crustaceans depending on manufacturing conditions.

Can it be combined with a pre-workout?

Technically yes, but you have to do the arithmetic. Most pre-workouts contain 150 to 350 mg of caffeine per serving: added to the 200 mg of a capsule, you exceed EFSA's daily benchmark in a single intake. The manufacturer does in fact explicitly advise against combining it with other stimulants.

How long does a bottle last?

More than three months at one capsule a day, the bottle holding 100. With the advised cycling — five days out of seven — reckon on four to five months. It is one of the most favourable dose-to-price ratios in the whole shop.

Where can you buy IO Genix Caffeine 200 mg?

The bottle of 100 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and Europe. It is a product that covers a whole quarter of a year with a single bottle: few items in the catalogue can say as much.

At the counter in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is the product we suggest to those who come in looking for a complete pre-workout without realising that what they like in it is essentially the caffeine. The test is simple: try a capsule on its own for two weeks, and you will know. The rest of the stimulants and pre-training formulas can be compared in our sports nutrition selection.

What is IO Genix's Chromium Picolinate?

IO Genix Chromium Picolinate is a single-ingredient supplement. One capsule provides 200 µg of elemental chromium, in picolinate form. The bottle contains 100 capsules, i.e. more than three months of daily use.

Chromium is a trace element, that is to say a mineral the body needs only in minute quantities — a few tens of micrograms a day. Food provides it, chiefly through meat, wholegrain cereals, tree nuts and green vegetables, but the levels vary a great deal from one food to another and from one soil to another.

The picolinate form refers to chromium bound to picolinic acid. It is the most widespread form in food supplements, chosen for its stability. The rest of the Spanish range appears in our IO Genix section. The catalogue's other trace elements can be found in our zinc and iron sections.

What does a capsule of Chromium Picolinate contain?

The nutrient reference value for chromium is set at 40 µg per day at European level. One capsule provides 200 µg: five times the daily reference, and that is a figure to face squarely rather than turn into a selling point. A high dose is not automatically a better product, particularly for a trace element whose requirements are counted in tens of micrograms.

Two claims are authorised in Europe for this trace element, and they are worded exactly like this: chromium contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism, and chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels. The threshold for being allowed to state them is comfortably met here. Note the word “normal”, which is not decorative: it refers to the workings of a healthy body, not to the correction of a disorder.

A nuance few product pages give, and one that nonetheless decides the purchase: chromium deficiency is rare on an ordinary Western diet. A supplement makes sense if your diet is heavily processed, very low in wholegrain cereals, or if a healthcare professional has advised it. It makes a good deal less sense if you already take a complete multivitamin, which almost always contains chromium — check your label before stacking.

The manufacturer also asks you to consult a doctor before use and states that the product is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children or people on medical treatment. Requiring medical advice is unusual for a simple trace element: it is explained by the dose level, and it deserves to be followed.

Ingredients list

Bulking agent (microcrystalline cellulose), GELATINE (capsule shell), anti-caking agents (magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide), chromium picolinate. The exact composition of the shell appears on the label of the bottle you receive.

May contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGGS, FISH and SOYA.

How do you take Chromium Picolinate?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: with a meal, never on an empty stomach. Frequency: one dose a day, never exceeded. Duration: a review after three months, with a one-month break possible before resuming.

Taking it with a meal serves two distinct purposes. The first is comfort: on an empty stomach, a concentrated trace element can cause stomach discomfort. The second is consistency: since chromium is involved in macronutrient metabolism, taking it at the moment those macronutrients arrive is logical.

The manufacturer recommends avoiding taking it at the same time as coffee or tea and leaving an hour between the two. Tannins and caffeine can interfere with the absorption of several minerals. If your breakfast is a strong coffee, move the capsule to lunch: it is simpler than clock-watching.

One capsule a day, at a set time, never exceeded. The 100-capsule bottle covers more than three months, which corresponds exactly to the period after which the manufacturer suggests taking stock. A one-month break is then possible before resuming.

This product combines without redundancy with an omega 3 or a magnesium. It does, on the other hand, duplicate most multivitamins and the berberine formulas that already include chromium in their composition: read the labels before stacking.

Who is chromium picolinate for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at a healthy adult whose diet is low in chromium sources, or someone a healthcare professional has advised to take a targeted supply. It is a product with a very short formula, which remains a good criterion: one ingredient, one dose, one capsule.

The manufacturer is explicit about the exclusions and its list is stricter than average: the product is for adults only, and it is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, for children, or for people on medical treatment. It asks you to seek a doctor's advice before use and to stop immediately and consult a doctor if any adverse effect occurs.

