Toxicity of Weight Loss Agents

Abstract

Introduction: With the rise of the obesity epidemic in the United States over the last several decades and the medical complications seen with it, weight loss and dieting have become a national public health concern. Discussion: Because of their increased use and availability through internet sales, several different dieting agents were reviewed for potential toxicity. These included: syrup of ipecac, cathartics, human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, 2,4 Dinitrophenol, guar gum, phenylpropanolamine, ma huang/ ephedra, caffeine, clenbuterol, fenfluramine, sibutramine, thyroid hormone, orlistat and cannabinoid antagonists. Conclusions: With the internet making even banned products readily accessible, healthcare providers need to be aware of the potential toxicities of a wide range of weight loss agents. Our review covered topics we thought to be most historically significant as well as pertinent to the practice of medical toxicology today.

Playing with fire? Factors influencing risk willingness with the unlicensed fat burner drug 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) in young adults

“…From the public health point of view, it is concerning that hazards of the past seem to be a permanent or returning feature of today's off-street 'supplement' market, mainly through retail networks that fall outside standard safety regulations: the Internet 1 . 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) was used until the late 1930s to treat obesity and was subsequently withdrawn owing to its severe toxicity 2 . However, industrial uses of DNP as a dye, wood preserver, herbicide and film-developer have remained in place over the years.…”

“…However, the weight-loss effect comes with serious, and in some cases potentially fatal, adverse side effects. These include hyperthermia (the leading cause of fatality with acute DNP toxicity) and cardiac arrest, but also diaphoresis, tachycardia, tachypnea; and cataracts with low dose chronic exposure [2][3][4][5][6] .…”

“Doc, My Anxiety is Back, and It’s Worse than Ever”

“…Simeons noticed that these men lost their ravenous appetite and noticed redistribution of their body fat. [2][3][4] In pregnancy, Simeons suggested that HCG prevents the formation of abnormal fat deposits in order to maintain maternal blood saturated with nutrients to provide adequate caloric requirement for fetal growth. 4,5 The diet consists of the intramuscular injection of 125 IUs of B-HCG 6 times per week for a total of 40 injections.…”

DNP induced oxidative stress on blood components ameliorated by Pyrrole derivative of Tinospora cordifolia.

“…2, 4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) has historically been used in the manufacture of food coloring, clothing dyes, explosives, agricultural herbicides, insecticides and fungicides [1,2]. The compound is known to uncouple mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and was used as an antiobesity agent early in the past century.…”