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Whenever there is a disease or condition that many people will pay good money to relieve, there will be someone trying to turn a quick buck. In obesity, there are too many products or services that have been found to be harmful or are under current investigation.
If you think that you have taken a product of concern, such as the ones listed below, or feel that you are a victim of a fraudulent service:
- Inform your physician or a health care professional that can evaluate and
advise you appropriately.
- Get information on how you can take action from our Consumer
Protection web page.
For updated alerts on dietary supplements marketed for weight control, read
the FDA's Warnings and
Safety Information.
A review of various dietary supplements related to weight loss was conducted by researcher David Allison and colleagues.
Products of Concern
Aristolochic Acid
Aristolochic Acid may be found in botanical products, which may have been sold
as "traditional medicines" or as ingredients in dietary supplements.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA),
"Consumption of products containing aristolochic acid has been associated
with permanent kidney damage, sometimes resulting in kidney failure that has
required kidney dialysis or kidney transplantation. In addition, some patients
have developed certain types of cancers, most often occurring in the urinary
tract."
The FDA advises consumers to stop using any products that may likely contain
aristolochic acid, which includes products with the words "Aristolochia,"
"Bragantia" or "Asarum" listed as ingredients on the label.
The FDA has included at least one product marketed for weight control on their
advisory list of products that contains Aristolochic Acid. The product is BioSlim
Doctor's Natural Weight Loss System Slim Tone Formula.
Ephedra
Ephedra, also known as ma huang, is found in some herbal products sold for weight
control. . Ephedra is a controversial product. It may produce weight loss, but issues of appropriate dosage, effect of other stimulants and safety issues cloud this substance.
Ephedra has been reported to cause nausea, dizziness, headache, skin
rash, nervousness, moodiness, depression, heartracing, difficulty breathing,
vomiting, blurred vision, addiction, disorientation, low blood pressure, gastrointestinal
problems, chest pains, heart palpitations, and death.
Since the early 1990's the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned
consumers about the dangers of using ephedra and has tried to regulate it. The FDA continues to evaluate ephedra and determine appropriate controls.
Herbal weight loss tea / "Dieter's Tea"
Dieter's teas, sometimes labeled as a natural bowel cleanser because of their
laxative qualities, are often marketed as a weight loss product. The use of
products with a laxative effect for weight control is ineffective and potentially
dangerous for people on severely restricted diets.
The FDA advises consumers to "follow package directions carefully when
using dieter's teas and other dietary supplements containing senna, aloe, and
other stimulant laxatives." They also advise to:
- Stop using the product if diarrhea, loose stools, or stomach pain develop.
- See a doctor if frequent diarrhea develops.
- See a doctor before using the product if the user is pregnant, nursing,
taking medication, or has a medical condition.
Tiratricol
The FDA has forced the recall of products marketed as dietary supplements for weight loss
that contain tiratricol, also known as triiodothyroacetic acid or TRIAC, a potent
thyroid hormone that may cause serious health consequences including heart attacks
and strokes. The FDA advises "all individuals who may have purchased these
products, or any product containing tiratricol, to stop using them immediately
and, in addition, to consult their health care professional if they are experiencing
any adverse effects, which may include insomnia, nervousness, sweating, and
diarrhea.
Some of products containing tiratricol and their distributors are:
- Triax Metabolic Accelerator
by Syntrax Innovations, Inc.
- Tricana Metabolic Hormone Analogue, 1 mg. Capsules by J.N.G. Sports Supplement
Distributors. The product label claimed it to be an "extremely effective
fat burner, working especially well for conditions of obesity and reducing
problematic areas of fat (cellulite)."
- Tricana Metabolic Hormone Analogue by Thermo-Life International.
- Tria-Cutz, Thyroid Stimulator, Dietary Supplement Capsules by Gentech LLC.
- Sci-Fi-Tri-Cuts Dietary Supplement Capsules by ATF Fitness Products Inc.
- BioPharm brand T-Cuts by ATF Fitness Products, Inc.
Read the FDA Talk Paper,
FDA Warns Against Consuming Dietary Supplements Containing Tiratricol.
Read the FDA Talk Paper,
FDA Warns Against Consuming Triax Metabolic Accelerator.
Read the FDA press
release, ATF Fitness Products, Inc. Recalls BioPharm Brand T-Cuts.
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