FDA Warning Forces Recall of Hydroxycut Diet Products
May 16, 2009 by JD
Filed under Health News, News
The FDA’s latest strike against the supplement industry has resulted in the recall of one of the market’s most popular dietary supplements: Hydroxycut. An FDA warning against its use has led to the product line being recalled.
Why? Well, over the years, tens of millions of doses of Hydroxycut have been taken by consumers. But recently, the FDA has learned that one person has died due to adverse effects thought to be linked to the usage of Hydroxycut. In addition, there have been a few dozen reports of liver-related side effects also thought to be associated with Hydroxycut usage.
The FDA’s rationale behind issuing the warning is that although the risk of side effects appears to be statistically very low, the American consumer should not be exposed to supplements that even have just a remote chance of causing adverse reactions.
Now this sounds very reasonable. At least until you put in the context of how the FDA handles the miracle elixirs the major pharmaceutical companies put out.
The FDA will tolerate no risks of side effects from a supplement. But when it’s a vaccine or some other Big Pharma drug, risks of side effects are deemed acceptable by the FDA. Case in point: the public furor over the COX-2 inhibitor drug Vioxx. Remember the testimony made by Dr. David Graham, an FDA scientist, during the hearings?
Graham estimated that Vioxx had killed over 60,000 Americans. But still, an FDA panel voted the drug to be “safe”, even after the manufacturer voluntarily pulled it off the shelves.
So, a pharmaceutical that kills 60,000 people is safe. And a supplement that is linked to just one death is unsafe.
The Ephedra Treatment
Hydoxycut is essentially getting the same treatment ephedra did several years ago. Ephedra is a natural and safe traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for over 5,00 years in China as a critical ingredient in a variety of medicinal formulas including key anti-viral vaccines.
But, you can’t get ephedra in the United States anymore. The FDA banned it. It is now illegal to sell or prescribe ephedra-based medicine or dietary supplements. This is solely because a limited number of people took well over the recommended dosages and experienced ill effects, even death in a few cases. Large amounts of ephedra can put a strain on the cardiovasular system which can lead to heart incidents.
But too much of anything that interacts with the body can potentially lead to adverse reactions. Too much aspirin. Too much cough syrup. Even too much fruit juice.
Most people will follow dosage instructions on prescription medicine. A somewhat fewer number of people will adhere to dosage instructions on supplements - especially weight loss supplements where people will adopt the “if one works, two must be twice as effective” approach.
I have no issue with the FDA recalling dangerous substances, whether they be medicines or dietary supplements. I just think they need to apply the same standards across the board. But instead, Big Pharma’s pet agency will continue to target supplement companies while allowing risky and potentially toxic pharmaceuticals to line the shelves of your local pharmacy.
*****************
Please check out our new community site:
Take advantage of our free membership and learn more about staying healthy and fit into your forties and beyond.
*****************
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
