In May 2009, the FDA began warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. [1] Iovate has recalled Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets, Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets, Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets, Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets. Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets. Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix), Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Liquid Shots, Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink), Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed, Hydroxycut 24, Hydroxycut Carb Control, and Hydroxycut Natural.
The recall was advised because the received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant [2]. Other problems include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure. One death was reported.
Hydroxycut has been claimed to decrease body fat, conrol appetite, cause weight loss, enhance energy. The Hydroxycut Weight-Loss Formula package claimed users could “lose up to 4-5 times the weight than diet and exercise alone.” Its ingredients include chromium polynicotinate, potassium hydroxycitrate, garcinia cambogia, gymnema sylvestre, soy phospholipids, and green tea as camelia sinensis. Here are an ad from Running Times magazine and the Supplement Facts box from the weight-control product.
A recent report of two cases of liver toxicity in Hydroxycut users noted that several other popular weight-loss supplements contain ingredients that have been associated with liver toxicity. These include ephedra alkaloid, chromium compounds, hoodia, black cohosh, and green tea [3].
References
- FDA warns consumers to stop using hydroxycut products:
Dietary supplements linked to one death; pose risk of liver injury. FDA news release, May 1, 2009. - Sundloff SF. Letter to Terry Begley, April 30, 2009.
- Dara L and others. Hydroxycut hepatotoxicity: a case series and review of liver toxicity from herbal weight loss supplements. World Journal of Gastroenterology 14:6999-7004, 2008.
This article was posted on May 6, 2009
