A Short History of Weight-Loss Pills

In the relatively short history of weight-loss pills, there isn't much that is good to tell. In fact every ten years or so the manufacturers bombard the public with their new "wonder drug" that promises almost magical results that are mostly out done by their dangerous and sometimes deadly side effects. It brings an old saying to mind, that if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Here is a look at some of the past and recent decade's popular chemical weight loss solutions.

In the 1930's, a Stanford University study released its results on the amazing weight loss properties of Dinitrophenol or DNP. In brief, DNP is an industrial chemical that drastically speeds up metabolism by inhibiting an ATP synthase molecule. The electron transport chain still function to create energy, however with the inhibition of ATP synthesis the energy created is given off as heat. DNP is very effective and can raise resting metabolic rates up to 50%. Side effects include overheating, insomnia, muscle soreness, blindness, and can result in death. In 1938, the U.S. Office of Drug Control, a precursor to the Food and Drug Administration, banned it from the marketplace when it found the drug was linked to numerous deaths due to fevers. Although DNP is still used and sought out today mostly for competitive body building.

During the 1950's and 60's Amphetamines became the new popular choice for weight loss. These drugs work by stimulating the central nervous system and have been known to cause chest pain, tachycardia (increased heart rate), chest pain, anxiety, euphoria, hypertension, and insomnia. These drugs are effective in suppressing appetite they have fallen out of favor because of their addictive qualities and potential for abuse. They are however, still used for other conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

In the early 1990's the University of Rochester released a study of the potentially good weight loss effects of a combination of two existing appetite suppressants, fenfluramine and phentermine. This drug, dexfenfluramine (Redux), received FDA approval in early 1996 and within three months over 86,000 prescriptions a week were being filled. However in the summer of 1997, the Mayo Clinic published a study linking Redux to serious side effects such as pulmonary hypertension especially in women. Shortly after the release the FDA promptly removed it from the market.

In the late 90's to early 2004, the focus shifted to the herbals and natural supplements. And why not, anything natural can't be bad for you, right? Well not in the case of the herbal plant Ephedra. The active ingredient in Ephedra, alkaloid ephedrine, has a stimulant effect on the heart, lungs, and central nervous system. The FDA banned any dietary supplements containing Ephedra in 2004, when it was found to cause hypertension, seizures, strokes, heart palpitations, loss of consciousness, and even death. Ephedra is also banned by the NCAA, the International Olympic Committee, and the NFL.

Lastly, in May of 2009, the FDA requested a voluntary recall of fourteen Hydroxycut products. At a news conference Linda Katz MD, interim Chief Medical Officer of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition said, "We have reports of adverse effects including liver damage requiring a transplant, elevated liver enzymes, and a death of a 19 year old man after using Hydoxycut." The FDA however, hasn't yet determined which ingredients or doses are associated with the side effects.

Resources:

http://mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/HQ01160

http://www.mesomorphosis.com/steroid-profiles/dnp.htm

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/default.htm

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090501/hydroxycut-recall-due-to-liver-injuries
http://www.webmd.com/diet/tc/ephedra-topic-overview