One situation calls for particular care: if you are being monitored for disturbed blood glucose or are on antidiabetic treatment, this product is not something to improvise with. The fact that a claim mentions the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels does not mean a supplement has a place alongside a course of treatment — quite the opposite, and the question belongs to your doctor.

The capsule contains gelatine: it is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. The product may also contain traces of gluten, milk, eggs, fish and soya.

What not to expect from it: it is not an appetite suppressant, it is not a fat burner, and it is not a weight-loss product, whatever you may read. No weight-control claim is authorised for chromium in Europe. If that is your goal, our weight loss section and, above all, your everyday diet will do the work.

Chromium on its own or a multivitamin, which should you choose?

This is the only real question to ask yourself before buying this product, and the answer depends on what you already take.

A complete multivitamin almost always contains chromium, often at a level close to the reference value, alongside twenty other micronutrients. If you are simply looking to cover your overall intake, that is more rational, cheaper overall, and it saves you adding one more capsule to your morning routine.

Chromium on its own, at 200 µg, answers a different logic: a targeted and deliberately high supply of a single element. That only makes sense if you know precisely why you are taking it — professional advice, a diet identified as low in chromium — and not simply because the words blood glucose appear somewhere on the label.

Watch out for stacking, which is the most frequent mistake in this category: multivitamins, capsule fat burners and metabolic complexes each contain chromium. Three products taken together can add up intakes without anyone noticing. If you already take a caffeine-free fat burner or a complex, read its composition again before adding this one.

Frequently asked questions

Is 200 µg a lot?

It is five times the European nutrient reference value, which is set at 40 µg per day. It is a deliberately high dose. The manufacturer does in fact ask for medical advice before use and forbids exceeding the daily dose, which is consistent with that level of intake.

Should you take it with a meal or on an empty stomach?

With a meal. On an empty stomach, a concentrated trace element can cause stomach discomfort, and the manufacturer explicitly recommends avoiding that situation. Taking it during a meal is also more consistent with chromium's role in macronutrient metabolism.

Why avoid coffee when you take it?

Because caffeine and the tannins in tea can interfere with the absorption of several minerals. The manufacturer recommends leaving an hour between the two. In practice, the simplest thing is to move the capsule to lunch rather than slotting it between two morning coffees.

Does chromium make you lose weight?

No, and no weight-control claim is authorised for chromium in Europe. The only two permitted wordings concern normal macronutrient metabolism and the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels, in a healthy person. This is not a slimming product.

How long does a bottle last?

More than three months: 100 capsules, one a day. That is also the period after which the manufacturer suggests taking stock, before a possible one-month break. A bottle therefore corresponds exactly to one review period.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No. The shell is gelatine, of animal origin. It is a common limitation across this range, and it is all the more regrettable given that vegetarian diets are sometimes listed among those that provide less chromium.

Can you take it alongside a multivitamin?

You can, but it is rarely useful, and it requires doing the sums. Most complete multivitamins already contain chromium. Adding two sources together without looking at the labels is the surest way to exceed, without knowing it, an intake the manufacturer specifically asks you not to exceed.

Where can you buy IO Genix's Chromium Picolinate?

The 100-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always ask to see what the customer is already taking before selling this one: nine times out of ten a multivitamin is already in use and the question of stacking comes before the question of buying. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Animal Cuts by Universal Nutrition?

Animal Cuts is a food supplement supplied as 42 individual sachets, each sachet containing several capsules to be taken together. It is the long-standing format of Universal Nutrition's Animal range: one sachet a day, nothing to measure out, nothing to weigh.

The phrase "thermogenic fat burner" that appears in its name is a commercial category label, not a promise of any effect. We come back to this further down, because it is the most important point on this page. The product belongs to our fat burners range, and more specifically to capsule fat burners. Universal Nutrition is an American brand whose range we stock in our Universal Nutrition section.

What does a sachet of Animal Cuts contain?

The formula is organised into eight complexes, for a stated total of more than 8,500 mg of active ingredients per sachet. Four of them are quantified on the label:

• Thermogenic complex: 200 mg of anhydrous caffeine, guarana, yerba mate, kola nut;
• Stimulant complex: 750 mg — tyrosine, choline bitartrate, gotu kola;
• Diuretic complex: 800 mg — nettle root, dandelion root;
• Nootropic complex: 500 mg, and the so-called thyroid complex: 350 mg — L-tyrosine, olive leaf extract.

The other three — a metabolic complex based on green, oolong, white and black tea extracts; a cortisol-inhibiting complex containing SerinAid and ashwagandha; a bioavailability complex with Bioperine — are not quantified ingredient by ingredient. That is a genuine limitation: without doses, no serious comparison with another product is possible, and we will not fill the gap with an estimate.

