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The Best Weight Loss Supplements of 2026, Compared

Many weight loss supplements promise more than their labels support. We compared five formulas against four ingredients that have published human research, and we scored only what each product actually publishes.

Supplement Ledger Editorial TeamUpdated October 20268 min read5 products compared · 4 criteria

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How we score

What separates a complete formula from the rest

Labels in this category are hard to compare. Proprietary blends, undisclosed amounts and long ingredient lists make it difficult to see what you are actually getting.

We built a simple scoring system around four ingredients that have been studied in people. Every product starts at 10.0. Points come off when a key ingredient is not listed, and when the label does not show how much of each ingredient is inside.

We score only what a product publishes on its label or official page. If an amount is not published, we say so instead of guessing.

Scoring criteriaBase score 10.0

Apple cider vinegar

Post-meal blood sugar response

−0.5 if missing

Green tea extract

Energy use · catechins

−0.5 if missing

Berberine

Glucose metabolism

−0.5 if missing

Cayenne pepper (capsaicin)

Energy expenditure · appetite

−0.5 if missing

–

Doses not published

Label hides the amount of each ingredient

−0.8

–

Scattered formula

10+ unrelated ingredients

−0.5

Full dose disclosure

All four ingredients, every amount shown

+0.3 bonus

The research behind the criteria

Four ingredients, and what the evidence does and does not show

Effects in these studies are generally modest and vary from person to person. None of these ingredients replaces diet, activity or medical advice.

Blood sugar response

Apple cider vinegar

Small human studies suggest vinegar taken with meals may modestly improve the blood sugar response after eating.¹ Evidence for effects on body weight is limited.

Energy use

Green tea extract

Meta-analyses of green tea catechins, with or without caffeine, report small average effects on body weight.^2,3 Results differ between studies and between people.

Glucose metabolism

Berberine

Studied mainly in adults with type 2 diabetes.⁴ It is not an established weight loss ingredient, and it can interact with some medications. Talk to a doctor before using it.

Energy expenditure

Cayenne pepper

Reviews of capsaicin studies in people describe small effects on energy expenditure and appetite.⁵ It can cause stomach irritation in some users.

2026 rankings

Five formulas, scored

Scores use the 10-point system above and reflect only what each product publishes. When two products have the same score, the one that lists more of the four key ingredients ranks higher.

Our top pick

AlkaMelt Drops

Liquid · 1 fl oz (30 ml) dropper bottle

out of 10

AlkaMelt's official page lists all four of our key ingredients: apple cider vinegar, green tea extract, berberine and cayenne pepper. The liquid dropper format is easy to use. The page does not publish the amount of each ingredient, which costs it points under our system.

✓ Apple cider vinegar✓ Green tea extract✓ Berberine✓ Cayenne pepper

−0.8 pts: amount of each ingredient is not published

Pros

Lists all four key ingredients
Liquid dropper format
60-day money-back guarantee
Free shipping on 3 and 6 bottle packs

Cons

Ingredient doses not published
Full Supplement Facts panel not shown on the sales page
Results vary from person to person

The bottom lineThe most complete ingredient list of the five on paper, held back by missing dose information. Check the bottle label before you buy.

Check current price*Individual results may vary.

AquaSculpt

Capsule · 30 vegetable capsules per bottle

out of 10

AquaSculpt comes in bottles of 30 vegetable capsules. Its Supplement Facts panel lists green tea extract (98% polyphenols, 50% EGCG), berberine HCl and cayenne pepper, along with alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle, resveratrol, Korean ginseng, banaba, zinc and chromium. Three of our four key ingredients are there. The eight blend ingredients share one 276 mg proprietary blend, so no single amount is shown.

Apple cider vinegar✓ Green tea extract✓ Berberine✓ Cayenne pepper

−0.5 pts: apple cider vinegar not listed · −0.8 pts: blend amounts not published per ingredient · −0.5 pts: formula spread across ten ingredients

Pros

Full Supplement Facts panel is published
Lists 3 of our 4 key ingredients
Green tea extract is standardized to 50% EGCG
60-day money-back guarantee

Cons

No apple cider vinegar
Most ingredients sit inside a 276 mg proprietary blend
"Doctor Approved" and certification icons are not tied to a named source

The bottom lineAn open label that matches three of our four key ingredients. The blend still hides how much of each one you get.

View product*Individual results may vary.

Gelatine Sculpt

Liquid · 2 fl oz (60 ml) dropper bottle

out of 10

Gelatine Sculpt is a liquid dropper formula in a 60 ml bottle. Its official page names four ingredients: green tea extract, pure gelatine, turmeric and berberine. Two of them, green tea extract and berberine, are on our list of key ingredients. The page does not publish the amount of any of them.

Apple cider vinegar✓ Green tea extract✓ BerberineCayenne pepper

−1.0 pts: apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper not listed · −0.8 pts: amounts not published

Pros

Names its ingredients on the official page
Lists 2 of our 4 key ingredients
60-day money-back guarantee
Free shipping on 3 and 6 bottle packs

Cons

No amounts for any ingredient
Sales page uses a limited-time timer and a low-stock counter
Its guarantee section mentions a different product name

The bottom lineA partial match to our criteria. It scores the same as AquaSculpt but lists one fewer key ingredient, and without amounts we cannot say how much of each you would get.

