# Cortislim

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cortislim/207683>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 16, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cortislim/207683 "2003-10-16T00:35:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GregE625](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b77776/32.png) [@GregE625](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GregE625)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cortislim/207683/1 "2003-10-16T00:35:44Z")

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OK, time for another SDMB debunking. Cortislim is a new weight loss pill that promises results without requiring diet or exercise. The ingredients are the same list of herbal supplements in a lot of magic herb pills. The pitch is that it blocks (or balances) a harmful amount of Cortisol, a human hormone. Here is the basis of their pitch:

**Unfortunately, while small amounts of cortisol are a “good” thing, too much cortisol, for too long, is most certainly a “bad” thing because it leads us to develop a number of adverse health conditions. Elevated cortisol levels have been associated with a wide range of health effects from increased appetite, to weight gain, to diabetes, to depression.**

Here are the ingredients:

**Vitamin C, calcium, chromium, Cortiplex Blend (magnolia bark extract, beta-sitosterol, theanine), Leptiplex Blend (green tea extract, bitter orange peel extract), Insutrol Blend (banaba leaf extract, vanadium).**

So there you have it. A real solution for people with stress-induced weight gain, or just more hokum? And can’t those ingredient easily be duplicated with supplements from any health store?

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cortislim/207683/2 "2003-10-16T05:04:41Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> The hormone cortisol, which is released in the body during stressed or agitated states, has gained widespread attention as the so-called “stress hormone.” But this hormone is more than a simple marker of stress levels- **it is necessary for the functioning of almost every part of the body.** Excesses or deficiencies of this crucial hormone are also lead to various physical symptoms and disease states.
> 
> – snip –
> 
> **The body possesses an elaborate feedback system for controlling cortisol secretion and regulating the amount of cortisol in the bloodstream.** The pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain, makes and secretes a hormone known as adrenocorticotrophin, or ACTH. Secretion of ACTH signals the adrenal glands to increase cortisol production and secretion. The pituitary, in turn, receives signals from the hypothalamus of the brain in the form of the hormone CRH, or corticotropin-releasing hormone, which signals the pituitary to release ACTH. Almost immediately after a stressful event, the levels of the regulatory hormones ACTH and CRH increase, causing an immediate rise in cortisol levels. When cortisol is present in adequate (or excess) amounts, a negative feedback system operates on the pituitary gland and hypothalamus which alerts these areas to reduce the output of ACTH and CRH, respectively, in order to reduce cortisol secretion when adequate levels are present.

(Emphasis mine.) Source: [An Overview of Stress Management](http://stress.about.com/library/weekly/aa012901a.htm)

> [@](#):
>
> Blood and urine tests for cortisol are used to help diagnose Cushing’s syndrome and Addison’s disease, two serious adrenal disorders. Cushing’s syndrome is caused by too much cortisol, while Addison’s disease is caused by damage to the adrenal, and is associated with too little cortisol. If cortisol is abnormal, your doctor will do additional testing to confirm the diagnosis so that you can receive treatment.

Source: [Cortisol - Lab Tests Online](http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cortisol/test.html)

“Increased appetite, to weight gain, to diabetes, to depression …” are the least of your worries with elevated cortisol levels.  
😃