If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you know it can be frustrating and confusing. With so many weight loss aids promising quick and easy results, it can be hard to know what to believe.
BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine is marketed as a powerful fat-loss supplement, but the effectiveness of such supplements has long been a subject of debate.
It’s easy to get caught up in the hype and hope that a pill or powder can magically melt away unwanted pounds, but the reality is often different.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty with the BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine review.
Quick Overview of BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine
This supplement is a combination of CLA and carnitine, so it is essential that you better understand what these two chemicals are right from the start.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a type of fatty acid. It is naturally present in dairy and beef, and its content is incomparably higher if the animal is grass-fed.
It is a naturally occurring trans-fat, which may sound very bad. But CLA is a natural type of trans fat, which makes it significantly different from the notorious trans fats present in junk food.
CLA is present in this and many other similar supplements due to its effect on body fat reduction. Evidence on this is mixed. (1) (2)
L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid. The brain, liver, and kidneys produce it. This supplement has different forms, and it is popular because it can help with a wide range of problems.
Impact on brain function, heart health, and hormonal disorders are just some of the reasons why carnitine is famous. In this case, we are interested in its role in energy production.
Theoretically, L-carnitine is perfect for weight loss because it moves fatty acids into your cells, and then the cells use fat as fuel, thus burning it. However, theory and practice differ, so studies failed to confirm this benefit of carnitine. (3)
Pros and Cons of BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine
Product Pros
Product Cons
When we take a look at the number of pros and cons, it seems pretty even. But what does not speak in favor of BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine supplement is that the importance of the cons outweighs the advantages.
Price, mixability, and flavors are surely some of the basic characteristics that every customer will analyze, and this supplement will receive good grades there.
Yet, after you check out the cons, you will realize that these are fundamental features compared to pros – proprietary blends, lack of scientific evidence, and multiple filler ingredients will deter any experienced and informed buyer.
BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine Ingredient Profile
The ingredient profile of CLA + Carnitine is not something that the BPI Sports company can boast about.
A proprietary blend is actually a fancy name for hiding quantities and ratios of ingredients. It is considered a trade secret because it is unique. There are exceptions, but it’s usually just a way to make cheaper supplements and create hype.
BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine is based on two proprietary blends, as well as some other ingredients. Now I’ll break them down:
- Omega 6 fatty acids & CLA matrix – coconut oil powder, avocado oil powder, safflower oil powder – 2.5 grams
It is obvious why safflower is present because it is one of the most popular sources of CLA, although it is not as good as many think. Safflower oil powder in this blend is obtained from seeds.
Avocado oil powder allegedly also helps metabolize fat and has other health benefits. Their role in this supplement is vague, and the main problem is we do not know how many grams of CLA you will find in these 2.5 grams.
- Carnitine matrix – Carnitine betaine anhydrous, L-carnitine L-tartrate, Glycine Propionyl L-carnitine HCl – 2 grams
The carnitine matrix is definitely better than the CLA matrix. It consists of three different forms of carnitine, each with its own benefits. At least we know there are no other ingredients in it.
- Vitamin D3 – 10,000 IU
I don’t know why this supplement contains such a high dose of vitamin D3. It is an essential vitamin, but it is significantly above the recommended 1000 to 4000 IU daily.
Studies have shown that much more than 10,000 IU can be taken without major health risks. (4) Still, there needs to be a proper explanation for 10,000 IU, even though higher vitamin D levels may aid weight loss. If you are already taking vitamin D supplementation, stop while using BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine.
- Other ingredients
Maltodextrin, silica, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, sucralose, malic acid, acesulfame K, and sodium chloride complete the list of ingredients.
Without going into much detail, all these substances are common in supplements. Mostly these are artificial sweeteners, flavors, and substances that prevent texture change, such as clumping up or sticking together. They are safe and suitable for human consumption, although we lack long-term studies. (5)
How Does BPI CLA + Carnitine Taste?
The taste is subjective and can vary from person to person, but we can agree the taste of BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine is satisfactory.
