Major warning over deadly chemical found in popular weight loss supplements
A major warning has been issued to the Australian public over potentially toxic chemicals found in a series of popular workout supplements.
NSW Health said the products which contain the chemical 2,4-dinitrophenol, or DNP have been linked to deaths in Australia and overseas.
“Products containing the chemical may be known as ‘Shredders’ and are marketed to the fitness, weight loss and body building communities,” a spokesperson for NSW Health said.
DNP prevents energy being stored as fat; instead the energy is released as heat. This increases body temperature which can damage the cells of organs such as muscle, kidney and brain.
People can become seriously unwell within hours of ingesting DNP.
Clinical Toxicologist and Intensive Care Physician at the NSW Poisons Information Centre, Dr Kylie McArdle rejected the theory that the chemical can be safe in small doses.
“There is a myth that if used in small amounts, users will be safe but DNP is an extremely toxic substance,” said Dr McArdle.
“There is no antidote and even with our best medical care, people can and have died using products containing the chemical.”
NSW Health is urging the public to avoid products marketed online that name this chemical, or any product from an unverified source being promoted as a weight-loss agent.
