Home Ingredients Meratrim® (Sphaeranthus indicus + Garcinia mangostana)
Weight ManagementMetabolic Health

Meratrim® (Sphaeranthus indicus + Garcinia mangostana)

Sphaeranthus indicus + Garcinia mangostana
Evidence Level
Moderate
2 Clinical Trials
4 Documented Benefits
3/5 Evidence Score

Meratrim® is a proprietary 50:50 herbal blend of Sphaeranthus indicus flower heads and Garcinia mangostana fruit rinds, developed by InterHealth Nutraceuticals (now part of Lonza) for weight management. Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials — an 8-week US study by Stern and colleagues, and a 16-week Indian trial by Kudiganti and colleagues — report reductions in body weight, BMI, and waist and hip circumference at 800 mg/day in overweight adults. Important caveat: the most-cited Meratrim® RCTs are industry-sponsored by InterHealth/Lonza, and fully independent replication outside the sponsor's commercial network is limited. Consumers should weigh the positive trial data against the sponsorship pattern and treat the evidence base as suggestive but not yet definitively replicated.

Studied Dose Sponsor-funded RCTs used 400 mg twice daily (800 mg/day total) of Meratrim®, taken 30 minutes before lunch and dinner, alongside a standardized diet (typically ~2,000 kcal/day) and walking program.
Active Compound Standardized 50:50 blend of Sphaeranthus indicus flower head extract and Garcinia mangostana fruit rind extract; branded as Meratrim® by InterHealth Nutraceuticals (Lonza).

Benefits

Supports body weight management

Randomized trials of Meratrim® at 800 mg/day alongside a controlled diet and walking program have reported reductions in body weight versus placebo in overweight adults. Most positive trials to date have been sponsor-funded, and independent replication remains limited.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Helps reduce waist and hip measurements

Trials report reductions in waist and hip circumference and waist-to-hip ratio with Meratrim® supplementation versus placebo. These changes are consistent with modest improvements in body composition seen across the available randomized trial evidence.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Supports healthy lipid markers in overweight adults

In some trials, Meratrim® supplementation has been associated with modest favorable changes in lipid markers including triglycerides and total cholesterol versus placebo. Effects size is modest and dependent on background diet and lifestyle.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Generally well tolerated as a structured-program adjunct

Meratrim® is consistently reported as well tolerated in published trials when used at 800 mg/day for 8–16 weeks alongside a structured diet and exercise program, supporting its positioning as an adjunct to lifestyle interventions rather than a standalone solution.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Adipogenesis modulation

Preclinical work attributes Meratrim®'s anti-obesity effects to inhibition of pre-adipocyte differentiation and reduced lipid accumulation in adipocytes, with proposed downregulation of adipogenic transcription factors such as PPAR-γ.

2

Lipolysis support

Active compounds in Sphaeranthus indicus and Garcinia mangostana have been proposed to support lipolysis in adipocytes, contributing to reductions in body fat measurements observed in clinical trials when combined with caloric control.

3

Anti-inflammatory polyphenol activity

Garcinia mangostana xanthones and Sphaeranthus indicus phytochemicals exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in preclinical models, which may contribute to favorable metabolic effects in the context of overweight.

Clinical trials

1
Meratrim® 8-Week Weight Management RCT (Stern et al.)

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Meratrim® (400 mg twice daily, 800 mg/day total) vs placebo in 60 obese adults over 8 weeks, alongside a 2,000 kcal/day diet and 30-minute daily walking program. Outcomes: body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference. Sponsor-funded.

60 obese adults (BMI 30–40); 8-week intervention.

Meratrim® at 800 mg/day significantly reduced body weight, BMI, and waist and hip circumference vs placebo. Important caveat: industry-sponsored trial; independent replication outside the sponsor network remains limited.

2
Meratrim® 16-Week Weight Management RCT (Kudiganti et al.)

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Meratrim® (800 mg/day) vs placebo in 100 healthy overweight adults over 16 weeks alongside a standardized diet and walking program. Outcomes: body weight, BMI, anthropometry, lipid profile, safety panel. Industry-funded.

