XLS Medical are one of the best known weight loss product brands in the UK, Ireland and Europe. If you buy an XLS-Medical product you know you will be purchasing quality. So how does their new Okranol diet pill, Ultra 5 stack up?
XLS Medical Ultra 5 Summary: A highly reputable manufacturer and sold widely in the UK (at Boots, Lloyds chemists and Holland and Barrett stores in the high street).
It makes our ‘nearly’ list – we feel there are better, more cost effective products available. The apparent lack of a money back guarantee is a negative.
IN OUR OPINION: Look Elsewhere
We prefer diet products that offer multiple weight loss benefits. For this reason we recommend PhenQ diet supplement – a multi action fat burner, fat blocker and appetite suppressant. It has a great track record and rated highly by customers and industry critics.
Table of Contents
What is XLS-Medical Ultra 5 ?
Things used to be simple when XLS-Medical only offered one fat binder. Now the brand offers several. The latest one is called XLS-Medical Ultra 5 and, if the marketing pitch is to be believed, it can help you to lose up to five times more weight than you could with diet and exercise alone.
Most of the other XLS-Medical weight-loss supplements are tablets. Ultra 5 is a capsule so this is somewhat of a break from the norm. However, capsule-type supplements and medications tend to be faster acting.
Capsules also generally have greater bioavailability and never present an unpleasant taste or odor. So, all things considered, the switch to capsules could be seen as a step forward.
Who Makes XLS-Medical Ultra 5?
The XLS-Medical brand name was created by the Belgian pharmaceutical company Omega Pharma. In 2014, the company was purchased by the Perrigo Company plc.
Perrigo is an Irish–registered manufacturer that produces private label and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. Omega Pharma is still an active company but it’s now run as a Perrigo subsidiary.
Omega Pharma is a respected company. So is Perrigo. When you buy any product that bears the XLS-Medical brand name you know you are buying from a reputable manufacturer.
That’s the good news. The not so good news is XLS-Medical Ultra 5 does not appear have a money-back guarantee. If we have stated this in error then we will rectify and update.
XLS-Medical Ultra 5 Benefits
- Clinically proven to help you lose up to 5 times more weight than dieting alone
- Lowers BMI
- Reduces existing body fat
- Reduces centimeters around the waist and hips
- Supports healthy weight loss
- Results may be visible after a month
How Does XLS Medical Ultra 5 Work?
XLS-Medical Ultra 5 is a fat binder. It’s designed to be used in conjunction with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise.
As the term suggests, fat binders contain ingredients that bind with dietary fat and form an indigestible compound.
Because the body is no longer able to digest the bound fat, it cannot attain any of the calories the fat would normally provide. Fat contains seven calories per gram. It’s a high-energy food so fat binders like XLS-Medical Ultra 5 have the potential to aid the weight-loss process.
Fat binders need to be used as part of a low-calorie diet. The diet sets the stage for weight loss and the supplement helps you to lose more weight than you could do with your diet alone.
However, fat binders only offer very limited benefits. All they do is help you to reduce the number of calories your body gets each day. They do not help control hunger the way appetite suppressants do. Nor can they increase metabolism like fat burning supplements do.
Most dieters struggle with hunger. The fact that XLS-Medical Ultra 5 cannot control it, makes it a poor second to any good multi-functional weight-loss product.
Correct Dosage and Other Usage Considerations
The manufacturer states XLS-Medical Ultra 5 should be used as part of a three-step system.
- Eat better
- Move more
- Take XLS-Medical
The usage guidelines also point out the value of tracking your weight.
The dose is two capsules, three times per day. You take the first two capsules after breakfast, follow up with two more capsules after lunch, and then take the final two capsules of the day after dinner.
You need to take the doses with a full glass of water. The manufacturer also points out the importance of drinking at least two liters of water per day. If you skip a meal, take your two capsules as normal.
XLS-Medical Ultra 5 is not intended for anyone under 18-years of age unless the treatment is being supervised by a medical professional. Nor is it for women who are pregnant or nursing a child or for anyone who has a BMI of 18.5 or less.
It’s also important not to take the capsules within two hours of taking fat-soluble vitamins or medications (including contraceptive pills).
Potential users who have existing medical conditions or would need to use the supplement alongside medication are advised to get a doctor’s approval before they start using XLS-Medical Ultra 5.
If you are thinking of using XLS-Medical Ultra 5, it’s important to be aware supplements of this nature have the potential to cause nutritional deficiencies.
Vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K are fat-soluble vitamins. You obtain them from dietary fats. For this reason, when you are using XLS-Medical Ultra 5, you may need to consider using a vitamin supplement as well.
XLS-Medical Ultra 5 Ingredient Profile
XLS-Medical Ultra 5 only has one active ingredient. It’s a patented proprietary blend called Okranol. Unfortunately, Nutra Pharma does not disclose how much of the ingredient a capsule provides.
The capsules also contain several additional ingredients but nothing that will have a bearing on the product’s ability to bind with fat.
Vegans and vegetarians will be glad to learn neither the capsule content or casing contain any animal extracts.
Ingredient Potential
Okranol is a proprietary blend of natural fiber developed by InQpharm. The company is a world leader in weight reduction solutions. It’s also responsible for a cactus-based proprietary blend called Litramine. Omega Pharma uses it in its original fat binding product.
During the development and testing stages, InQpharm used the formulation identity code IQP-AE-103.
Okranol (IQP-AE-103) contains dehydrated powder made from okra pods. It also contains inulin taken from chicory.