Two points about the composition to be aware of before buying. The excipients include bovine gelatine: the product is suitable neither for vegetarians, nor for vegans, nor for anyone who avoids beef. And the labelling data we hold lists colourings under their American names (FD&C Red #40, Blue #1, Yellow #5 and #6) as well as titanium dioxide: these are North American labelling conventions, and the composition of a version intended for the European market may differ. Read the list printed on the tub you receive, it is the one that counts.

The exact number of capsules per sachet does not appear in the data available to us; we would rather flag that than put forward a figure.

How do you take Animal Cuts?

The manufacturer's protocol is precise. 1 sachet a day, on waking, with a light meal and 250 ml of water. Advanced users may move up to 2 sachets a day, the second 4 to 6 hours after the first. In every case, nothing after 15:00, since the caffeine content disrupts sleep when taken late.

The course is organised into cycles of 3 weeks on followed by 1 week off. The 42-sachet format therefore covers two complete cycles at one sachet a day. Always start with a single daily sachet, even if you are aiming for the advanced protocol: it is the only way to assess your tolerance.

The caffeine arithmetic is worth setting out. One sachet provides 200 mg, exactly the single-dose intake that EFSA considers safe for a healthy adult. At two sachets you are at 400 mg for that day alone, which is the daily reference total, without counting coffee, tea or any pre-workout. The diuretic complex also means drinking more than usual during the course.

Who is Animal Cuts for, and who is it not for?

The product is intended for healthy adults who are used to stimulants. The list of situations that rule it out is long and deserves to be read in full.

It is not suitable for the under-18s, for pregnant or breastfeeding women, nor in cases of heart disorders, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, nor while on antidepressant treatment. The name of the "thyroid complex" should mislead no one: it is a commercial designation, and a thyroid that is not working properly is precisely a contraindication. If in doubt, or if you are on any current treatment, medical advice is essential before starting.

On allergens and composition, the manufacturer flags possible traces of soya and the presence of bovine gelatine. The effects reported are those of a stimulant product: increased sweating, palpitations, anxiety, disturbed sleep when taken late. Stop using it if you experience an adverse effect and speak to a healthcare professional.

That leaves what you should not expect from it, and this is the most important point: no slimming, fat-loss or weight-control claim is authorised in Europe for this type of formula. So you will read no promise here of cutting, definition or kilos lost. What changes body composition is a calorie deficit sustained over time, protein intake, training and sleep; a supplement replaces none of the four, here as throughout our weight loss range. What this product does provide can be described without ambiguity: a quantified dose of caffeine, plant extracts, a format that avoids juggling several tubs, and a cycling protocol written by the manufacturer.

Animal Cuts or a caffeine-free fat burner?

The difference comes down first to caffeine, and the choice depends on how your day actually runs, not on the formula. A product from our caffeine-free fat burner range is the better choice if you already drink coffee, if you take a stimulant pre-workout, if you train late in the day, or if you tolerate stimulants poorly. It is also the only workable option for anyone who has to keep an eye on their blood pressure.

Animal Cuts is the better choice if you are starting from zero where stimulants are concerned, if you prefer a single sachet in the morning to a pile of tubs to manage, and if the cycled protocol suits you. Its all-in-one format is its real advantage: it avoids the stacking of supplements that nobody really keeps track of taking.

There is a third route, and it is often the right one: take no stimulant at all and put the budget into your daily protein intake, the item that changes the most during a calorie deficit.

Frequently asked questions

How many sachets of Animal Cuts a day?

One sachet a day on waking, with a light meal and 250 ml of water. The advanced protocol allows a second sachet 4 to 6 hours later, but at two sachets you reach 400 mg of caffeine over the day from this product alone. Start with one, whatever your experience.

How long does a box of 42 sachets last?

Forty-two days at one sachet a day, that is two complete three-week cycles separated by a week off. At two sachets a day, the box lasts three weeks, in other words a single cycle. The cost-per-day calculation doubles depending on which protocol you follow.

Does Animal Cuts make you lose weight?

No, and nobody can claim it does: no weight-loss claim is authorised for this type of product in Europe. A change in body composition comes from a calorie deficit, protein intake, training and sleep. A supplement is no substitute for any of the four.

Is the product suitable for vegetarians?

No. The capsules contain bovine gelatine, which rules out vegetarian and vegan diets as well as anyone who does not eat beef. The manufacturer also flags possible traces of soya. If that is a deal-breaker for you, look instead at a powder form or a vegetable capsule.

Should you take it on non-training days?

Yes, the manufacturer's protocol is daily throughout the three weeks of the cycle, training or not, since it is taken on waking rather than before the session. That is a difference from a pre-workout, which is kept for training days. Do not combine the two on the same day without having added up your total caffeine.

Why do you need to drink more during the course?

