Truth or BS

[SinginHawk]

http://www.gammao.com/index.asp

What do you all think about this?

Swale you got got any thoughts?

[HeadDoc]

given that the products are all orals, what do you think? No ingredients are listed. I liked the pictures with the babes. They are pretty hot.

[SinginHawk]

This is what they say.

http://www.gammao.com/whatisgammao.asp

[ASaxon]

From their website this is what I could deduce. Here's some quotes I found to start this discussion:

“An extract from rice bran oil, Gamma Oryzanol supplies ferulic acid.”

“It [ferulic acid] appears to enhance the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system and to promote endorphin release by the hypothalamus-actions which may regulate blood vessel tone and influence hormonal release patterns.”

So from what I can gather from the above and from the rest of the website, it appears to over stimulate the Hypothalamus, through the nervous system feedback pathway, into over releasing GnRH which in turn causes the Pituitary to over -release FSH and LH which in turn causes (for men) the Leydig cells in the testicles to over produce Testosterone, thus raising normal levels of testosterone.

Okay, so here’s the simplified deal from what I can deduce .

From what I understand Hypothalamus excretion of GnRH to the pituitary is largely based on Testosterone levels and secondarily based on central nervous system stimulation. If the hypothalamus has a GnRH production problem then it’s unlikely that enough nervous system stimulation will cause it to create enough GnRH to cause normality of T levels. If the hypogonadal problem is with the hypothalamus’ ability to be stimulated by the nervous system then this product doesn’t appear that it would work since the hypothalamus wouldn’t significantly increase GnRH from nervous system stimulation alone.

I know that the Pituitary itself is stimulated via the central nervous system as wel but I don't know enough to speculate on whether that is enough to cause normal production of LH and FSH given the negative stimulation of low GnRH. My guess is that nervous stimulation of the Pituitary alone isn't enough to produce normal LH and FSH levels. But that's just a guess.

If the hypogonadal problem is with the hypothalamus’ ability to detect and react to Testosterone levels then this product may cause some level of increase but since the hypothalamus is also being suppressed due to it’s inability to detect and react to low T then the amount of GnRH produced by nervous system stimulation alone doesn’t seem like it would be enough to stimulate any significant increase in T. It may be able to increase T some but my layman’s guess is that it wouldn’t be enough to effectively treat the hypogonadal state.

If the problem is with the Pituitary not being able to produce LH or FSH then even increased doses of GnRG from the hypothalamus wouldn’t help. So this product wouldn’t seem to work in this situation either.

Finally, if the hypogonadal state is due to testicular dysfunction (Primary) then no amount of increased LH or FSH from the Pituitary is going to get the testicles to produce more testosterone. So in this case his product doesn’t appear to be able to help.

So in conclusion, from what I can ascertain, this produce could work well for men with normal, or a potential for normal, function of the HPG axis but would not likely work for men with an actual functional problem in the HPG axis.

Of course this is all based on my layman’s understanding of the HPG axis but it seem right to me. If I’m wrong I’m sure someone will correct me so I can learn.

[stat1951]

"Gamma O" (Gamma Oryzanol) has been around as a supplement for several years (one site listed it as having been isolated in Japan about 50 years ago)... and has - over the years - had a number of claims made for it... most of which never worked out.

I prefer to check out reports concerning a supplement from a site that isn't selling it also (that particular site you posted is outrageously overpriced)...

So, check out some of the unbiased reports on Gamma-O....

http://members.aol.com/ecsportrd/Ergogenic.htm
Gamma-Oryzanol (a plant sterol, a ferulic acid ester derived from rice bran oil). Claim: Increases serum testosterone and growth hormone levels, enhances muscle growth. Fact: Oryzanol is comprised of ferulates of the phytosterols stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and cycloartenol. The structural similarity of oryzanol and its plant sterols to cholesterol have led to numerous claims that these plant sterols, like cholesterol, can be converted to testosterone. Oryzanol and its components are purported to provide the same benefits as anabolic steroids, but without the side effects. Oryzanol isn't anabolic because it can't be converted to testosterone by the human body. Due to poor absorption characteristics of oryzanol and plants sterols (less than 5%)...

Also, how come people who sell it quote the claims of "clinical studies" of "up to 800% increase in testosterone".... but never cite the actual study???

