Hydroxycut is a popular diet pill in the U.S. that once made headlines as a life-threatening supplement because it contained ephedra. After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the use of ephedra in dietary supplements in 2004, the manufacturer -- Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. --- changed the formulation of their diet pills to be ephedra-free. These diet pills may not be any more effective or safe for use than their ephedra-containing predecessors.
Ingredients
As a replacement for ephedra, Hydroxycut products contain various herbs and extracts that Lovate Health Sciences purports will help you lose weight without the dangers of ephedra. For example, the Hydroxycut Hardcore product contains caffeine, various amino acids, cayenne pepper, wild olive and wild mint extracts. Hydroxycut's Pro-clinical blend contains caffeine, acerola concentrate, berry powders and extracts similar to Hydroxycut Hardcore. A majority of the ingredients in Hydroxycut are unproven to have any kind of weight loss or performance-boosting effect.
Claimed Effects
Lovate Health Sciences claims that clinical research regarding various herbs and extracts in ephedra-free Hydroxycut products proves they can help you lose weight quickly. Hydroxycut claims to boost your energy levels make exercise more effective. While the caffeine in Hydroxycut products will make you feel energized for a short time, there is no reliable scientific research backing the claims made by the manufacturers.
Side Effects
Before you take ephedra-free Hydroxycut products, understand the potential side effects associated with the supplemental ingredients. Columbia University notes that some Hydroxycut products have been related to seizures, nausea, fatigue and cardiovascular problems. Because Hydroxycut products act as a stimulant, it is also possible that you could over-exert yourself while combining them with exercise.
Product Dangers
In 2009, the FDA warned that many of Hydroxcut's ephedra-free products posed a significant risk to consumer health safety, and users should immediately discontinue taking all Hydroxycut products. These products caused at least one death due to liver failure, and the FDA received a total of 23 complaints of serious liver damage related to Hydroxycut. The company subsequently removed some of its products from the market.
References
- Hydroxycut Hardcore: Product Information
- Hydroxycut: Pro Clinical Hydroxycut
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; FDA Acts to Remove Ephedra-Containing Dietary Supplements From Market; November 2004
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Using Hydroxycut Products; May 2009
- Columbia University: Thermogenic Dietary Supplements (e.g. Hydroxycut) --- Safe?; June 2011
- Diets In Review: Hydroxycut
Member Comments