FDA Advisory Prompts Hydroxycut Recall

by Katherine Tweed (Subscribe to Katherine Tweed's posts)
May 1st 2009 4:30PM

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer advisory today for some Hydroxycut products.

The FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems involving liver problems and jaundice, and one death from liver failure. A 19-year-old male died in 2007, but the FDA didn't learn of his death until March of this year, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Linda Katz, interim chief medical officer in the FDA's food safety and nutrition division, says the death may not have been reported to the company right away.

It is unclear at this time which ingredients are harmful. The company, which sold nine million units in 2008, has agreed to voluntarily recall a range of its products.

Click to see which items are part of the Hydroxycut recall.

For more information on diet pills and supplements, click on the gallery below.

Weight Loss Supplements

By Karen Asp

If you believe the ads, you just need to pop a pill to take off extra pounds. If only it were that easy. There may, however, be a few supplements that can aid your weight loss, keeping in mind, that you still need to eat healthy and exercise regularly. To find out what works and what doesn't we tapped Connie Diekman, R.D., director of university nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and immediate past president of the American Dietetic Association and Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., board-certified nutritionist and author of 'The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth,' for the scoop on 10 common supplements.

Hydroxycut: Avoid Most Products

In May 2009, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products because some are associated with a number of serious liver injuries. As a result, the company has agreed to recall 14 Hydroxycut products from the market. For a complete list of recalled products, visit the FDA's website.

Ephedra: Avoid At All Cost

Even though the FDA banned ephedra, this stimulant has been showing up online. Studies have shown that ephedra can aid weight loss, but the side effects, which include high blood pressure, heart rate irregularities, heart attacks, and stroke, can be deadly.

Chromium: Try It

Chromium, which occurs naturally in the body, helps regulate blood sugar and utilize carbohydrate, and although few studies have shown any correlation between chromium supplements and fat loss, chromium may still aid weight loss. That's because chromium helps keep insulin levels down. High levels of insulin, after all, make fat burning almost impossible. Although chromium may not cause weight loss, by lowering insulin, it may remove an obstacle to taking off weight.

How to Take It: Try taking 1,000 mcg of chromium picolinate or chromium nicotinate daily.

Guarana: Skip It

In supplement form, guarana is a concentrated source of caffeine that's supposed to increase your metabolism. However, while it might help you drop pounds temporarily, it doesn't provide lasting weight loss and could raise blood pressure and heart rate.

Green Tea Extract: Try It

Green tea contains a compound called EGCG that may stimulate metabolism. Several studies, in fact, have linked green tea extract to a reduction in body fat and increase in thermogenesis, or the rate at which calories are burned.

How To Take It: Pop 270 mg per day or drink three cups of green tea a day.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Try It

Commonly called CLA, this amino acid exists in animal foods like beef and dairy products. It plays a role in the health of your muscles and tissues and may help you lose abdominal fat.

How To Take It: Have 3.4 grams daily.

Yerba Mate: Skip It

Yerba mate is a concentrated plant source of caffeine that's supposed to boost metabolism. Although you might see a temporary drop in weight, changes aren't long-lasting. Plus, as with all stimulants, side effects include increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Recent studies have also shown yerba mate may increase the risk of some cancers.

Chitosan: Skip It

This bulking agent comes from the bones and shells of shellfish, and manufacturers claim it suppresses appetite and blocks fat absorption. Yet no studies show any weight loss benefits.

Pyruvate: Skip It

Pyruvate, which exists in foods like red wine, apples and cheese, promises to make you lean and help you shed body fat. The bad news? No study has shown that consuming pyruvate in supplement form will have this effect on your body.

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Comments (28)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

fitness gym 5-01-2009 @ 5:03PM

This is so scary. People don't need to throw pills inside them to lose weight. Join a gym, eat healthy and be active. I would rather spend my money on a gym membership than purchase pills that could harm my health not make it better. Go join a fitness gym.. find one near you www.ballyfitness.com.

David 5-04-2009 @ 11:37PM

As a guy that is working on becomming a personal fitness trainer; I have to agree - the best all out thing anyone could do is get up off their butt, eat smart, work out, and get plenty of rest.

