FDA warns dieters: Stop Hydroxycut use immediately

zippyjuan · 05-01-2009, 11:05 AM

All natural does not necesarily mean all good for you. Didn't they have to pull their products once before when Ephedra was banned?

http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?...501-1425360573

Quote:

FDA warns dieters: Stop Hydroxycut use immediately
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
May 01, 2009 11:45 AM EDT
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.

Dr. Linda Katz of the FDA's food and nutrition division said the agency has received 23 reports of liver problems, including the death of a 19-year-old boy living in the Southwest. The teenager died in 2007, and the death was reported to the FDA this March.

Other patients experienced symptoms ranging from jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, to liver failure. One received a transplant and another was placed on a list to await a new liver.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. distributor of the diet pill, Iovate Health Sciences, headquartered near Buffalo, N.Y. Made by a Canadian company, Hydroxycut is used by people trying to shed pounds and by body builders to sharpen their muscles.

Dietary supplements aren't as tightly regulated by the government as medications. Manufacturers don't need to prove to the FDA that their products are safe and effective before they can sell them to consumers. But regulators monitor aftermarket reports for signs of trouble, and in recent years companies have been put under stricter requirements to alert the FDA when they learn of problems.

Katz said 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're 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," she said.

The FDA relies on voluntary reports to detect such problems, and many cases are never reported, officials acknowledge.

Health officials said they have been unable to determine which Hydroxycut ingredients are potentially toxic, partially because the formulation of the products has changed several times. A medical journal report last month raised questions about one ingredient, hydroxycitric acid, derived from a tropical fruit. The article said it could potentially damage the liver.

DarkFury · 05-01-2009, 02:11 PM

So pretty much, this means that we won't have to watch anymore of those dreadful "Hydroxycut" commercials anymore?

johnnymk · 05-01-2009, 02:17 PM

I have never heard of it.

Thesifer · 05-01-2009, 10:35 PM

I've seen some people have some "amazing" results with Hydroxycut actually, which generally means "too good to be true." It seems like every "Quick Diet" Gimmick ends up being pulled eventually. As long as they don't get sued for billions, the companies still make out doing it so they still will.

It's when the "oops, we knew it did that" memo's start to surface that hurts them most.

Yossarian · 05-02-2009, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thesifer

I've seen some people have some "amazing" results with Hydroxycut actually, which generally means "too good to be true." I

most of the people they use in comercials were people that got hurt, ie. athletes or people already in shape, but were laid up and gained weight. then lost it when they got back in their regimen

Thesifer · 05-03-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yossarian

most of the people they use in comercials were people that got hurt, ie. athletes or people already in shape, but were laid up and gained weight. then lost it when they got back in their regimen

Uhm I was talking about real life people, not the fake crap on TV. Saw a guy that lost a ton of weight taking it.

zippyjuan · 05-03-2009, 09:59 PM

I read a post on another forum which had what sounded like a valid point- he claimed that the people with negative health impacts from it were not following the direction- making either or both of two mistakes. One- taking too much of it. If two a day is good, four a day is not necessarily better. Second- not getting enough fluids. Some of the compounds in it are diuretics which takes water out of your body and without enough additonal fluids (and if you are on a high protein diet) can be dehydrated which puts extra strains on the kidneys. That is what this person said anyways.

Any benefit you get from a pill and not from changing your diet and exercise routine is only going to be temporary. Once you stop the pill, the effect eventually goes away. Even steroids.

smeakim · 05-04-2009, 02:46 PM

I am sorry most of this stuff if taken and monitored works just fine and was pulled because people did not pay attention or over did it. Ephedrine was taken for many years before it was pulled. People think they can take the easy path and just take it and forget it. It doesnt work that way. When I have taken similar products in the past I would monitor my heart rate with a HRM and drink lots of fluid almost a gallon of water a day. I also limited my total other intake of caffeine. People try to stack crap that dont know what they are doing. Maybe I can take that with guaran(sp), yohimbe(sp), and caffeine. Then I can eat like crap and still lose weight so they continue to take it rather than cycle the stuff. A good stack that is well known in the body building world ECA (ephedrine, caffeine, and asprin). A company called Biotek Pharm makes the E portion. You can buy EHCL as a Bronchodilator and its way cheaper than HC. Just a thought we need to protect people since they are stupid.

brainsmile · 05-04-2009, 06:28 PM

they've modified it to be better... hydroxyslice!

gwilks98 · 05-05-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeakim

I am sorry most of this stuff if taken and monitored works just fine and was pulled because people did not pay attention or over did it. Ephedrine was taken for many years before it was pulled. People think they can take the easy path and just take it and forget it. It doesnt work that way.

