One of the biggest news stories to hit the headlines last month (aside from the swine flu of course) was the government recall of the dietary supplement HYDROXYCUT. In a report circulated to the media, US Government health officials warned dieters and bodybuilders to IMMEDIATELY stop using the Canadian made supplement, citing it as a cause of serious liver damage.

Hydroxycut – advertised as being made from ‘natural ingredients’ hit sales figures exceeding 9 million in the last year alone, making it one of the top selling weight loss supplements on the market (this sales figure no doubt assisted by the aggressive multi-media marketing campaign funded by the product manufacturers).

Talking on the subject of adverse health effects experienced by users of this product, Dr Linda Katz of the FDA’s food and nutrition division said that the agency had received 23 reports of liver problems, including the death of a 19 year old boy. The teenager in question actually died in 2007 but his death was only reported to the FDA this March. This delay in reporting the matter could be considered by some to be highly irresponsible – considering the number of Hydroxycut products sold between 2007 and 2009. When questioned on this significant delay Katz was reported as explaining…

“It has taken so long to get a handle on the Hydroxycut problem because the cases of liver damage were rare and the FDA has no authority to review supplements before they are marketed. Part of the problem is that the FDA looks at dietary supplements from a post-market perspective, and an isolated incident is often difficult to follow.”
Health officials said that they have been unable to determine which Hydroxycut ingredients are potentially toxic, partially because the formulation of the products has changed several times. However, one medical journal did question the ingredient ‘hydroxycitric acid’ which is derived from a tropical plant, claiming that it could potentially damage the liver.

As a result of this media outcry the makers of Hydroxycut have agreed to recall the following Hydroxycut products:

• HYDROXYCUT Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• HYDROXYCUT Caffeine- Free Rapid Release Caplets
• HYDROXYCUT Hardcore Liquid Caps
• HYDROXYCUT Max Liquid Caps
• HYDROXYCUT Regular Drink Packets
• HYDROXYCUT Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• HYDROXYCUT Hardcore Drink Packets
• HYDROXYCUT Liquid Shots
• HYDROXYCUT Hardcore RTD’s
• HYDROXYCUT Aqua-Shed
• HYDROXYCUT 24
• HYDROXYCUT Carb Control
• HYDROXYCUT Natural

ADDITIONAL RECALLS
As an interesting side note, Universal ABC Beauty Supply International Inc. of Brooklyn, NY is recalling 34 weight loss products because FDA tests show they contain ‘sibutramine’, the active ingredient in the appetite suppressant Meridia(although Meridia itself is FDA approved).
The FDA points out that sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke. Of course this leads us to question further the FDA’s sanctioning of Meridia…no doubt it is a money spinner for the government!

TAKE HOME MESSAGE
This is not the first time we have witnessed the recall of weight loss supplements. At the tail end of last year the FDA cautioned consumers against purchasing 25 other weight loss products due to the potentially harmful effects they could cause. Some of these products were found to contain not only sibutramine but rimonabant (a drug not approved in the US which has been associated with depression and suicidal thoughts), phenytoin (an anti-seizure medication) and phenolphthalein (a solution used in chemical experiments that is a suspected cancer-causing agent).

Right now the real ‘take home message’ of this article is to be very careful when it comes to selecting any product that claims to assist you in losing weight. There are a few companies out there who take your health as seriously as you do, and one of the premier companies in this respect is SPECIES NUTRITION. If weight loss is your goal then you need look no further than the products LIPOLYZE, SOMALYZE and AQUALYZE. These stimulant free products are the result of solid scientific researches their mission being to help you get lean and stay healthy in the process. And, from the hundreds of satisfied (and healthy) customers who have used and continue to use these products, I would say it is safe to say MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Leigh Penman