100 healthy overweight adults (BMI 25–35); 16-week intervention.

Meratrim® significantly reduced body weight, BMI, and waist and hip circumference vs placebo over 16 weeks, with favorable changes in some lipid markers and a generally well-tolerated safety profile. Industry sponsorship is the major limitation.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well tolerated in published 8–16-week trials.
Mild gastrointestinal upset or transient discomfort possible.
Headache occasionally reported in trial populations.
Limited long-term safety data beyond 16-week trial durations.
Not extensively studied in pregnancy, lactation, or pediatric populations.

Important Drug interactions

Antidiabetic medications (insulin, sulfonylureas) — potential additive blood-glucose-lowering effects; monitor.
Antihypertensive medications — modest weight loss may reduce blood pressure; medication adjustment may be needed.
Lipid-lowering medications (statins) — modest lipid changes possible; monitor lipid panel.
Other weight-loss supplements (Garcinia cambogia, citrus polyphenols) — overlapping mechanisms; combine cautiously.

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Frequently asked questions about Meratrim® (Sphaeranthus indicus + Garcinia mangostana)

What is Meratrim?

Meratrim® is a proprietary 50:50 herbal blend of Sphaeranthus indicus flower heads and Garcinia mangostana fruit rinds, developed by InterHealth Nutraceuticals (now part of Lonza) for weight management.

What is Meratrim used for?

Meratrim is researched primarily for Weight Management and Metabolic Health. Randomized trials of Meratrim® at 800 mg/day alongside a controlled diet and walking program have reported reductions in body weight versus placebo in overweight adults.

What is the recommended dosage of Meratrim?

The clinically studied dose is Sponsor-funded RCTs used 400 mg twice daily (800 mg/day total) of Meratrim®, taken 30 minutes before lunch and dinner, alongside a standardized diet (typically ~2,000 kcal/day) and walking program. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Meratrim safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Meratrim is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well tolerated in published 8–16-week trials. Mild gastrointestinal upset or transient discomfort possible. It may also interact with some medications. Meratrim is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Meratrim interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Antidiabetic medications (insulin, sulfonylureas) — potential additive blood-glucose-lowering effects; monitor. Antihypertensive medications — modest weight loss may reduce blood pressure; medication adjustment may be needed. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Meratrim?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Meratrim as Moderate (3 out of 5). It is backed by 2 clinical trials and 3 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(3 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Stern JS, Peerson J, Mishra AT, Sadasiva Rao MV, Rajeswari KP. Efficacy and tolerability of a novel herbal formulation for weight management. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013;21(5):921-7. doi: 10.1002/oby.20211.PubMedUsed to support: Foundational 8-week sponsor-funded RCT of Meratrim® (Sphaeranthus indicus + Garcinia mangostana, 800 mg/day) in obese adults — significant reductions in body weight, BMI, and waist and hip circumference vs placebo alongside a 2,000 kcal/day diet and walking program.
  2. Kudiganti V, Kodur RR, Kodur SR, Halemane M, Deep DK. Efficacy and tolerability of Meratrim for weight management: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy overweight human subjects. Lipids Health Dis. 2016;15:136. doi: 10.1186/s12944-016-0306-4.PubMedUsed to support: 16-week sponsor-funded RCT of Meratrim® (800 mg/day) in 100 healthy overweight adults — significant reductions in body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference vs placebo, with favorable changes in some lipid markers. Industry sponsorship is a key caveat.
  3. Ulbricht C, Basch E, Szapary P, Hammerness P, Axentsev S, Boon H, Kroll D, Garraway L, Vora M, Woods J; Natural Standard Research Collaboration. Guggul for hyperlipidemia: a review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. Complement Ther Med. 2005;13(4):279-90. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2005.08.003.PubMedUsed to support: Used here as a methodological example of how Natural Standard-style evidence reviews frame branded herbal blend evidence; reinforces the importance of independent replication when evaluating sponsor-funded trials of branded weight-management ingredients such as Meratrim®.