However, I feel the need to point out that the FDA, big pharma and the health industry in general do not want the people of this country to have a working diet pill - especially one labled as a supplement (for various reasons). Do you all remember the ephedrine based Xenadrene? That stuff actually worked but the FDA decided to ban it because (in my own opinion) it was cheap and not making big pharma any money. True; some people did die while using it, but where is the clear cut evidence that says that these people did not abuse it or that they maintained proper water and food intake, or that they got the proper rest, or that they followed the directions to a T?

Regardless, the FDA approves drugs every year that have the most adverse health effects - and this is legal. They give a man one pill to treat one condition - yet the same pill may have 30 different side effects. What's up with that?

u262f 5-01-2009 @ 10:07PM

I haven't even heard of Hydroxycut until now, and even if I had, I wouldn't voluntarily use any pills or supplements for purposes of weight loss.

Average Guy Workouts 5-02-2009 @ 12:17AM

A lot of people put on extra weight because they simply eat too much. And of all the macro nutrients you eat the one that is probably the most abused is carbs! If you want to lose weight, you need to control your carbs.http://averageguyworkouts.com

Jason 5-04-2009 @ 2:33PM

Here we go.....I bet you were involved in a study...people should believe your junk why? cause you wrote it in a blog. Your just anouther fool trying to sell their product and you could care less if its healthy or not. As long as you make money your fine with the outcome. Don't listen to idiots like this guy, you have to put in the work and control your eating. There is no magic pill!!!

Michelle RN 5-04-2009 @ 2:55PM

My doctor warned me about this product years ago--almost as soon as it came out. He is "just" a family doctor, not even an internal med guy, but clearly the information about how bad this product is has been out there for a good long time, yet nothing was done because our (for sale to the highest bidder under the Bush administration) FDA had "approved" it, just like they approved Celebrex and Vioxx and a host of other drugs that KILL people. Bottom line, take NO over the counter medication without consulting a physician or prescribing nurse practitioner or pharmacist who knows your current medications, and even then hope to God that none of the above has been ifluenced by all the huge pricetag perks handed around like dollar bills at a strip club by the big pharmaceutical companies who spend WAYYyyyy more on lobbying and marketing than they do on research and development. Truly--buyer beware!

bpq 5-04-2009 @ 5:35PM

Please keep your mean-spirited, divisive politics to yourself in unrelated forums. It's not only inappropriate, but it demonstrates a juvenile obsessiveness.

Michelle RN 5-04-2009 @ 3:01PM

Hi... thanks for the information. I know flax seed is a GREAT source of Omega 3 and maybe 6 too? not sure....but I find that it really makes my um... well let's just say there are side effects to consuming it that I am not willing to deal with, and I wonder if the roasting process takes care of that issue. I've gone back to enterically coated deep water mercury free fish oil caps for my omegas, but I'm always open to other ideas. Thanks for your suggestion either way. Anything that helps people maintain or improve health without making the pharmaceutical companies richer (the ideas of health and big pharma are mutually exclusive anyway) is great with me!

RE 5-04-2009 @ 10:37PM

Chia seeds are a great source of omega3's and protein. I use both the whole seeds and the ground chia. There are not many products better than chia.

lissy 5-04-2009 @ 3:43PM

i took hydroxycut when i was 16, i ended up having a seizure and was hospitalized for three days. it is a dangerous medication and i would never recommend it to anyone. its great that the FDA is finally doing something about this poison.

jack 5-04-2009 @ 4:02PM

I'm 5'10" 265 lbs I take the pills all the time and i'm in the best shape of my life. beer and pills that's it except for chips and stuff. oh and mcdonalds. and shots.

Lucie 5-04-2009 @ 4:49PM

I cannot believe this! I just came off using Hydroxycut ..and had used it for 2 months straight including the 7 day Cleanse...I didn't lose a single pound using it ..thats why I stopped.I hope this will not affect my health! SCARY

rose 5-04-2009 @ 5:53PM

i've have used them b4 but stopped when i heard they were bad years ago

Mahmoud 5-04-2009 @ 6:32PM

There is NO SHORT CUT to losing weight. When will people ever learn this? Each year there are lots of new products that tout itself as the ultimate in weight loss. But none of that is ever true.