I agree, but that's not the way it's marketed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeakim

When I have taken similar products in the past I would monitor my heart rate with a HRM and drink lots of fluid almost a gallon of water a day. I also limited my total other intake of caffeine. People try to stack crap that dont know what they are doing. Maybe I can take that with guaran(sp), yohimbe(sp), and caffeine. Then I can eat like crap and still lose weight so they continue to take it rather than cycle the stuff. A good stack that is well known in the body building world ECA (ephedrine, caffeine, and asprin). A company called Biotek Pharm makes the E portion. You can buy EHCL as a Bronchodilator and its way cheaper than HC. Just a thought we need to protect people since they are stupid.

I disagree with this completely. I'm far from unintelligent, and I have no idea when taking supplements what ingredients should not be taken together. It's a matter of ignorance, not stupidity. That being said, these companies generally don't disclose information such as interaction warnings, and aren't required to as far as I know. I have a certain responsibility to read about what I'm taking before I put it in my mouth, but I'd certainly like to know if taking HC with certain things can cause something as serious as liver damage.

the sucky part of it all is the way they exploit a mix of desperation and ignorance to make millions unregulated and mostly unmonitored.

smeakim · 05-05-2009, 09:06 PM

Your right stupid was the wrong word ignorance would have been better. I also agree exploitation is at the very root of it. All I know is I read a lot on the net from many sources and wouldn't shove a single thing in my mouth if I didnt know what I was taking and the end result. All you have to do is google it. But again I guess since again its out there and legally available people will take it without much thought.

05-01-2009, 02:11 PM	#2
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	So pretty much, this means that we won't have to watch anymore of those dreadful "Hydroxycut" commercials anymore? __________________ DarkFury's Pimptopia - Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game! Home of the Original OG Pimp (accept NO imitations)

05-01-2009, 10:35 PM	#4
Thesifer Vice Admiral Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,338	I've seen some people have some "amazing" results with Hydroxycut actually, which generally means "too good to be true." It seems like every "Quick Diet" Gimmick ends up being pulled eventually. As long as they don't get sued for billions, the companies still make out doing it so they still will. It's when the "oops, we knew it did that" memo's start to surface that hurts them most. __________________

05-04-2009, 06:28 PM	#9
brainsmile Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: woah... why is welfareloser here with me so early in the morning and more importantly why am I wearing her clothes?!? Posts: 13,754	they've modified it to be better... hydroxyslice! __________________ ********************************** DCM #1 (Founder) "Nobody beats Vitus Gerulaitis 18 times in a row." - Vitus Gerulaitis on beating Jimmy Connors after 17 failed attempts.

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05-01-2009, 02:17 PM	#3
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	I have never heard of it.

05-03-2009, 09:59 PM	#7
zippyjuan Picture of the Day Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sunny San Diego Posts: 8,756	I read a post on another forum which had what sounded like a valid point- he claimed that the people with negative health impacts from it were not following the direction- making either or both of two mistakes. One- taking too much of it. If two a day is good, four a day is not necessarily better. Second- not getting enough fluids. Some of the compounds in it are diuretics which takes water out of your body and without enough additonal fluids (and if you are on a high protein diet) can be dehydrated which puts extra strains on the kidneys. That is what this person said anyways. Any benefit you get from a pill and not from changing your diet and exercise routine is only going to be temporary. Once you stop the pill, the effect eventually goes away. Even steroids.

05-04-2009, 02:46 PM	#8
smeakim Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: CO Posts: 690	I am sorry most of this stuff if taken and monitored works just fine and was pulled because people did not pay attention or over did it. Ephedrine was taken for many years before it was pulled. People think they can take the easy path and just take it and forget it. It doesnt work that way. When I have taken similar products in the past I would monitor my heart rate with a HRM and drink lots of fluid almost a gallon of water a day. I also limited my total other intake of caffeine. People try to stack crap that dont know what they are doing. Maybe I can take that with guaran(sp), yohimbe(sp), and caffeine. Then I can eat like crap and still lose weight so they continue to take it rather than cycle the stuff. A good stack that is well known in the body building world ECA (ephedrine, caffeine, and asprin). A company called Biotek Pharm makes the E portion. You can buy EHCL as a Bronchodilator and its way cheaper than HC. Just a thought we need to protect people since they are stupid.

05-05-2009, 09:06 PM	#11
smeakim Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: CO Posts: 690	Your right stupid was the wrong word ignorance would have been better. I also agree exploitation is at the very root of it. All I know is I read a lot on the net from many sources and wouldn't shove a single thing in my mouth if I didnt know what I was taking and the end result. All you have to do is google it. But again I guess since again its out there and legally available people will take it without much thought.

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