The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7254 p855
21 June 2003

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Food Standards Agency alert (more)

Warning over "fat burner" capsules

Urgent advice has been issued by the Food Standards Agency, to people in the bodybuilding community in particular, about the dangers of consuming products containing 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP).

The chemical is known to have serious short- and long-term adverse effects on health and has been found in "fat-burner" capsules available via the internet.

The FSA warns: "Taking as few as three or four of these capsules — or 1,000mg of DNP — in one dose could result in death. Smaller amounts (less than one capsule a day) taken over longer periods of time are known to have caused serious human health effects, such as cataracts."

The FSA issued its warning after the Finnish National Food Agency passed on information about a body builder who was admitted to hospital after taking "fat-burner" capsules. The Finnish authorities tested the capsules and found they contained as much as 380mg DNP.

Initial reports indicate that DNP-containing capsules are being marketed primarily at the bodybuilding community as a way of losing excess fat, says the FSA. Labelling on products containing DNP may vary, but consumers should avoid any product described as containing DNP or 2,4-dinitrophenol, it adds.