BULGEINMYPLANTS 5-04-2009 @ 7:10PM

1 DEATH,AND 23 INJURIES CAUSE HYDROXYCUT RECALL,?
OH YEAH, THAT'S BECAUSE THE FOLKS WHO MAKE HYDROXYCUT DON'T GIVE THE CROOKED FDA THEIR KICKBACKS, LIKE THEIR PHARMACEUTICAL BUDDIES.
EVERY YEAR FDA APPROVED DRUGS KILL 160,000 PEOPLE A YEAR
IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE

WICKEDSTORMES 5-04-2009 @ 7:02PM

LET'S FACE THE FACTS. THE FDA APPROVED THIS AND NOW THEY R RECALLING IT AFTER HOW LONG WITH THIS PRODUCT BEING OUT ON THE MARKET???? COME ON. I THINK THIS WAS A SET UP AND WE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THEIR GINNY PIGS 4 THIS PRODUCT. OK. ATLEAST THE ONES WHO BOUGHT INTO THIS HEAP OF CRAP. HAVE U EVER NOTICED THAT WHEN A NEW MEDICATION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AND BROUGHT OUT 4 US BECAUSE IT HELPS WITH THIS OR THAT BUT HERE R ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS IF U TAKE THIS. SHAME ON THE FDA 4 ALLOWING THIS PRODUCT 2 B PUT OUT THERE IN THE 1ST PLACE. THEY KNOW WHAT IS GOING 2 HAPPEN THATS WHY I FEEL THIS IS ALL A SET UP. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. LIKE THEY SAY MONEY MONEY MONEY. SOME PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS BAD THINGS BAD THINGS WITH IT. OH YA. COME ON PEOPLE WAKE AND DO UR REASEARCH ON STUFF. I HAVE AND I AM GLAD. THE BEST AND ONLY SAFE WAY AND 2 PERMANETLY KEEP WEIGHT OFF IS DOING IT NATURALLY. WE HAVE BECOME SO LAZY IN SOCIETY THAT WE LOOK 4 THE EASY WAY OUT.

RE 5-04-2009 @ 8:57PM

What are you talking about? The FDA does not approve or OK supplements. They do take them off the market, if they are found to harm people. Who knows what else, the guy who died, was taking, along with the hydroxycut. Most of the time, bodybuilders are swallowing a lot of different pills. Take it from a gym owner.

lyn vogt 5-04-2009 @ 9:13PM

It is so sad that 23 stupid humans can ruin a good product for everyone. Do we know how much hydroxycut they were taking and for how long? Just like ephedra, abuse will ALWAYS lead to problems. People need to take responsibility for their actions.

candice 5-07-2009 @ 2:12AM

scary is the word, i lost 40lbs, and then i decided to reve up and take the hydroycut the one ad with the chinesse girl who lost 75lb, and the lady who lost 60 it looked promising.

i've always been healthy, took my blood pressure often almost every time walking into a pharmacy just because
anyway since i work in the entertainment industry and had to lose weight fast, hydro here i came, i took the powder three weeks, and decided to go to a doctor, and get on a medical weight loss regimine, They took my blood pressure and it was 147 over 98 and the doctor took it again and it went up to 158 etc 101 the doctor looked at his blood pressure machine, and said somethings wrong what are you taking, how old are you your tooo young for this blood pressure, i said hydroycut, it said it's natural at least it looked so, i went home and started a cleanse regimine to see if what ever was in this stuff would come out so far 30 days and now a recall later my pressure is still crazy at least i know where to possibly have the doctors check, liver and kidney, hopefully i caught it in time but it does obviously have and effect somehow.
shoot did i say the next time it went to 200 over 125 whats happening, really the lady put the cuff on wrong.

stephanie 5-04-2009 @ 10:00PM

Pills (all of them) are concocted in a Lab in order for pharmaceutical companies to make mega bucks. There's little regard for the safety or health of those taking them. As long as the FDA and pharmaceutical companies are "in bed together" all pills will be dangerous.
Put the pills away, eat healthy, exercise, go outdoors for fresh air and STOP taking all the pills being pushed on you. I guarantee you'll live longer, and healthier.

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