Sorry if this has been posted, I looked and did not see it. Not sure if anyone is using this stuff, but see the link below.
FDA: Dieters should stop Hydroxycut use now By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press Writer - Fri May 1, 11:55 AM PDT
WASHINGTON - Government health officials warned dieters and body builders Friday to immediately stop using Hydroxycut, a widely sold supplement linked to cases of serious liver damage and at least one death.
The Food and Drug Administration said the maker of the dietary supplement has agreed to recall 14 Hydroxycut products. Available in grocery stores and pharmacies, Hydroxycut is advertised as made from natural ingredients. At least 9 million packages were sold last year, the FDA said.
Huh. I wonder what the ingredient is that’s liver toxic.
Keep in mind that with that number of issues compared to the number and type of users—you can expect they were taking an obscene amount of the stuff for an extended period of time. ie. far more than most people would ever consider taking.
In addition, these people must have ignored relatively long-term indications of liver damage such as jaundice.
Huh. I wonder what the ingredient is that’s liver toxic.
Keep in mind that with that number of issues compared to the number and type of users—you can expect they were taking an obscene amount of the stuff for an extended period of time. ie. far more than most people would ever consider taking.
In addition, these people must have ignored relatively long-term indications of liver damage such as jaundice.
The early suspect is hydroxycitric acid, according to the article.
That’s a good point - you wonder how many of the people using it say something like:
“Well - I missed my workout today/ate that chocolate cake/drank a 26er last night - better take an extra handful of these babies to keep the weight off!”
on a regular basis. I’ve pondered things like Hydroxycut many times - especially considering that you are bombarded with ads for similar products if you read any male oriented health/fitness magazine - but my suspicion I’d be swallowing and pissing out cash has always won out in the end. Never really considered them a health risk.
That’s a good point - you wonder how many of the people using it say something like:
“Well - I missed my workout today/ate that chocolate cake/drank a 26er last night - better take an extra handful of these babies to keep the weight off!”
on a regular basis. I’ve pondered things like Hydroxycut many times - especially considering that you are bombarded with ads for similar products if you read any male oriented health/fitness magazine - but my suspicion I’d be swallowing and pissing out cash has always won out in the end. Never really considered them a health risk.
Mike
That’s why the wrestlers on creatine died. They were just pounding the stuff, and then not drinking and sweating it out to cut weight for weigh in.
If more people actually followed directions on things, there would be a lot less deaths. Conversely, there would be more stupid people breeding…
The stuff might have some value, but a good diet (low glycemic carbs) and an overall sensible approach to food and exercise will do all we need without any additional value from a product like hydroxycut. At least that’s my guess.
The stuff might have some value, but a good diet (low glycemic carbs) and an overall sensible approach to food and exercise will do all we need without any additional value from a product like hydroxycut. At least that’s my guess.
SSSSHHHH!!!
Geez, man!! The economy is already in the tank, you want to send the diet industry the way of Chrysler???
1 death out of 9 million packages? I think more people are killed by scissors than that
I think the multiple cases of liver damage were more of an issue.
I have never tried Hydroxycut, but, I used to take products with ephedra before the FDA banned it. In my (n=1) experience, it was the only substance that really worked. Once they banned ephedra, most of these products became crap. I took it more as a stimulant than for weight loss, but, that was a nice side effect. And, I would only take it for limited periods of time, as was suggested.
The ephedra ban, IMHO, was ridiculous. They had a couple of deaths and, in each of those cases, the person was taking massive amounts of the stuff. There are other factors as well like dehydration b/c the person taking the massive amounts was trying to cut weight.
However, I think this is different b/c, according to the article, they are seeing substantial liver damage in people who were taking the recommended dossage. Also, the manufacturer voluntarily recalled the product. That’s a pretty good indication that they know there is something wrong with their product, or at least suspect it is possible.
Funny, on a whim I picked up a bottle last week to help me lose those last 5 lbs that just won’t come off. Stopped after day 2. It just made me all jittery, like I drank 10 cups of coffee. In a row. Didn’t seem to surpress my appetite either.
Wasted $40 and I knew better. Now maybe I’ll get my money back.
Funny thing is this week I focused on my diet and lost 2 lbs. Yeah there are no shortcuts. Lesson learned.
Bodybuilders seriously bulk. An “unwanted” side effect of eating 6 trillion calories a day to build serious muscle was you also built serious fat. Before competition they had to lose all the fat, SERIOUSLY lose the fat. The muscular definition requires a low single digit body fat composition. After losing the fat they use diuretics to lose that last little bit of hydration. Seriously stressful to the body, especially the kidneys. They would use a combination of caffeine, ephedrine and aspirin in large doses. The ban on ephedrine shot that all to heck. You used to see these “ingredients” on early versions of things like Hydroxycut. They tried using ma huang (herbal ephedra ) to replace pharmaceutical ephedrine, White Willow bark contains acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), and of course guarana for caffeine. And you can’t know the strength, purity or contaminants( exactly what is “Hydroxygen”?) since these “herbal” products are not regulated. This didn’t produce the results usually expected. Various versions of Hydroxycut now have generally contained these herbal replacements and lord knows what else. Like most people who expect miraculous results…"If I can get these results using the recommended dose, imagine what I can get if I eat these like candy, they are “herbal” after all. The weight loss industry thrives on this…
“In addition, these people must have ignored relatively long-term indications of liver damage such as jaundice.”
Not nesscarily. Liver damage can fulminant, or sub-acute. In a fulminant case, by the time your your jaundiced, it’s over. (transplant) Sub-acute liver damage smolders for a period of time, with elevated enzymes (indicative of damage), then jaundice. Jaundice is like bonking. The end result of a series of mistakes…
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press Writer - Fri May 1, 11:55 AM PDT