Because the formula contains an 800 mg diuretic complex based on nettle and dandelion root, and caffeine pushes in the same direction. The manufacturer stresses increased hydration throughout the cycle. If you train in hot weather, give some thought to your electrolytes as well.

Can it be combined with a pre-workout?

That is not advised on the same day without doing the arithmetic. One sachet already provides 200 mg of caffeine, and most boosters contain as much, if not more. EFSA takes 400 mg a day as the reference total for a healthy adult, coffee and tea included. Beyond that, adverse effects increase with nothing gained in return.

Where can you buy Animal Cuts 42 packs?

You can order it on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this product prompts the most useful conversation in the range: what actually happens over a day — how many coffees, what time the session is, what the protein intake is — counts for far more than the choice between two fat burner brands. The whole range is brought together in our sports nutrition section.

Caffeine reference: EFSA.

What is IO Genix's IO Burner?

IO Burner is a thermogenic complex in vegetable capsules. One capsule, which is the complete daily dose, brings 200 mg of caffeine, 20 mg of p-synephrine, 200 mg of green tea extract including 100 mg of EGCG, 25 µg of chromium and 0.56 mg of phenylcapsaicin. Six actives, every one of them stated to the milligram.

This is a stimulant product, and it should be called by its name in the first line. The 200 mg of caffeine per capsule correspond to about two espressos swallowed in one go. It is not a harmless supplement you add absent-mindedly to a routine: it is the most loaded product in this whole aisle, and it needs to be read before it is bought.

The formula combines three sources of caffeine — anhydrous caffeine, green tea and guarana — a bitter orange extract standardised in synephrine, a derivative of chilli capsaicin and a trace element. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix aisle, and the other references in the category in our fat burner capsules aisle.

What does one IO Burner capsule contain?

This table is the product's best argument, and not for the reason you might think. What sets it apart is not the strength of its formula, it is the fact that every active is detailed down to the second decimal place, caffeine content broken down by source included. Many fat burners announce a "thermogenic complex" without giving a single milligram, which makes any comparison impossible. Here, you know exactly what you are swallowing.

200 mg of caffeine is the benchmark to keep in mind. EFSA considers that single intakes of 200 mg of caffeine do not raise safety concerns for a healthy adult. You are therefore at exactly that level, in one capsule. That is also what explains the manufacturer's instruction: never on an empty stomach, never two capsules, and pay attention to everything else you drink during the day.

Only one ingredient in this formula has authorised claims in Europe: chromium, which contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels and to normal macronutrient metabolism. At 25 µg, or 62 % of the reference value, the threshold is met. For all the others — caffeine, synephrine, green tea, EGCG, guarana, phenylcapsaicin — no health claim is authorised, neither on fat burning, nor on metabolism, nor on thermogenesis. The term "fat burner" here is a commercial category name, not a promise of effect, and we will not make it say any more than that.

Missing from the manufacturer's file: the number of capsules per bottle is not communicated. We will not infer it; it appears on the packaging.

Ingredients list

Dry fruit extract of Citrus aurantium L. standardised to 6 % synephrine, green tea leaf extract (Camellia sinensis O. Ktze) standardised to 50 % EGCG, vegetable capsule (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), anhydrous caffeine, dry guarana seed extract (Paullinia cupana) standardised to 22 % caffeine, anti-caking agents (magnesium silicate, magnesium salts of fatty acids), AXIVITE microencapsulated phenylcapsaicin (cellulose, modified maize starch, phenylcapsaicin 1 %, anthocyanins, water), chromium picolinate.

May contain traces of GLUTEN (wheat and oats), NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS, MILK, FISH, SULPHITES and SOYA. The capsule is vegetable: the product is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets.

How do you take IO Burner?

Dose: 1 capsule, and one only. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: before the session on training days, during the morning on rest days. Frequency: one intake a day, never two. Duration: the manufacturer sets no course length; taking a regular break remains good practice with a caffeinated product.

"Never on an empty stomach" is the most important instruction on this page, and the manufacturer writes it out in full. 200 mg of caffeine and a bitter orange extract in an empty stomach is the recipe for palpitations, nausea and feeling faint at the start of a session. Take the capsule with a meal or a snack, without exception.

The second point is stacking, and it is the one people forget. Count everything you consume during the day: a coffee in the morning, a tea in the afternoon, a pre-workout before the session, an energy drink at the end of the day. Added to this capsule, you very quickly go past what is comfortable. The manufacturer also asks that you do not consume other green tea products on the same day, and points out that daily EGCG intake should not reach 800 mg.

Do not take it late in the day. Caffeine has a half-life of several hours: a capsule taken at five in the afternoon is still felt at bedtime, and degraded sleep cancels out everything you were trying to achieve.

