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Hydroxycut for Weight Loss

Hydroxycut weight loss products and dietary supplements were introduced in 2003 as over-the-counter dietary supplements, and sold in the United States through direct marketing on television, online retailers and brick and mortar stores across the country. The supplements were supported by studies that suggested a consumer could lose several pounds of body fat per week taking Hydroxycut supplements, and by following a diet and exercise program.

  1. Significance

    • Hydroxycut products are manufactured by MuscleTech, a company that specializes in weight loss supplements and bodybuilding products, and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. MuscleTech originally developed the Hydroxycut formula with ephedra as a thermogenic supplement (fat burner), but this particular formula was discontinued after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban on ephedra products in the United States in 2005.

      MuscleTech redesigned its formula and released an ephedra-free version of Hydroxycut. The fat burner promoted weight loss with ingredients that helped to speed up the metabolism and suppressed the appetite. None of these weight loss products had been approved by the FDA because they, like other weight loss products on the market, were marketed as a dietary supplement and not designed to treat any conditions or diseases.

    Active Ingredients

    • Active ingredients in the ephedra-free version of Hydroxycut included green tea extract, caffeine, white tea extract, oolong tea extract, chromium picolinate and garcinia cambogia extract. When consumed individually in clinical studies, certain ingredients had been linked to an increased metabolic rate, increased fat oxidation and appetite suppression.

    Potential Side Effects

    • Individuals that take Hydroxycut for weight loss may experience side effects from the active ingredients in the dietary supplement. According to the U.S. Drug Recall website, reported side effects of Hydroxycut supplements include seizures, heart problems, liver failure and death. Since the active ingredients include caffeine and ingredients that increase the heart rate, other side effects may include increased sweating, increased heart rate, feeling restless or jittery and a loss of appetite, according to Body Building for You.

    Warnings

    • The FDA issued a warning to all consumers in May 2009 to stop using Hydroxycut weight loss products because they may cause severe liver damage and serious health problems. According to an article that appeared in the American Academy of Family Physicians news briefing on May 6, 2009, a division of the FDA "has received 23 reports of adverse events in users of these Hydroxycut products, including asymptomatic liver enzyme changes, jaundice, liver damage requiring liver transplant and liver failure resulting in one death." The FDA is encouraging consumers who have taken Hydroxycut for weight loss purposes to report any symptoms and health problems to their physicians.

    Product Recalls

    • MuscleTech voluntarily recalled almost all Hydroxycut weight loss products after the FDA consumer advisory was released. According to Body Building for You, Hydroxycut weight loss products on the recall list included Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets, Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets, Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets, Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix), Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Liquid Shots, Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs, Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed, Hydroxycut 24, Hydroxycut Carb Control and Hydroxycut Natural. The only products that are not on the recall list are those that are made with hoodia gordonii and the Hydroxycut Cleanse formula.

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