Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is likely to be a cause of liver damage and liver failure for users of Hydroxycut products. Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. received 23 reports of users reporting serious liver damage requiring liver transplantation on May 1, 2009 after FDA's announcement on May 1, 2009 , We collected 14 Hydroxycut products from the market at our company. A 19 - year - old boy who used Hydroxycut died of liver failure.
Currently 14 products left out are Hydrocutcut:
- Normal rapid release caplet
- Caffeine free rapid release caplet
- Hard core Liquid Caplet
- Max Liquid Caplet
- Cafe Friedlink Packet
- Hard core drink packet (Ignition Stix)
- Maximum drink packet
- Liquid shot
- Hard-core RTD (Ready-to-Drink)
- Max Aquashed
- twenty four
- Control of carbohydrates
- Natural
- Regular drink packets
Iovate sells the product as an energy enhancer and fat burning agent to promote weight loss, to promote fluid loss. Some products were targeting a bodybuilder who wants to lose fat, so the muscles seemed more "broken", clearly defined.
The inclusion of hydroxycitric acid in products is a story of bad science and bad legislation, which is handled by drug safety regulators.
Hydroxycitric Acid is a variant of citric acid. Garcinia · Gumi · Gutta, Yellowish pumpkin-style fruits from Indonesia. Its extracts and leather are used as Indian traditional medicine and condiments of curry. In early studies with rats, Hydroxycitric Acid was excellent in inhibiting the conversion of carbohydrates to fat while suppressing appetite.
In the case of rats, supplement manufacturers have added it to their products, as it has to work for human beings. They did not take the most fundamental measures FDA requires for prescription drugs and did not undergo clinical trials to demonstrate both safety and efficacy in human animals.
Other researchers did their homework. According to the report of the American Medical Association 1998 in the American Medical Association, when tested against placebo, an inactive substance, it has been reported that HCA did not cause weight loss compared to placebo. According to research in 2000, HCA had no effect on reducing starvation or increasing satiety.
Works for rats. It is not for human beings. Supplement makers left HCAs in their products and did not change their claims.
In 2005, Chronology of internal medicine Two cases of liver injury due to use of Hydroxycut products including HCA were reported. Since then, there have been more reports in the medical literature associated with dietary supplements containing Hydroxycitric Acid to prevent liver damage.
It is safe for rats. It is dangerous for humans. The supplement maker left it in the product and did not change its claim.
The FDA's hands were tied. Since the Hatch-Harkin Act was enacted in 1994, the FDA has been recognized to be involved in a $ 24 billion dietary supplement in the United States. It can not be reconsidered whether we need human tests for safety and effectiveness (actions to be taken regularly with all prescription drugs). Agencies can only check manufacturers and monitor products placed on shelves.
According to the report, they did what the law admitted in May. They announced reports of 23 liver injuries, including one death. They sent a letter of "Dear Doctor" to medical providers nationwide. They had serious public health risks in Hydroxycut products.
The FDA had a solid science and its aspects. Iovate has withdrawn its products from the market.
People who use Hydroxycut products and experienced symptoms that seem to be related to their use should consult with a medical institution as soon as possible.