If you are sensitive to stimulants or have never taken this type of product, caution says to start differently. A stimulant-free fat burner lets you gauge your tolerance without landing on 200 mg on day one.

Who is IO Burner for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at a healthy adult, used to caffeine, engaged in a calorie deficit and regular physical activity. It is a support product, in a setting where the diet is already doing the work.

The list of exclusions is long, and the manufacturer sets it out itself in unusually firm terms. The product is strictly not recommended for children, for adolescents under 18, or for pregnant or breastfeeding women. It requires a medical consultation in case of concurrent medication. Two ceilings are restated: daily EGCG intake must not reach 800 mg, and phenylcapsaicin from supplements is limited to 2.5 mg per day.

One point deserves to be known and is rarely mentioned: ANSES, the French food safety agency, has called for vigilance over supplements containing synephrine, particularly when it is combined with caffeine and consumed alongside intense physical exercise. This product combines precisely those two. That is not a reason to give up if you are in good health and stick to the dose; it is a reason not to improvise, never to double the intake, and to abstain in case of cardiovascular disorder, high blood pressure or ongoing treatment.

The capsule is vegetable, which makes the product compatible with vegetarian and vegan diets — an exception in this range. It may contain traces of gluten, nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, fish, sulphites and soya.

What not to expect from it: this product does not make you lose weight. No capsule creates a calorie deficit, and no weight-loss claim is authorised for its ingredients. What you will feel is the effect of 200 mg of caffeine: alertness and a sense of energy. That is real, it is useful for getting through a session during a period of restriction, and it replaces neither the plate nor the training, as our weight loss aisle points out.

Fat burner with or without caffeine: how to choose

This is the only trade-off that really matters in this aisle, and it depends not on your goal but on your day.

A caffeinated fat burner like this one has a noticeable effect: alertness, energy, appetite often somewhat blunted. That feeling is what explains its success, and it is real. It suits you if you drink little coffee otherwise, if you train in the morning or early afternoon, and if you tolerate stimulants well.

A caffeine-free fat burner is not felt. It becomes the obvious choice if you already drink three coffees a day, if you train in the evening, if your sleep is fragile, or if stimulants give you palpitations. It is not a lesser product: it is the right product for a different context.

Finally, watch out for a very common overlap: most pre-workout boosters also contain 150 to 300 mg of caffeine. Taking both on the same day means doubling the dose without realising it. If your booster is already caffeinated, choose a caffeine-free booster or give up one of the two. And check for chromium in your other supplements, since this capsule already brings 62 % of the daily reference.

Frequently asked questions

How much caffeine is in one capsule?

200 mg in total, split between 162 mg of anhydrous caffeine, 22 mg from guarana and 16 mg from green tea. That is the equivalent of about two espressos swallowed at once. EFSA considers that single intakes of 200 mg do not raise concerns for a healthy adult.

Why should it never be taken on an empty stomach?

Because the manufacturer writes it explicitly, and because such a load of caffeine and bitter orange extract in an empty stomach frequently causes nausea, palpitations or faintness. Always take it with a meal or a snack.

Does this product make you lose weight?

No, and no weight-loss claim is authorised in Europe for its ingredients. Only chromium has claims, covering the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels and macronutrient metabolism. The rest is a stimulant that accompanies an effort, without ever replacing it.

Can it be combined with a pre-workout?

That is the overlap to avoid. Most pre-workouts already contain 150 to 300 mg of caffeine: added to the 200 mg in this capsule, you reach levels that are no longer comfortable at all. Choose one or the other, or switch to a caffeine-free version.

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

Yes. The capsule is vegetable, made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and no ingredient in the formula is of animal origin. It is one of the few products in this range in that position, most using gelatine.

What does ANSES say about synephrine?

The agency has called for caution regarding supplements containing synephrine, particularly when it is combined with caffeine and consumed during intense physical exercise. This product combines precisely those two: stick strictly to the dose and abstain in case of cardiovascular disorder.

What time of day should it be taken?

Before the session on training days, during the morning on rest days. Never late in the day: caffeine stays active for several hours, and degraded sleep cancels the benefit you were seeking during a calorie deficit.

Where to buy IO Genix IO Burner

The bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we talk about the longest: the first question is never the customer's goal, but how many coffees they drink in a day. The answer is often enough to decide between this one and a caffeine-free version. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Steelfit Abs of Steel?

It is a cosmetic cream for external use, in a 237 ml bottle, to be massaged into the abdominal area. It is not a food supplement: it is not swallowed, it is applied, and it falls under cosmetic product regulations.

