Hydroxycut is a brand of weight loss products intended to help the user lose weight faster that by diet and exercise alone. There has been some safety controversy and a number of resulting recalls over the years. If you are considering using a Hydroxycut diet, you should consult your doctor.
Features
The main ingredients in the Hydroxycut products are caffeine, acai, pomegranate mint and lady's mantle. These tablets are intended to be taken daily, before meals with water. The manufacturer makes a number of claims about the Hydroxycut diet; such as it will help you lose weight rapidly, boost your energy, and reduce your body mass index. There is also Hydroxycut Max, a product marketed specifically for women.
Safety Issues
According to Diets in Review, in 2009, the U.S. Food and drug Administration received a report of the death of a teenager who had been using a Hydroxycut supplement. The FDA does not regulate dietary supplements as it does with other pharmaceuticals, but this incident led to the recall of more than 10 Hydroxycut products. According to the distributer of Hydroxycut, the products were also recalled due to the FDA receiving 23 reports of liver problems coinciding with the use of some Hydroxycut products.
Recalled Products
The recalled products included Hydroxycut 24, Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets, Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets, Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets, Hydroxycut Carb Control, Hydroxycut Natural, Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink), Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix), Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Liquid Shots, Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets, Hydroxycut Caffeine--Free Rapid Release Caplets, and Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed. Because the products contained a combination of many ingredients, it is not clear which ones were the cause of the health problems.
Considerations
Since the recall, Hydroxycut has a smaller range of dietary products. Their latest product is called Pro Clinical Hydroxycut Rapid Release Tablets. The manufacturer, Lovate Health Sciences, claims that this product has been clinically tested to be more effective than exercise and diet alone. Consult your doctor before taking this product and to help sort out claims of effectiveness.
Warning
The FDA does not have to regulate or approve dietary supplements before they reach the market. This means that they have not had to pass the same rigorous tests as pharmaceutical drugs. Often, until consumers report the side effects of dietary supplement, they remain unknown and undocumented. If you are considering using a dietary supplement, you should consult your doctor.
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