Taken at high doses, the plant derivative is known to cause irregular heartbeat and even death, according to WebMD.
It affects the vital organ by increasing its ejection fraction – the amount of blood pumped out at each contraction – which is deemed helpful in endurance training.
This is why the supplement ingredient, found in the lotus flower, is generally marketed as a ‘fat-burner’.
Preliminary research, however, shows that the plant fails to increase heart rate in a way that has training benefits or therapeutic effects.
In 2019, a study conducted by researchers at Harvard University and the National Science Foundation raised concerns over high concentrations of the compounds found in supplements.