It is available in 5 different flavors:
- Championship Melon
- Snow Cone
- Watermelon Freeze
- Fruit Punch
- Rainbow Ice
Fruit Punch is a typical sweet and fruity flavor, one of the most popular supplement flavors. Snow Cone and Watermelon Ice are good options if you want something more refreshing.
A few customers noted that the taste is slightly artificial, but I didn’t have the same impression. Of course, it is not as natural as freshly squeezed orange juice, but it is good, and the mixability is perfect. You won’t find any lumps after shaking it.
Is BPI CLA + Carnitine Safe to Take?
BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine is generally considered safe when used as directed. Both CLA and L-carnitine are naturally occurring substances and are also obtained through the diet, so supplementing with them is generally well-tolerated.
There is no reliable info on whether BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine is third-party tested for purity and potency, which would help to ensure that the supplement contains what it says it does and is free of contaminants. Nevertheless, the company complies with cGMPs (Current Good Manufacturing Practices), so you don’t need to worry.
Potential Side Effects of BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine
The most common side effects of CLA and L-carnitine supplements are not different from any other dietary supplement, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These mild side effects can often be managed by taking the supplement with food or reducing the dosage. In rare cases, CLA and L-carnitine supplements cause allergic reactions.
Both chemicals can moderately interact with anticoagulants (prevent blood clots.) CLA lowers blood pressure and may reduce it too much if taken together with high blood pressure medications. Thyroid hormones interact with carnitine.
The study has suggested that high doses of CLA supplements might increase the risk of insulin resistance. (6) More research is needed about this potential risk.
As always, it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking a supplement for the first time.
How BPI CLA + Carnitine Compares to Other Options
Let’s take a look at how BPI’s CLA + Carnitine compares to GNC’s version, which is one of the top sellers on Amazon.
| BPI CLA + Carnitine | GNC CLA + Carnitine | |
| Price | $27.69 | $34.99 |
| Servings Per Container | 50 | 60 |
| Cost Per Serving | $0.55 | $0.58 |
| CLA | Proprietary blend | 1.7 grams |
| Carnitine | Proprietary blend | 1 gram |
| Flavor Quality | Great | Not the best flavor |
It’s crystal clear that the GNC CLA + Carnitine is better. Instead of proprietary blends, GNC CLA + Carnitine contains 1.7 grams of CLA and 1 gram of carnitine, so we know exactly what we’re paying for. Also, there are fewer added ingredients, which is always a plus.
Price is a non-factor because the cost per serving is almost identical.
The only advantage of BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine is the taste, but it is insignificant compared to the ingredient profile.
Overall Opinion on BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine
Countless manufacturers on the market claim that you will lose fat, gain muscle, and be perfectly healthy if you use their supplements. So, it is strange that the Mr. Olympia contest doesn’t have millions of participants every year.
All jokes aside, it’s important to approach these products with a critical eye and do your research before investing your hard-earned money.
And BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine is not a good supplement by any means. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not dangerous, and it certainly won’t harm you.
But it is highly doubtful whether you will benefit at all from consuming it.
Overall Rating of this Supplement: 2/5
The overall rating is 2 out of 5.
BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine deserved such a low rate because of the ingredient profile – proprietary blends, an unreasonably high dose of vitamin D3, and a bunch of artificial ingredients.
Another reason is the lack of studies that irrefutably prove that combining CLA and carnitine is effective for weight loss.
If you are going to opt for a fat-burning supplement, we’d recommend going with a product like the highly-potent Shogun Fat Burner. You can see our full review for that here.Â
Otherwise, if you still want to go with a CLA + Carnitine supplement, opt for the GNC CLA + Carnitine, which would be our preferred version.Â
Conclusion
While weight loss supplements such as BPI Sports CLA + Carnitine may seem like an attractive solution to shedding pounds, the reality is that the potency of such products is often questionable at best.
Nothing can replace a healthy diet and regular gym visits.
Furthermore, weight loss is a complex process that requires a holistic approach. It’s not just about cutting calories or taking a supplement – it’s about making sustainable lifestyle changes that you can stick to for the long haul. Otherwise, your progress will only be short-term until you uncontrollably gain weight all over again.
