Herbal weight-loss formulas, fat burners, diet teas and other weight-loss supplements promise miraculous results. But many are ineffective, and there are dangers even with herbal or "natural" formulas, warns the Food and Drug Administration. Many have been banned because they contain illegal and dangerous ingredients. The supplement industry is largely unregulated, which means that you're relying on the company's assurance that its products are safe.
Cardiac Risks
Some herbal weight-loss formulas act as stimulants, raising blood pressure, increasing heart rate and speeding metabolism. These are sometimes marketed as "fat burners," but because of the effect on your heart rate, they can damage the heart muscle and lead to a heart attack. Ephedra, or ma huang, is an herbal supplement that's sold as a bronchial dilator, natural stimulant and weight-loss formula. The synthetic version of ephedra is called pseudoephedrine. It was banned by the FDA in 2004 because it presented an "unreasonable risk of illness or injury," including strokes and damage to the heart muscle that leads to heart attacks. Ephedra has been indicated in thousands of adverse incidents and more than 100 deaths, according to the FDA. Despite the ban and clear risks, you can still buy ephedra supplements.
Dangerous Pharmaceuticals in Herbal Formulas
The FDA has issued warnings for scores of weight-loss formulas in recent years. Although many were marketed as herbal or natural, an investigation revealed they contained potentially dangerous, undeclared prescription medications. One such commonly added, undeclared ingredient is sibutramine, a prescription appetite suppressant. In many of the weight-loss formulas, taking the suggested dose meant taking over three times the safe dose of sibutramine. Risks include stroke, tachycardia, and heart attack and seizures. Sibutramine also interferes with many other prescription medications. Other dangerous, undeclared ingredients include phenolphthalein, a cancer-causing chemical, and fenproporex, which is not approved for sale in the United States and can cause irregular heart rhythms and sudden death. Whether or not there are unlisted pharmaceutical ingredients in herbal weight-loss formulas, discuss their use with your doctor--especially if you're taking prescription medications.
Laxative Effects
Some herbal weight-loss formulas contain laxatives. According to the Something Fishy eating disorders website, these can cause electrolyte imbalance and dehydration, bloating and cramping, and renal or cardiac disturbances leading to death. The FDA has records of at least one person who died as a result of taking a herbal laxative containing podophyllin, or mayberry.
Potential for Abuse and Misuse
Something Fishy reports that laxatives and other herbal weight control formulas have the potential for abuse by people with eating disorders. Additionally, pregnant or nursing women shouldn't take herbal weight-loss formulas. Herbal stimulants can dangerously increase fetal heart rate and induce labor, and other ingredients may be harmful if they enter the bloodstream of the fetus.
References
- Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General: Exercise and a Healthy Diet: The Ultimate Successful Weight Loss Program
- FDA: More Weight Loss Products Added to Consumer Alert
- FDA: Ephedra (Ephedra sinica) / ma huang
- FDA: More Weight Loss Products Added to Consumer Alert
- Something Fishy: Diet Pills, Laxatives and Dangerous Methods
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