Also known as Lady’s Finger, okra is a vegetable that’s used in Caribbean, Cajun, and Creole cuisine.
It’s a nutritious vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked. Seeds taken from okra pods can be very useful for thickening soups and stews.
Dehydrated powder made from the pods has a notable ability to swell when combined with water. This may allow it to fill the stomach and suppress hunger. However, it’s important to be aware appetite suppression is not a benefit Omega Pharma claims for this product.
Some people say Okra is a fat binder but there is a lack of scientific evidence to support its value in this regard. [1]
Inulin is a prebiotic fiber. The body cannot digest it but it feeds the probiotic bacteria in the gut. This gives it the ability to provide indirect health benefits by helping to encourage a healthy gut microbiome.
Neither Okra nor Inulin appears to offer much value as fat binders. Nopal cactus extract and chitosan have far better credentials.
However, sometimes the whole can be greater than its parts and the claims Omega Pharma makes for Okranol are based on the way the proprietary blend performed in a clinical trial.
Okranol: A Look at the Supportive Evidence
It’s important to bear in mind the only evidence that supports using Okranol as a fat binder comes from a single clinical trial. Although the authors of the study declare there are no conflicts of interest, one of them identifies herself as an InQpharm employee.
The study was a double-blind, randomized, three-armed, placebo-controlled investigation that explored the ability of IQP-AE-103 to affect the weight of overweight and moderately obese people.
One-hundred-and-eight volunteers took part and the study was conducted over 12 weeks.
The volunteers were split into three groups. The members of one group were given IQP-AE-103 three times per day after their meals. Another group got a placebo three times per day, while the third and final group got the supplement but only received a 50 percent dose. All the participants were instructed to eat a nutritious, low-calorie diet.
After 12 weeks, the placebo group members lost an average of 0.98 kg. The volunteers who got the supplement in a low dose lost an average of 3.01 kg. This is a notable improvement on the placebo group. However, the people who got the full dose did even better because they lost an average of 5.03 kg. There were no reports of side effects.
Again, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact this is the only study that suggests XLS-Medical Ultra 5 may do the things Omega Pharma claims.
However, presuming the data was recorded accurately and without bias, IQP-AE-103 allowed the study participants to lose up to five times more weight than the participants who had to rely on diet alone.
XLS-Medical Ultra 5 Customer Reviews
At the time of this review, XLS-Medical Ultra 5 was still a new product and hadn’t been available for long, so there was not much customer feedback. However, the feedback available suggests the product is a bit hit and miss. Some customers say XLS-Medical Ultra 5 is helping them to lose extra weight. Others say it is not.
A 5-Star Customer Review
A 1-Star Customer Review
Known Side Effects
The manufacturer does not mention if side effects are a possibility but ill effects don’t seem likely.
However, XLS-Medical Ultra 5 is a fat binder. Products of this nature cause you to pass undigested fat with your stool. This can make the feces softer than normal and may cause diarrhea.
The likelihood of diarrhea increases if you use fat binding products and continue to eat a lot of fatty food. Some people do this because they hope to use their chosen fat binding product as a cheat pill. Don’t make this mistake.
When your diet is high in fat, using a fat binder may give you explosive diarrhea. This type of reaction can come out of the blue and may have embarrassing consequences. Adopt a cheat pill mentality any you could mess up badly.
Where to Buy XLS-Medical Ultra 5
If you live in the UK or Europe, XLS-Medical Ultra 5 shouldn’t be a difficult supplement to buy. It’s available in many pharmacies and supermarkets. It’s also possible to obtain a supply via Amazon and certain online stores.
Although the name seems as though (medical) you would require a prescription (such as Phentermine) – you do not.
However, if you live outside of Europe, finding a supplier is likely to be much harder unless you can find an online store that offers international shipping.
Each box contains 84 capsules. That’s a two-week supply. Depending on where you shop and any special offers that may be in place, the price is generally £45 – £60 per box.
XLS-Medical Ultra 5 Review Conclusion
One of the main problems with this product is the price. Choosing XLS-Medical Ultra 5 as your weight-loss partner could entail a spend of £100 or more each month. That’s a lot of money to gamble on a product that doesn’t have a money-back guarantee.
The other thing to remember is the product only has limited value. It’s a fat binder. Nothing else.
Although the presence of okra may help take the edge off your appetite it’s unlikely to offer a great deal of support. If it was capable of doing so, the manufacturers would highlight the ability in the marketing material.
The lack of customer reviews is also a problem. As is the fact that the reviews that are available suggest the product is hit and miss at best. One-hundred pounds per month is a lot of money to pay for a product that may let you down.
Fat binders are a strange option at the best of times. If you are seriously trying to lose weight, you will be deliberately limiting your fat intake. That means a fat binder will not have much dietary fat to block. Get your diet right and a fat blocker probably won’t make much difference at all.
A lot of people who find this type of product attractive are looking for a way to continue eating fat without gaining weight.
As already mentioned earlier in this XLS-Medical Ultra 5 review, eating a lot of fat with a fat binder can entail the type of consequences nobody would want.
Can XLS-Medical Ultra 5 help you to lose weight? It may offer some level of value to certain individuals but there are alternative options in our opinion that can offer a lot more.
Recommended reading: 100’s of dietary supplements reviewed and rated – which is the current top weight loss pill
Top FAQ’s
Yes, it can be ordered from many online stores and also from Amazon.
Yes, it is suitable for everyone (both men and women) over the age of 18.