This site at least quoted some actual studies:

http://www.coxnet.org/library/health...wid=hn-1015003
Gamma oryzanol is a mixture of sterols and ferulic acid esters. Despite claims that gamma oryzanol or its components increase testosterone levels, stimulate the release of endorphins, and promote the growth of lean muscle tissue, research has provided little support for these claims and has also shown gamma-oryzanol to be poorly absorbed. 293 A recent nine-week, double-blind trial of 500 mg per day of gamma-oryzanol in weight lifters found no benefit compared with placebo in strength performance gains or circulating anabolic hormones. 294 (293) Wheeler KB, Garleb KA. Gamma oryzanol-plant sterol supplementation: metabolic, endocrine, and physiologic effects. Int J Sport Nutr 1991;1:170-7 [review]. (294) Fry AC, Bonner E, Lewis DL, et al. The effects of gamma-oryzanol supplementation during resistance exercise training. Int J Sport Nutr 1997;7:318-29

http://www.simplebasic.com/Library/E...cfm/Id/2850009
(Note that it got a two star rating for gastritis and only a one-star rating for "improving athletic performance".... also note this part - Larry):
Are there any side effects or interactions? Some research suggests that gamma oryzanol taken in moderately high amounts (up to 600 mg per day) for several months can cause dry mouth, sleepiness, hot flushes, irritability, and light headedness...

http://www.althealth.co.uk/services/...a_oryzanol.php
A 1997 study tested the effect of gamma-oryzanol supplements during resistance (strength) training in 22 college-aged males who had been weight training for more than one year. The subjects were divided into two groups. One group took a 500mg gamma-oryzanol supplement daily for nine weeks. The second group took a placebo (an inactive substance). Both groups completed the same weight-training program. The researchers measured body composition, muscle strength, power, heart rate, blood pressure, hormones such as testosterone, and blood lipids such as cholesterol. Measurements were taken after four and nine weeks. Both groups benefited from the weight-training program but the group who received the gamma-oryzanol did not show any additional benefits. The researchers concluded that the gamma-oryzanol supplements did not help in any way.... The authors of the 1990 studies thought the results were promising but in need of more research. The 1997 study measured more aspects in a larger number of people and is considered the strongest study. The results of that study would not support the use of gamma-oryzanol as a performance enhancer... It is interesting to note that in rat studies where gamma-oryzanol was injected, growth hormone manufacture and release was decreased – not increased as many supplements claim.

In fact, if anyone has a link to the cited study which claims testosterone increases of "up to 800%", please post it or forward it to me as I cannot find iit or a legitimate reference to it.

Larry

[ASaxon]

They have some case studies on their website.

http://www.gammao.com/casestudies.asp

But as this isn't a double-blind study I'd just take it for what it's worth. Plus, these case studies were performed by the company selling the product. So, they're just interesting, nothing more.

[stat1951]

Thanks.

Obviously not under a controlled setting - much less double-blind or placebo-controlled.

I have to imagine that if Gamma-O could actually increase testosterone by up to 800% and (their quote) "works as well, if not better, than prescription testosterone, with none of the side effects"... that the bodybuilding world would have been all over this product years ago!

Larry

[JoeyNess]

Gamma-O Servings Per Container: 32
only $99.97 per bottle Uh-----ohhhh thats where it went wrong

Anyone here try the stuff

[ASaxon]

Well, if the studies show that it doesn't raise T then that's that. But I’d have to look at the studies to understand how their data was interpreted. I think with the nervous system mechanism they seem to use, it wouldn’t raise T high enough, let alone that it wouldn’t likely work at all for people with non-induced hypogonadism. *shrug*

[HeadDoc]

the products are still orals. Hence the effects on kidney and liver is still questionnable relative to overall health.

[cpeil2]

A quick and dirty medline search doesn't provide much support for their claims. Four pages of references. A fair amount of support for the proposistion that it may have some cholestrol-lowering effect. Nearly zero support for the proposition that it has a performance-enhancing effect, or any effect on the hypothalamus (a few rat studies that are way old).

It's an isolate from rice bran oil, which IS supposed to be one of the most beneficial nutritinal oils there is.

[HeadDoc]

so you are thinking that the real effect is not glandular. Rather, there may be a CNS effect like a nootropic or an agent to increase acetylcholine. Interesting. Many of the nootropics and brain boosters are isolates from rice and potatoes.

[SprintR]

LOL. They were pushing this product in the all the muscle mags in the 80s. It didn't work then, so I can't imagine it would work now....