Kuwait Info.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Health announced Sunday withdrawal of all fat loss supplements that include Hydroxycut ingredient from pharmacies and stores nationwide. “The decision to withdraw, confiscate, and halt registration of, the Hydroxycut products comes in response to the warning of the US Food and Drug Administration against the hazards of this substance,” Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry for Drugs and Medial Equipment Affairs Dr Omar Al-Sayed Omar said. Hydroxycut is known as one of the most popular fat loss supplements used by professional and amateur gym goers. It is thought to be helpful in burning fat very fast.

However, Dr Omar warned users of drugs containing this substance against the health hazards involved. “The US Food and Drug Administration has received 23 reports liking Hydroxicut to liver and bile problems,” he told KUNA. It announced that one of the Hydroxicut users has died of liver failure resulting from the substance, Dr Omar pointed out, adding that the substance could also lead to more serious heart, kidney and nervous system complications. Meanwhile, the The maker of the widely sold Hydroxycut weight-loss supplements is recalling 14 products after reports of liver damage and one death, US health officials said on Friday. The Food and Drug Administration urged consumers to immediately stop using the recalled products, which are made by Iovate Health Sciences Inc and marketed for weight loss, boosting energy and other uses.

“The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist,” said Dr Linda Katz, interim chief medical officer in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The company agreed to voluntarily pull the 14 products even though the FDA has not seen reports of serious harm with all of them, Katz said. Agency officials are investigating which doses and ingredients may be harmful, she said. The recalled products contain a variety of ingredients including herbal extracts. They are sold as dietary supplements, which do not require the evidence of safety and effectiveness needed for medicines before they can be sold.

::Arabtimes::