Taking caffeine orally in combination with ephedrine seems to help reduce weight, short-term. Caffeine 192 mg in combination with ephedra 90 mg per day for 6 months seems to cause a modest weight reduction (5.3 kg) in people with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 40 kg per meter squared. This combination, along with limiting fat intake to 30 percent of calories and moderate exercise, also seems to reduce body fat, decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Even in carefully screened and monitored otherwise healthy adults, caffeine/ephedra combinations can cause small changes in blood pressure and heart rate.