Its formula is built around the CoAxel™ complex, which combines three cosmetic ingredients: carnitine, coenzyme A and caffeine. To these are added a Bupleurum falcatum root extract, two warming compounds — methyl nicotinate and benzyl nicotinate — and aloe vera juice powder.

One thing has to be said before anything else, and we are putting it at the top rather than at the bottom: no cream makes you lose abdominal fat. Targeted slimming of an area through the skin has not been demonstrated, and fat distribution cannot be steered locally. What this product delivers is an immediate warming sensation and a cosmetic effect on the appearance of the skin. Abdominal definition, for its part, remains the result of a calorie deficit and regular training. The brand's full range is in our SteelFit aisle.

What is in the formula?

No content levels are published for these actives: cosmetic regulations do not require a dosage on the label, only an INCI list ordered by decreasing weight. We therefore cannot tell you how much caffeine or carnitine one application contains, and we are not going to invent it.

What the INCI list does let you read, on the other hand, is instructive. The first four ingredients are water, soybean oil, propylene glycol and PEG-40 stearate: this is a classic cream base. The actives put forward — carnitine, nicotinates, bupleurum, caffeine — come after the fragrance, which tells you where their proportion sits. Aloe vera and coenzyme A appear right at the end of the list. This is neither a flaw nor a deception — it is how a cream normally works — but it is information the marketing label does not give.

The two ingredients whose effect is immediately noticeable are the nicotinates. They are the ones that produce the warmth and the slight reddening felt on application, through superficial skin vasodilation. This sensation is temporary and expected: it does not mean that fat is being melted away.

Finally, the formula contains five fragrance allergens subject to mandatory declaration under European regulations: linalool, alpha-isomethyl ionone, citronellol, benzyl salicylate and benzyl benzoate. It also contains soybean oil, in second position on the list.

How do you apply Abs of Steel?

Amount: a generous amount. Area: abdomen, obliques and serratus muscles. Action: massage in firmly until fully absorbed. Timing: 15 minutes before the session, and in the evening after showering or before going to bed. Frequency: two applications a day.

Three practical precautions really count. Let it dry completely before putting on clothing: the product stains, and that also goes for bed linen in the evening. Never apply it to the face or the neck, or near the eyes. And wash your hands after massaging it in, otherwise you will carry the nicotinates to places you do not want them.

On the warming sensation: it comes on within seconds, it is sometimes sharp, and it fades within a few minutes. Slight reddening is possible. Test the product on a small area before the first full application — it is the only way to know how your skin reacts, and it takes five minutes.

A 237 ml bottle at two applications a day lasts several weeks, the actual duration depending entirely on how much you apply. Store it away from heat and direct light.

Who is this cream for, and who is it not for?

It suits those who are already following a structured weight loss approach and who are looking for one more ritual, with an immediate sensation. It is also a product people appreciate before a session: the warmth on application has a motivating side that nobody disputes, even though it has no effect on fat.

It is for external use only. Avoid contact with the eyes. Do not apply to irritated or broken skin, or after recent waxing or shaving: nicotinates on weakened skin cause a distinctly more unpleasant sensation. If a skin reaction occurs, stop using it and consult a healthcare professional. Keep out of reach of children.

It is not for you if you are sensitive to fragrances — five fragrance allergens are declared — nor if you are allergic to soya, soybean oil being the second ingredient on the list. Nor is it for very reactive skin: the heat from the nicotinates is not trivial.

What you should not expect from it, and this is the most useful point on this page: it does not make you slimmer, it does not burn fat, and it does not carve out abs. No cream does, whatever the brand and whatever the price. The warmth you feel is skin vasodilation, not lipolysis. We sell this product for what it is — a pleasant cosmetic with an effect on the appearance of the skin — and not for what this aisle generally promises.

A cream or a supplement to swallow?

The question comes up in this aisle, and it deserves a clear answer. Let us start with what they have in common: neither cosmetic creams nor the supplements known as “fat burners” have an authorised claim on fat loss in Europe. Neither of the two will make you slimmer in place of a calorie deficit.

A product from our fat burners or fat burner capsules aisle works orally, with real constraints: timing, total caffeine to keep an eye on, cardiovascular contraindications. It does, on the other hand, have a noticeable systemic effect, which a cream never will.

The cream does exactly the opposite: no internal contraindications, no total to calculate, no interaction with any medication since it is not swallowed. That is its real advantage, and it is no small thing for anyone who does not want to add capsules to their day. If you are sensitive to caffeine, our caffeine-free fat burner aisle is the oral equivalent of that same logic.

And if you are only going to add one thing during a period of deficit, our answer is always the same: a protein. It is the only product in the whole shop with an authorised wording mentioning the maintenance of muscle mass, and that is precisely what is at stake when calories go down.

Frequently asked questions

Does this cream make you lose abdominal fat?

