Plexus Accelerator Plus Review
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By CANDICE GREY ConsumersCompare.org Update: Jul 16, 2024 |
On July 30, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filed Warning Letter against the business. The Warning Letter alleges the business is in violation of FDA regulations, prohibiting the business from misbranding and incorrect marketing language without approval. The matter is pending. [1]
Company Contact Information: 9145 E Pima Center Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85258-4627. Phone: 480-998-3490. The 30-day supply (60 capsules) in its light pink bottle costs $40.00 plus shipping on the Plexus Worldwide website, or from one of their “Ambassadors.” The company offers a 60-day money back guarantee for all of their supplements, and products.
To request a refund, simply contact Customer Service at 480-998-3490. One of our agents will get to work quickly processing your refund and answering your questions. This guarantee can only be used once per product and excludes certain promotional items. If you have purchased a Plexus product directly from your Ambassador, your Ambassador will issue a refund to you. [2]
Plexus Accelerator Plus Claims
Want to turn up the heat? Plexus Accelerator [Plus] helps boost the body’s metabolic rate and burn fat more efficiently with a number of active ingredients such as Higenamine and Green Tea Extract. [3]
- Helps burn fat more efficiently
- Can help boost the body’s metabolic rate
- Gluten Free
- 100% Vegetarian [3]
These statements are not FDA-evaluated, naturally, and the standard disclaimer is in place. That’s really all they say, at least in terms of website advertising. There may well be a whole spiel in the Ambassador binder, but they don’t share it here.
back to menu ↑Plexus Accelerator Plus Ingredients
- Proprietary Blend 950 mg: yerba mate (leaf) extract, higenamine hydrochloride, hordenine hydrochloride, hawthorn (berry) extract, 5-HTP (Hydroxytryptophan from griffonia seed extract) green tea leaf extract.
- Niacin (as niacinamide), 20 mg
- Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine hydrochloride), 30 mg (fifteen hundred times the recommended daily amount)
- Folic Acid, 400 mcg (micrograms)
- Vitamin B12 (as methylcobalamin), 500 mcg (this is over eight thousand times the recommended daily amount)
- Calcium (as calcium glycinate), 16 mg
- Chromium (as chromium picolinate), 150 mcg [3]
A few warnings here: The Mayo Clinic warns about excessive doses of Vitamin B6—although the 30 mg in Plexus Accelerator Plus may not qualify as excessive, just high. Too much B6 may cause a whole laundry list of moderate to very serious health problems. And they do warn about pre-existing conditions:
Use cautiously in people who have heart conditions or stomach and intestine conditions. Use cautiously in people taking agents for Parkinson’s disease, as they may interact with vitamin B6. Avoid in people with known allergy or sensitivity to any ingredient in vitamin B6 products. Avoid in doses higher than 200 milligrams daily, due to the risk of nerve pain and seizures.Avoid high doses during pregnancy or breastfeeding. A special product has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use during pregnancy, but it should not be used long-term or in high doses without the guidance of a medical provider, due to the risk of seizures in infants. [4] (emphasis added)
Vitamin B12 doesn’t seem to have an overdose amount, but do keep in mind that the specific form of B12 Plexus Accelerator Plus uses, methylcobalamin, is most easily absorbed by the body, so that huge dose could still manifest some side effects. The Mayo Clinic advises caution with some pre-existing conditions on this one, too:
- Use cautiously in people with heart concerns, due to an increase in rates of restenosis (reoccurrence of narrowing of a blood vessel) after stent placement and vitamin B12 supplementation….
- in people with high blood pressure…
- in people with a history of cancer …
- in people with skin disorders, as rash, itching, and burning have been reported. Pink or red skin discoloration and facial flushing have also been reported. …
- in people with genitourinary concerns, as urine discoloration has been reported.
- in people with gastrointestinal concerns, as nausea, difficulty swallowing, and diarrhea have been reported. …
- in people with blood disorders, as it has been reported that treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to an increase in blood volume and the number of red blood cells. …
- in people with low serum levels of potassium, as … vitamin B12 may result in fatally low potassium levels. …
- in people with a history of gout, or elevated uric acid levels, as vitamin B12 may start a gout attack. …
- in people taking the following agents, as they have been associated with reduced absorption or reduced serum levels of vitamin B12: ACE inhibitors, acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), alcohol, antibiotics, anti-seizure agents, bile acid sequestrants, chloramphenicol, colchicine, H2 blockers, metformin, neomycin, nicotine, nitrous oxide, oral contraceptives, para-aminosalicylic acid, potassium chloride, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), tobacco, vitamin C, and zidovudine (AZT, Combivir®, Retrovir®). …
- in people sensitive or allergic to vitamin B12, cobalt, or any other product ingredient. …
- There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of larger amounts of vitamin B12 during pregnancy. [5]
Now we can look at that proprietary blend. Green Tea extract and Yerba mate are caffeine sources. Higenamine and Hordenine are both stimulants that speed the heart, blood pressure, and respiration (hordenine also affects the central nervous system). Hawthorn widens the blood vessels, actually lowering blood pressure in the extremities. And finally, HTP-5 stimulates serotonin production in the brain—serotonin is the neurotransmitter for relaxed, satiated, “good mood” emotions.
