Hydroxycut

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 This article contains weasel words, vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. Such statements should be clarified or removed. (May 2009)

Hydroxycut is a nutritional supplement manufactured and marketed by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., that claims to help consumers lose weight. According to a 2009 paper in World Journal of Gastroenterology, "[a]n estimated 15% of the US population uses dietary supplements for weight loss, and Hydroxycut is the top selling product in this class and market, with roughly a million units sold per year."[1][2]

Claims of Hydroxycut's efficacy have been overstated, and are not well-founded in research.[3] On May 1, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning after some Hydroxycut products were linked to liver damage, rhabdomyolysis, and at least one death. The manufacturer then recalled the products.[4]

Contents

[edit] Background

Hydroxycut is sold at conventional retailers, online retailers, and through direct television marketing. Sold in the United States without ephedra, it was advertised as a weight-loss supplement to increase metabolism and reduce hunger cravings. Prior to May 2009, its primary ingredients included Garcinia cambogia, Gymnema sylvestre, chromium polynicotinate, caffeine, and green tea. Like many nutraceuticals, its efficacy is questionable and not well-supported by research.[3] Some studies suggest that further research is warranted, though the mechanism through which Hydroxycut may operate remains unclear.[5][6]

Hydroxycut was promoted as being created and endorsed by doctors. Television advertisements for Hydroxycut featured Jon Marshall, a graduate of Midwestern University's osteopathic medical school, and still in residency. Hydroxycut was also endorsed by its formulator, Marvin Heuer, Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Florida, and Former Chief Scientific Officer of Iovate Health Sciences, the company that markets the product.

In recent years, Hydroxycut had become available in several forms and formulas that did not contain ephedra. They included:

  • Hydroxycut
  • Caffeine-Free Hydroxycut – similar to regular Hydroxycut but designed for caffeine-sensitive people.
  • Hydroxycut 24 - an around-the-clock type of weight-loss product that includes regular Hydroxycut for the daytime and the caffeine-free for the evening.
  • Hydroxycut Hardcore – a weight-loss supplement for bodybuilders or other sportspersons.
  • Hydroxycut Max! – a weight-loss supplement for female fitness competitors or other sportswomen.

[edit] 2003 lawsuit for false advertising

On March 27, 2003, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon filed a lawsuit in St. Louis against Hydroxycut's manufacturer MuscleTech Research and Development, Inc stating that claims Hydroxycut was "clinically proven" to be a "fat-burner" were false, specifically:[7]

"The product is not "clinically proven" to be a "fat-burner," as MuscleTech claims. MuscleTech's own study showed that Hydroxycut has no efficacy as compared to placebo with the possible exception of an appetite-suppressing effect. Moreover, the serious adverse health risks of Hydroxycut with ephedra – including death – were not adequately described or disclosed in marketing and labelling of the product."

Nixon also alleged that the "before" and "after" photographs were misleading, and that one woman's "before" photo was deceptive because she was recently pregnant.[8] MuscleTech paid $100,000 to settle the case while denying any wrongdoing.[9]

[edit] Likely underestimated incidence of danger

An April 14, 2009 study summed up the situation:

"Dara et al report on a case series of two patients with hepatotoxicity associated with the weight-loss supplement Hydroxycut, so named because it contains potentially hepatotoxic hydroxycitric acid derived from the tropical fruit Garcinia cambogia. Two earlier case reports in 2005 were also referenced. To this count should be added two additional case reports of hepatotoxicity associated with Hydroxycut. An estimated 15% of the US population uses dietary supplements for weight loss, and Hydroxycut is the top selling product in this class and market, with roughly a million units sold per year. With such wide usage, these six cases may underestimate the true incidence of hepatotoxicity by several degrees of magnitude."[2]

The tropical fruit Garcinia cambogia is also known as the Malabar Tamarind.

[edit] FDA warning and subsequent recall

On May 1, 2009, the FDA issued a warning to consumers to stop using Hydroxycut products, due to 23 reports of serious health problems associated with the use of Hydroxycut, and at least one death.[10] The manufacturers of Hydroxycut have published a webpage to address this recall.[11] A new formula of Hydroxycut is now back on store shelves.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Weight control a high priority". Chain Drug Review 30: 30. 2008. ISSN 0164-9914. 
  2. ^ a b Ano Lobb (2009-04-14). Hepatoxicity associated with weight-loss supplements: A case for better post-marketing surveillance. 15. pp. 1786–7. doi:10.3748/wjg.15.1786. 
  3. ^ a b "Studies of Dietary Supplements Come Under Growing Scrutiny". The New York Times. June 23, 2003. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940CE2D6143BF930A15755C0A9659C8B63&pagewanted=print. Retrieved 2009-05-02. 
  4. ^ Associated Press (May 1, 2009). "FDA warns dieters: Stop Hydroxycut use now". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30518843. Retrieved 2009-05-02. 
  5. ^ Preuss HG, Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Rao CVS, Dey DK and Satyanarayana S (2004). "Effects of a natural extract of (–)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX plus niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract on weight loss". Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 6: 171–180. doi:10.1111/j.1462-8902.2004.00328.x. 
  6. ^ Preuss HG, Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Rao CVS, Satyanarayana S and Dey DK (2004). "Efficacy of a novel, natural extract of (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX, niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract in weight management in human volunteers: A pilot study". Nutrition Research 24: 45–58. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TB1-4BH9DYS-5&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=0f123560a060425feb300e36711a2a1a. 
  7. ^ Missouri Attorney General's office (March 27, 2003). "Nixon sues maker of Hydroxycut for misrepresenting safety concerns of ephedra, weight loss effectiveness". Press release. http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2003/032703.htm. 
  8. ^ "Nixon vs. Muscletech" (PDF). Missouri Attorney General's office. http://web.archive.org/web/20061026080149/http://www.ago.mo.gov/lawsuits/2003/032703hydroxycut.pdf. , Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri
  9. ^ Missouri Attorney General's office (May 4, 2004). "Distributor of diet supplement that contained ephedra pays Missouri $100,000 under agreement with Attorney General Nixon". Press release. http://ago.mo.gov/newsreleases/2004/050404.htm. 
  10. ^ "FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm152152.htm. 
  11. ^ Hydroxycut Information Page

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxycut"