Beware of Fat-Burner Supplements

Could fat-burning supplements pose major health risks? Some may, according to the Food and Drug Administration(FDA).

The regulatory agency issued a warning to consumers to immediately stop using dietary supplement products marketed under the name Hydroxycut. Over the last several years, the FDA has received 23 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes (biochemical signs of liver damage) to liver damage requiring a liver transplant in one case.

According to the FDA, Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements sold in health food stores and pharmacies used for weight loss, fat burning and energy enhancers. The Canadian manufacturer, Iovate Health Sciences Inc of Oakville, Ontario, has agreed to recall some 14 Hydroxycut-branded products from the market.

While rare, liver injury was reported in patients who claimed to be taking the dose recommended on the Hydroxycut bottle. Therefore, improper dosing cannot be claimed as the cause. Other reported health problems include seizures, cardiovascular disorders and a serious type of muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) that can lead to kidney failure and death. Consumers who have been taking Hydroxycut products and are experiencing symptoms that could be related to the products are urged to visit their doctor.

Hydroxycut was promoted as a so-called “fat-burning” product. The company claimed that a person could lose more than four times the weight than any normal diet and exercise program by adding the product to their daily regimen. The product contains two proprietary (unknown composition) “fat-burning” compounds – Hydroxytea and Hydroagen – in addition to other ingredients. It’s not known which compounds led to the reported health problems.

The whole concept of fat burning through dietary supplementation has been pretty well debunked. To lose a single pound of weight, you need to burn about 3,500 more calories than you consume. While some drugs may suppress appetite and help with dieting, there is little evidence that any supplements actually boost your metabolism in a significant way to burn fat. A study of green tea extract, often cited as a fat-burner, found only a 4% increase in metabolism.

Just one month prior to the FDA warning on Hydroxycut products, another company (Universal ABC Beauty Supply International Inc. of Brooklyn, N.Y.) recalled 34 weight-loss products, many of them promoted as fat-burners, due to the presence of an unlabeled compound (sibutramine) found in a prescription appetite suppressant. This was of concern because known side effects of sibutramine may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease who consume the drug without their knowledge.

Consumers should be wary of over-the-counter products that claim to burn fat and accelerate weight loss. At this point, it seems that the risks far outweigh potential benefits.

p/s : Aku pernah dengar produk ni dan setahu aku ianya banyak dijual di gym n fitness centre..tapi tak pernah la aku nak "torai" bende ni..lagipun tak silap aku ada jual kat satu forum ..tak ingat forum yang mana ...banyak gak sambutannya...tapi kesan sampingannya tak taulah aku sejauh mana ia merbahaya kepada kesihatan...the moral of the story is, kalau nak sihat n cantik, amalkan gaya hidup yang sihat (jaga makan n bersenam selalu)..takyah dah nak amik supplement bagai...pilihan ditangan anda!!!!!!

sumber : http://www.lifescript.com