Elcella - anyone else trying it?

[Weekendofthoughts97]

Hi, name changed for this, I’ve purchased a month’s supply to try and I’m coming up to a week and think it’s really helped me to quieten the food thoughts. However taking it as recommended at lunch and dinner means the mornings are hard so I’m experimenting when’s best to take it. Just wondered if anyone else is trying it and how they’ve found it?

I'm a bit behind you @superbiensur and still on Month 3. All the things I've said previously on this thread remain true incl/ reduced appetite, seemingly improved energy etc. I would also very cautiously say that a chronic health issue seems to be improving (but I would need more clear evidence to say for definite, which will take another couple of months).
I agree with @ArseInTheCoOpWindow about there seeming to be a reflux side effect, although mine is intermittent. I've been drinking ginger tea for this.
However the big reveal is ... I have not lost any more weight yet, after the initial 1-3lb. My waistline may have reduced by a minimal amount eg 1cm (I have a pair of jeans that I try on every few days). I am going to keep going for about another month and then decide whether to stop spending the ££s.
I think the price is wrong and it needs to be about £50/tub rather than £185!
BTW I notice the Elcella company seems to have changed their marketing to something about gut health rather than weight loss claims.

That’s interesting @hungrymungry, I feel
similar. No real weight loss at all but I probably do feel like gut issues (bloating, constipation I’ve sometimes suffered from) have improved. As you say, worth it for that effect at a much lower price!

I would really like to see some more actual data on Elcella instead of just SEO-optimised content marketing. Doesn't have to be an RCT necessarily, could be less rigorous, but a graph or chart showing what happens when a larger group of people eg 100 or 200 people take the capsules over time.
eg 50% of men aged 40-60 lost 2kg within 12 weeks, women's weight loss for all age groups took on average longer. Some lost no weight. Or whatever.
And since the marketing now seems to be focusing on gut health I'd also like to know more about what's going on in the gut microbiome after sustained use eg what is "wrong" with my gut microbiome now and what has improved after 12 weeks Elcella use.

Since l stopped it, the reflux has gone, the stomach aches have gone, and I’ve lost the 5lbs l put on whilst taking it.

I’m on the third bottle with about 3 quarters of bottle to go. Definitely reduction in eating after first dose (not second) but no material weight loss. No side effects I can tell. Not sure I’ll stick with it but will see

I reported my symptoms to the MHRA. They passed it on to DEFRA as it’s classed as food product .

I’m quite angry about the ‘no side effects’ lie.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow I think this has happened because a new little company decided to go to market early with their scientific discovery (before someone else got there), went the quick way of "food supplement" to be able to have a less-costly, faster burden of proof and haven't done very much market research about what would resonate amongst the customers most likely to buy the capsules. I really love that it's a UK university spin out fronted by two women. They probably thought they will learn as they go. But I feel the whole business approach is "unscience-y" and too woo for what they are saying the product is. Do you remember Tony Blair once saying "you have to trust me, I'm Tony Blair". It's a bit akin to that.
Obviously it would be great if it worked ...
Anyway, glad to hear you are feeling better

I posted on here awhile back. I have now been taking Elcella for 9 months have lost 14 kg and 6cm off my waist. I did not lose any weight in first 5 weeks, but started to lose weight consistently over the next 12 weeks. I went from 4 capsules twice a day to reducing to 2 capsules twice a day after 4 months and now take just two capsules once a day. I stopped snacking between meals and just felt full, the food noise was reduced. I felt more energised and had no side effects. I found the team at Elcella responsive and knowledgeable. If you have had any questions or issues I would reach out to them.

Their feedback seems to be keep taking it as it can take a while, and be consistent (which I am). But I can’t keep throwing more money at this expensive product when it’s been months with no result! I can see it works for some people, but I see far more comments saying it’s made no difference… hence I guess why some research and data would be helpful

For example I would like to know if it on average takes longer to have any effect if you are post-menopause. Are the more-quickly-successful people younger, maybe?

I would reach out to them. I am over 60

your experience is almost exactly my experience. Except my heartburn got so severe I was sent for a gastroscopy yesterday. Small hiatus hernia, tiny ulcer and duodenitis. Obviously I don’t know if it is connected but I do know that I’ve been in a lot of discomfort. Time to cancel.

OMG!
had my cholesterol and HbA1c tested this week.

Cholesterol has spiked in 5 months from 5.1 to 6.5, now higher than when I started injectables.
timeline
MJ stopped end Sept - due to price hike
wegovy stopped mid Nov due to heart issues
Elcella started mid Dec

what is going on?

have check in call with Elcella today - will ask their opinion.

still waiting on HbA1c results - not hopeful on this either
pre injectables 42, came down to 37 (so they were doing their job) once stopped it rose to 39 (5 months ago)

Not lost any weight so far taking Elcella but I also haven’t dieted hard.

None of the drugs spike cholesterol so it will be on what you’re consuming.

But have coming off the injectables caused the issue or the fats in elcella?

@CuriousBat Looking at your cholesterol results, what is the balance between HDL and LDL (if you can see this in the split). HDL being "good", LDL being "bad"

HDL 5.4
non HDL 1.15 - slight improvement on previous
Don’t fancy statins

HbA1c - also up ☹️ on the upper limit.

No, it will be what she’s eating.

It’s still a fast rise

Not all cholesterol issues are due to diet.

It’s quite common, not exercising, eating fatty food , being overweight, booze all can cause it. It’s really not some unusual thing.

@CuriousBat Hmmm interesting.
I'm no medic, just an interested layperson but that HDL score is high.
Could it be the Elcella? The only way to "prove" this would be to stop taking it and see if the number goes down.
But we can compare.
I just looked up the last time I had a cholesterol test and fortuitously it was a couple of months prior to starting Elcella. I am about due for another one, perhaps in the next month or so, so it will be a handy comparison. My numbers are different to yours - on the previous results my LDL is higher and my HDL much lower.

Progress update: No weight loss or waist size loss to speak of so far, even though my appetite is reduced and I am eating less.
I also did the call with Elcella in the last few weeks, which I found pleasant (in that the person on the other end of the phone was nice) but it was basically not at all helpful in any science-related way.

In summary: sorry to hear it isn't working for you; we often hear this from menopausal women; (!) follow the programme (ie I am now past 3 months so you have to drop the dose down) and see what happens 🙄

If you are coming fresh to this thread, thinking of trying Elcella, the summary so far is, it seems to have weight-loss/waist size-loss effects for some people but not for others (at least within a 3 month timeframe); no-one, least of all Elcella, seems to know why this is or who it will work for and who it won't.

And I forgot to add to my summary: may also have some adverse effects, as PPs have reported.

@hungrymungry You’re basically summing up my experience.

Although my call included the fact I’ve done well with the food noise and appetite reduction- they’ve been seeing it taking longer to kick in for those post injectables. Discussed my diet - which is ok (can do better).

They didn’t think Elcella would’ve caused the spike - but in my mind unless they test specifically for that it’s an unknown.

It was suggested that I continue on the higher level.

Intake of calories is not excessive and I should loose weight on what I’m eating 🤷‍♀️

i have a 4th bottle - so will do another month, tackle the high HDL, visit GP and see where it takes me!