The Science (or Lack Thereof) Behind Plexus Accelerator Plus
There are no studies on the complete formula Plexus Accelerator Plus offers, but some of the ingredients have been under the proverbial and literal microscope. Let’s glance at a few. One study, done by the Korean Association for Laboratory Animal Science, tested the effects of Yerba Mate on mice fed a high-fat diet, to see how effective it was for overall weight loss and body composition. Their findings at the end of the 4-week study concluded that the overall body weight of the mice without any Yerba Mate increased. The mice who were given Yerba Mate along with the high-fat diet had a lower body composition and their blood glucose levels were significantly lower. [6] But consuming too much yerba mate isn’t good for your overall health due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in its genetic makeup. Long words, but the gist is this: these hydrocarbons are known to be carcinogenic, which can cause cancer in some forms. Yerba mate is best used in moderation to stay on the safe end of the side effects. [7] Green tea leaf extract, or just green tea in general, will always be a favorite around the world. There are so many different benefits to consuming this tea: risk reduction of certain cancers, aid in cardiovascular health, antibacterial benefits, as well as different anti-inflammatory benefits. A meta-study (review of all available studies to reach an overall conclusion; this one focused on English-language studies) published in the 2010 Chinese Medicine concluded,
Laboratory studies showed the health effects of green tea. As the human clinical evidence is still limited, future research needs to define the actual magnitude of health benefits, [establish] the safe range of tea consumption associated with these benefits, and [clarify] the mechanisms of action. [8]
A study published in the 2013 Lipids in Health and Disease aimed to show the effect of higenamine and what would happen to the plasma or free fatty acids after oral higenamine ingestion. They worked with a very small sample—just 16 subjects who completed the study—but the results were less than conclusive.
We report that a higenamine-based dietary supplement stimulates lipolysis and energy expenditure in young and healthy human subjects. The same supplement results in a moderate increase in heart rate (~3 bpm) and systolic blood pressure (~12 mmHg). Because the supplement contained a combination of higenamine, caffeine, and yohimbe bark extract, we are uncertain of the exact contribution of each of the three ingredients. Further well-controlled intervention trials are needed to determine the chronic effects of the supplement on body weight/fat loss and associated health related parameters. [9]
So while there may be some promise in the science behind individual ingredients, given what we know about the level of caffeine and cardio-stimulant effect of just these three supplements by themselves, combining them would seem to be a risky venture.
Word On The Street About Plexus Accelerator Plus
To my surprise, there were very few truly objective Plexus Accelerator Plus reviews to look at, as this product can only be purchased from a Plexus “Ambassador” or off of the main website, which eliminates a lot of chatter. And I never quite trust company website reviews; they tend to skew very positive, and I always wonder if there’s been a moderator sweep to pluck out the negative ones. And you never know who’s a using customer and who’s an Ambassador plugging it so they can sell more and make their bonus quotas. There’s plenty of chatter on the Better Business Bureau, though. And while a lot of them specify intense dissatisfaction with customer service issues, there’s always an undertone that the product really doesn’t do what it claims. We’ll look at three reviews across the spectrum. From “JC” (2017, negative review): “Plexus does not stand behind their products. I was led to believe by a diamond ambassador that if I gave the product more time they would work for me. Therefore, I missed the 60 day return window. The customer service I received while trying to obtain a refund was horrible. I received only canned responses as if they hadn’t even read my emails. Buyer beware, if you buy this expensive products you are stuck with them regardless if they work for you or not.” [10] “Abby” (2014, neutral review): “When I first started taking Plexus Slim w/ the Accelerator I really liked how it made me feel. I’m on 2 anti-depressants & an anti-anxiety med. I didn’t discuss using the Plexus Slim w/ my Psychiatrist before I started using it, but I will be discussing my concerns @ my next visit because of what I experienced when I ran out of the product. I’m not sure if my prescription meds had any affect [sic] on what happened. I was without any Plexus product for about 5 days before I drove an hour to borrow some from a friend pending the delivery of another order I placed. Each day without the product got worse. It was like withdrawal symptoms. I felt panicky, anxious, restless, fatigued & had headaches. I will be communicating this to Plexus Worldwide Inc after I obtain feedback from my Psychiatrist.” [10] And “MJ H.” (2017, positive review): “I’m so impressed with the products, I couldn’t help but share with others. I have found when you have a good Ambassador, there are no problems. You are taught what dosage to take the supplements if they don’t seem to be working properly. I’ve seen people’s health change taking Plexus. New and improved products are worked on regularly. I’m a believer.” [10]
back to menu ↑The Bottom Line: Is Plexus Accelerator Plus Worth A Try?
Risky. I’m always wary of multi-level companies, and even more wary of supplements with multiple stimulants in them. The overwhelming majority of medical problems come from these multi-ingredient supplements, because you never know which ingredient is messing with you. It’s better and safer in the long run to get with your doctor and try single-ingredient supplements until you know your own best combination.
