Put Hydroxycut diet products back on the shelf, warns FDA.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Hydroxycut diet pills have been linked to at least one death and a number of serious liver injuries, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency is warning consumers to stop using the dietary supplement immediately. The products are marketed for weight loss as fat burners, energy enhancers, low-carbohydrate diet aids, and for losing water weight.

THE DETAILS: In addition to a death related to liver failure, at least 23 reports of serious health problems, including jaundice and elevated liver enzymes (which in extreme cases can lead to the need for a liver transplant) have been reported. Seizures, cardiovascular problems, and rhabdomyolysis, (a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure), were also reported.

Liver injury, although rare, was reported by patients at the doses of Hydroxycut recommended on the bottle. Symptoms of liver injury include jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or in the whites of the eyes) and brown urine. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, excessive fatigue, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, and loss of appetite. “The FDA urges consumers to discontinue use of Hydroxycut products in order to avoid any undue risk. Adverse events are rare, but exist. Consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products,” says Linda Katz, MD, interim chief medical officer of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

The recalled products include:

‣ Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
‣ Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
‣ Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
‣ Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
‣ Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
‣ Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
‣ Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
‣ Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
‣ Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
‣ Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
‣ Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
‣ Hydroxycut 24
‣ Hydroxycut Carb Control
‣ Hydroxycut Natural

Health care workers and consumers should report any serious side effects to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Not all of the products listed above were linked to reports of serious liver problems, but the company has agreed to recall all products as a safety precaution. FDA notes that Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products are not affected by the recall.

WHAT IT MEANS: With summer right around the corner, we’d probably all like to lose a few pounds. But relying on the contents of a pill bottle isn’t your best move. If you want to shed some weight, you have to actually move, and watch what you’re putting in your mouth.

Here’s how to handle this recall, and how to drop a few pounds in a healthy way.

• Get a refund. If you have any of the recalled products, don’t use them. Return them to the place you bought them to get your money back.

• Play detective. Investigate yourself for a week. Before you eat, write down any stress triggers, your moods, and how hungry you feel. This can help you ID what’s sending you to the store for that pint of ice cream, which will help you gain control over stressful situations and combat overeating.

• Work it! If you’re like many of us, it’s hard to image where to find time to fit a formal exercise session into your day. No worries. Do squats at your desk during work, take the stairs, walk during your lunch break, and use a bathroom on an higher floor (and don’t use the elevator to get there!).