Can Yohimbine help you lose weight? It is a popular in ingredient in many diet pills and body supplements due to its fat burning potential. Read on to find out if it actually works and if it’s safe to take.

Yohimbine is an ingredient sourced from the bark of the yohimbine tree. It has a longstanding reputation as an aphrodisiac and is becoming an increasingly common inclusion in bodybuilding supplements and weight loss formulations.
Yohimbine has also been used to treat a number of other common problems:
- Depression
- Exhaustion
- Diabetic complications
Its potential in any of the above areas is highly debatable, but it may have merit as a fat burner.
Weight loss is a huge issue in our society. It seems like everybody has an opinion on what’s the best way to lose weight and keep it off for good. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers when it comes to losing weight! But, some people believe that Yohimbine might be able to help with this problem. Let’s take a closer look at how Yohimbine can help you get rid of excess fat around your stomach and thighs while helping you feel more energized and focused–without any side effects!
Table of Contents
Can Yohimbine Help You Lose Weight
Once ingested, yohimbine causes the body temperature to increase slightly. This “thermogenic” process speeds the metabolism and creates a condition where the body is apt to burn calories faster than normal.
When placed in this situation the body uses up its available calories (provided by food) so fast it is forced to source extra calories from elsewhere; and the first port of call is invariably its preferred calorie store – body fat.
As well as creating a situation that is favourable to fat burning, yohimbine is also believed to aid lipolysis.
Although a lack of calories may trigger a need for fat burning, lipolysis is the process that makes it possible. Once lipolysis has been initiated triglycerides (fatty acids) are released from adipose tissues and broken down.
The resulting glycerol is then transported to the liver for processing so that it can be used to provide energy.
Unfortunately, although some scientific studies support the claims made for yohimbine’s abilities as a weight loss supplier not all studies are supportive of its lipolysis-enhancing abilities.
Yohimbine Scientific Studies
In one study, conducted at the Silesian School of Medicine in Katowice, Poland, 20 obese women were placed on a diet that supplied 1,000 calories per day.
This continued for three weeks, after which 10 of the women were given yohimbine each day for a further three weeks. The other 10 women received a placebo and both groups continued to consume 1,000 calories per day.
After the end of the three week period the researchers examined the data and discovered the yohimbine group had lost 3.55kg. The placebo group had also lost weight but, at 2.21kg, the amount of weight lost was considerably less.
The data also suggested yohimbine had failed to influence lipolysis. However, the data collected during a separate study, this time conducted on male volunteers at the Université Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France, suggests yohimbine does provide lipolysis.
There is also a study to determine the effects of yohimbine supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in professional soccer players
Improving the Chances of Dieting Success with Yohimbine
Although much of the evidence available suggests yohimbine can be an effective weight loss ingredient, any results achieved can be greatly improved upon by using yohimbine as part of an overall weight management routine that includes a low calorie diet and plenty of exercise.
Yohimbine Dosage & Side Effects
The recommended dose for adults is 15-30mg per day. Supplements that provide higher quantities are probably best avoided because yohimbine is also a stimulant and side effects cannot be ruled out if it is consumed in unsafe amounts.
Further Considerations
Yohimbine is also reputed to boost testosterone levels and encourage the growth of lean muscle tissue. For this reason the ingredient is highly favoured by bodybuilders.
Muscle tissue is known to burn calories more efficiently than fatty tissue, so if the body develops and increased percentage of lean muscle mass more calories will be burned each day and this, of course, will help speed the weight loss process.
Concluding Thoughts on Yohimbine and Weight Loss
Much of the evidence available suggest yohimbine is effective for weight loss, but there is enough conflicting information to suggest further study is probably warranted.
It is also an ingredient that may not be a viable option for all users because not everyone can tolerate stimulants or dietary blends that utilize them in their formulations.
It may also prove to be a better option for bodybuilders than for people who merely wish to lose weight because its stimulatory abilities could be used to add a little extra intensity to training sessions.
The fact that yohimbine can improve muscle mass also makes it a good option for bodybuilders. As a weight loss provider, it does have potential, but many other ingredients can easily outperform it as a fat burner, so less athletically inclined dieters may wish to explore their options a little before deciding to use yohimbine as their main weight loss provider.
Diet Pills and Weight Loss Supplements Containing Yohimbine
Here is list of just of the popular weight loss pills and fat burners that have the ingredient within its formula.
Burn Evolved | Sculpt Nation |
Cellucor SuperHD | Cellucor |
LeanFire XT | Force Factor |
Further Reading
There are plenty more ingredients to look at in your fat burning supplements. Follow the link below for more information.
Find out which 15 weight loss ingredients are considered to be the most effective.