Several studies show that carb blockers may be able to cause some weight loss.
Bottom Line:Ĭarb blockers only block a small percentage of carbs from being absorbed, and their effectiveness depends on the type of carbs you eat. Added sugars are usually simple carbs like sucrose, glucose or fructose. On top of that, the complex carbs affected by carb blockers make up only part of the carbs in most people’s diets.įor many people trying to lose weight, the added sugars in processed foods are a bigger problem. They may simply increase the amount of time it takes for the enzymes to digest them. This may happen because carb blockers don’t directly prevent carbs from being absorbed. One study examining a strong carb blocker found that even though it could inhibit 97% of the enzymes, it only prevented 7% of the carbs from being absorbed ( 6). It’s important to note that inhibiting these enzymes does not necessarily mean the same proportion of carbs will be blocked. At best, they appear to block 50–65% of carb-digesting enzymes ( 5). How Effective Are Carb Blockers?Ĭarb blockers only prevent a portion of the carbs you eat from being digested. However, their effectiveness may be limited and studies provide conflicting results.
They are advertised as allowing you to eat as many carbs as you desire without providing any calories. Carb blockers are usually marketed as weight loss aids.