At this very moment, I’m being “quarintined” in the cardiorespiratory lab at U of M while I’m participating in a supplement research study for a new diet aid. It involved eating a controlled diet yesterday (consisting of bars/shakes made by the VPX manufacturer), an overnight fast, then coming to the lab for a blood draw, followed by a dose of the supplement or placebo (it’s double blind, so we don’t know which one I took), and a series of vital/metabolic measures (resting HR, BP, and O2 consumption).

My guess is that I took the real thing, based on my appetite loss following the dosage. I’m also pretty addicted to caffiene, and get a headache if I don’t have any… but I’m feeling fine right now! Vital signs say differently, though- my HR has remained close to 40 bpm (one measurement as low as 38!), and blood pressure hasn’t changed much, either. Apparently, some people have had pretty big jumps from baseline in response to the supplement.

I just paused to have another set of measurements/blood draw. That’s 5 now, with 2 more to go… good thing I’m not afraid of needles! This is the type of research that all supplements should undergo- independant lab, strict control, and sound methods. VPX is commendable for putting their product through this type of rigor.