The popular weight-loss supplement, Hydroxycut, has been recalled.
A 19-year old man died, and another needs a liver transplant. MedPage Today reports that these events occurred in 2007, but wasn’t reported to the FDA until two years later. In all, 23 events were reported, ranging from the aforementioned serious side effects, to elevations in the liver enzyme levels.
Who knows how many more will be affected with the reporting delay? The fact is, “the makers of diet supplements are not required to provide precise ingredient formulae to the FDA.” And without that information, it is impossible to determine what exactly led to the liver complications.
Patients need to be aware that, in some cases, over-the-counter supplements can be more dangerous than prescription drugs.