No. Targeted slimming of an area through the skin has not been demonstrated, and fat distribution cannot be steered locally. It is a cosmetic product: what it delivers is a warming sensation and an effect on the appearance of the skin. Abdominal definition comes from a calorie deficit and from training.

Why does it get so warm?

Because of methyl nicotinate and benzyl nicotinate, two compounds that cause superficial skin vasodilation. The warmth and the slight reddening are expected and temporary, and fade within a few minutes. This sensation does not mean that fat is being used up.

How much caffeine does it contain?

The content is not published: cosmetic regulations do not require a dosage on the label, only an INCI list ordered by decreasing weight. Caffeine appears there after the fragrance, which gives you its order of magnitude. We are not going to give a figure we do not have.

Can it be applied to the face or the neck?

No, the manufacturer expressly rules it out. Nicotinates on thin skin or near the eyes cause a far more intense and unpleasant sensation. The cream is intended for the abdomen, the obliques and the serratus muscles, and for nothing else.

Does it stain clothing?

Yes, if it is not completely dry. The formula contains colourants (CI 42090, CI 16035, CI 19140). Massage until fully absorbed and let it dry before getting dressed — the instruction applies to bed linen too for the evening application.

Does it contain allergens?

Yes, five fragrance allergens subject to mandatory declaration: linalool, alpha-isomethyl ionone, citronellol, benzyl salicylate and benzyl benzoate. It also contains soybean oil, the second ingredient on the list. To be avoided if you are sensitive to fragrances or allergic to soya.

Can it be used at the same time as a fat burner supplement?

Nothing stands in the way: the cream is for external use and does not count towards your stimulant intake. Simply bear in mind that neither of the two has an authorised claim on fat loss, and that adding together two products with no recognised effect does not create one.

Where can you buy Steelfit Abs of Steel?

The 237 ml bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a supporting product: it has its place alongside a programme, never instead of one.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the aisle where we spend the most time putting things back the right way round. We are happy to sell this cream, provided the customer knows exactly what they are buying: a sensation, a ritual, a cosmetic. Nobody should find out afterwards that a pot of cream does not replace three months of deficit.

What is IO Genix Synephrine?

It is a single-ingredient supplement, in capsules, containing 330 mg of bitter orange dry extract (Citrus aurantium L.) standardised to 6%, that is 19.8 mg of p-synephrine per capsule. The bottle of 100 capsules, 58 g net, covers more than three months at one capsule a day.

P-synephrine is a molecule found naturally in the bitter orange fruit. To give a sense of scale: the manufacturer states that one litre of bitter orange juice contains between 15 and 27 mg of it, where a capsule delivers 19.8 mg in standardised form. That is the most useful comparison for understanding what you are buying.

The rest of the composition fits in three lines: a gelatine capsule shell, microcrystalline cellulose as a bulking agent and magnesium stearate as an anti-caking agent. As the capsule shell is made of gelatine, the product is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. It joins our fat burners in capsules and IO Genix sections.

What is in one capsule?

Other ingredients: capsule shell (gelatine), bulking agent (microcrystalline cellulose), anti-caking agent (magnesium stearate). Pack size: 100 capsules, 58 g net. No energy value is declared and, at this scale, it is negligible.

A point of vocabulary first, because it accounts for half the comparison mistakes made in this category: 330 mg is the weight of the extract, 19.8 mg the weight of the active molecule. A label that advertises “500 mg of bitter orange” without giving a standardisation figure tells you nothing at all. It is the second number you should look for, every time.

That figure of 19.8 mg is anything but arbitrary, and it is the most important point on this page. ANSES has published an opinion on food supplements intended for athletes containing synephrine and recommends not exceeding 20 mg of synephrine per day, avoiding combination with caffeine and not consuming it during intense physical exercise. This product sits just under that limit, which is to its credit — but it also means there is no margin at all: one capsule only, never two, and nothing else alongside it.

On effects, the framework is unambiguous: no health claim is authorised in Europe for synephrine or for bitter orange. Not on weight, not on fat, not on energy, not on appetite. So you will read no promise here, not even one phrased indirectly. The “fat burner” label used in our sections is a commercial category name, not a description of an effect.

How do you take Synephrine?

Dose: 1 capsule a day, never more. Liquid: a large glass of water. When: in the morning on waking. How often: one intake a day. Duration: the manufacturer sets no precise duration but recommends a periodic break.

One discrepancy has to be flagged, and we will not pass over it in silence. The manufacturer suggests taking it “before training”; the ANSES opinion, on the contrary, recommends avoiding the consumption of synephrine during intense physical exercise. Between the two, we follow ANSES: take the capsule in the morning, well away from your session. That is the advice we give over the counter, and it deliberately differs from the leaflet.