View product*Individual results may vary.

Nagano Lean Body Tonic

Powder · 30 scoops (120 g) per jar

out of 10

Nagano Lean Body Tonic is a powder you stir into water once a day. Its Supplement Facts panel lists green tea extract (standardized to 50% EGCG) inside an 800 mg herb and extract blend, next to a greens blend, a digestive complex and a probiotic blend. It does not list apple cider vinegar, berberine or cayenne pepper. Amounts are given only for each blend as a whole, not for each ingredient.

Apple cider vinegar✓ Green tea extractBerberineCayenne pepper

−1.5 pts: three of the four key ingredients not listed · −0.8 pts: amounts shown only for blends · −0.5 pts: long formula spread across many ingredients

Pros

Full Supplement Facts panel is published
Green tea extract is standardized to 50% EGCG
180-day money-back guarantee

Cons

Only one of our four key ingredients
Per-ingredient amounts are hidden inside blends
Powder format is less convenient than capsules

The bottom lineAn open label, but a broad formula where the one key ingredient we look for has no published amount.

View product*Individual results may vary.

Mitolyn

Capsule · 30 capsules per bottle

out of 10

Mitolyn comes in 30-capsule bottles. Its official science page names six ingredients: maqui berry, rhodiola, Haematococcus, amla, cacao and schisandra, and describes them as a "proprietary blend" without amounts. None of them is one of our four key ingredients.

Apple cider vinegarGreen tea extractBerberineCayenne pepper

−2.0 pts: none of the four key ingredients listed · −0.8 pts: proprietary blend, amounts not published

Pros

Names its six ingredients on the science page
Multiple pack sizes
Bonuses included with larger packs

Cons

Proprietary blend with no amounts
None of our four key ingredients
Refund terms are on a separate page

The bottom lineA different formula from the one our criteria look for, and the blend hides how much of each ingredient it contains.

View product*Individual results may vary.

Side by side

How the five compare

	AlkaMelt	AquaSculpt	Gelatine Sculpt	Nagano Tonic	Mitolyn
Overall score	9.2	8.2	8.2	7.2	7.2
Apple cider vinegar	Listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Green tea extract	Listed	Listed	Listed	Listed	Not listed
Berberine	Listed	Listed	Listed	Not listed	Not listed
Cayenne pepper	Listed	Listed	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Doses published	No	Blend total only	No	Blend totals only	No
Format	Liquid	Capsule	Liquid	Powder	Capsule
Key ingredients listed	4 of 4	3 of 4	2 of 4	1 of 4	0 of 4

"Listed" means the ingredient appears on the product's official page or label. It does not mean the amount is known. Products with the same score are ordered by how many key ingredients they list.

Our top pick · 2026

AlkaMelt lists all four key ingredients

Of the five products compared, AlkaMelt's official page is the only one that names apple cider vinegar, green tea extract, berberine and cayenne pepper together. The next closest, AquaSculpt, lists three of the four. What AlkaMelt does not show is how much of each is in the bottle.

All four key ingredients listed
Liquid dropper format, 30 ml bottle
60-day money-back guarantee
Doses not published, so check the label

Visit the official site*Individual results may vary.

Score 9.2 out of 10

References

Sources

Lim J, Henry CJ, Haldar S. Vinegar as a functional ingredient to improve postprandial glycemic control: human intervention findings and molecular mechanisms. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2016. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201600121
Hursel R, Viechtbauer W, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. The effects of green tea on weight loss and weight maintenance: a meta-analysis. International Journal of Obesity. 2009. doi:10.1038/ijo.2009.135
Phung OJ, Baker WL, Matthews LJ, et al. Effect of green tea catechins with or without caffeine on anthropometric measures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2010. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28157
Yin J, Xing H, Ye J. Efficacy of berberine in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism. 2008. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013
Ludy MJ, Moore GE, Mattes RD. The effects of capsaicin and capsiate on energy balance: critical review and meta-analyses of studies in humans. Chemical Senses. 2011. doi:10.1093/chemse/bjr100

Frequently asked

Common questions

What should I look for in a weight loss supplement?

A label that shows the amount of each ingredient, ingredients with published human research, a clear manufacturer and honest expectations. Be careful with products that promise fast results or hide amounts inside a "proprietary blend".

How long do these supplements take to work?

Most studies on these ingredients run for 8 to 12 weeks and use them together with diet and activity changes. Results vary a lot from person to person, and effects in studies are usually modest.

Is a liquid supplement better than capsules?

Not necessarily. A liquid can be easier to take, but we are not aware of good evidence that it works better for these ingredients. We did not give liquid formulas extra points for absorption.

Are these supplements safe with medications?

Not always. Berberine can interact with diabetes medicines, blood thinners and some other drugs, and green tea extract can affect some medications. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription drugs, are pregnant or nursing, or have a medical condition.

Why does AlkaMelt not score a perfect 10?

It lists all four key ingredients, but its official page does not publish the amount of each one. Under our system, undisclosed amounts cost 0.8 points. If the full Supplement Facts panel shows every amount, its score would change.