Second instruction, and this one is absolute: never combine this product with another source of caffeine or stimulant without medical advice. That includes coffee, tea, energy drinks and above all pre-workouts, which commonly contain 200 to 350 mg of caffeine. The manufacturer says so, and so does ANSES: on this point there is no debate.

The manufacturer also advises against taking it late in the day, so as not to disturb sleep. With 100 capsules in the bottle, it covers more than three months — so plan the breaks it recommends rather than running through it without interruption.

Who is this product for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at healthy adults engaged in a structured weight loss approach who want a single active ingredient with its standardisation stated. On that last point, the label is exemplary: one extract, one standardisation figure, one active molecule content.

The list of contraindications is one of the longest in the catalogue, and it needs to be read in full. The product is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and adolescents, people on medical treatment, or people suffering from cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, glaucoma, diabetes, prostate adenoma, depression or thyroid disorders. If any one of these applies to you, this product is not for you, and that is not negotiable.

It is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans, as the shell is made of gelatine. Traces of GLUTEN (wheat and oats), NUTS, PEANUT, EGG, MILK, FISH and SOYA are possible. Nor is it for you if you drink coffee during the day or already take a caffeinated pre-workout booster: stacking stimulants is precisely what the health authorities ask you to avoid.

What not to expect from it, and we will be blunt: this product does not make you lose weight. No claim exists, which means no European authority has validated any effect. Nor is it a pre-workout, or an appetite suppressant. If your calorie deficit is not in place, this bottle will change absolutely nothing.

Synephrine or a stimulant-free fat burner?

That is the real choice in this category, and it does not come down to effectiveness — neither family has an authorised claim — but to the balance between constraints and sensations.

A caffeine-free fat burner cannot be felt and imposes no constraints: no timing to respect, no stacking to watch, no cardiovascular contraindication. It is the better choice for the vast majority of people, and by far the safest. You will feel nothing at all, which is precisely the point.

Synephrine belongs to the other family, the actives with a stimulant effect, like the thermogenics in the fat burners section. It is only of interest in one specific case: you want a single active, dosed below the threshold recommended by ANSES, with no caffeine added to the formula — which leaves you in full control of your other intakes. That is a genuine advantage over a complete thermogenic in which caffeine is imposed on you.

The advice we actually give over the counter: if you drink coffee, walk on by. And if you are going to add a single supplement during a deficit, take a protein rather than a fat burner — protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass is an authorised claim, and that is what a diet really hinges on.

Frequently asked questions

Is 19.8 mg of p-synephrine a lot?

It is just under the threshold of 20 mg a day recommended by ANSES for synephrine in supplements intended for athletes. In other words: the dose is set at the maximum of what is advised, and there is no margin. One capsule a day, never two, and nothing else alongside it.

Can it be combined with a coffee or a pre-workout?

No. The manufacturer advises against it and ANSES recommends avoiding the combination of synephrine with caffeine. A pre-workout commonly delivers 200 to 350 mg of caffeine: stacking is exactly what should be avoided. On this specific point, there is no room for compromise.

Should it be taken before training?

The manufacturer suggests it, but ANSES recommends avoiding the consumption of synephrine during intense physical exercise. We follow ANSES: take the capsule in the morning, well away from your session. It is a deliberate departure from the leaflet, and we would rather explain it than keep quiet about it.

What is the difference between 330 mg and 19.8 mg?

The first figure is the weight of the plant extract, the second the weight of the p-synephrine it contains, at a standardisation of 6%. It is the second one you should compare from one product to another. A label that gives an extract weight without a standardisation figure allows no comparison at all.

How long does a bottle last?

More than three months, at one capsule a day for 100 capsules. The manufacturer recommends periodic breaks rather than uninterrupted use: plan them from the outset rather than running straight through to the last tablet.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

No, the shell is made of gelatine of animal origin. The contents, on the other hand, are indeed a plant extract of bitter orange. The manufacturer also reports possible traces of gluten, nuts, peanut, egg, milk, fish and soya.

Why are there so many contraindications?

Because synephrine is an active with a stimulant effect, structurally close to molecules that act on the cardiovascular system. The manufacturer rules out in particular cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, glaucoma, diabetes, prostate adenoma, depression and thyroid disorders. That list is not decorative: read it before buying.

Where to buy IO Genix Synephrine?

The bottle of 100 capsules can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. Three months per bottle: this is a purchase that belongs to the long run, not to a moment of impulse.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product in front of which we ask three questions before selling: do you drink coffee, are you on any medication, and what time do you train? A single wrong answer is enough to put it back on the shelf, and that happens often. The rest of the range can be compared in our sports nutrition section.

Source: ANSES.