Hydroxycut Problems Could Have Been Prevented
Approximately 9 million people used Hydroxycut weight loss products before they were pulled from the market last week due to an increased risk of liver problems and other potentially life-threatening injuries. Thousands of people could suffer catastrophic liver damage, and many of these Hydroxycut problems could have been avoided with better government oversight and more responsible testing by the manufacturer.
>>INFORMATION: Lawsuits over Hydroxycut
Hydroxycut Problems
Hydroxycut was an over-the-counter dietary supplement that was marketed for weight loss, fat burning, water loss and as an energy enhancer. Although it contains “natural” ingredients, some of those components could be toxic to the liver, causing liver damage, liver failure and in some cases the need for a liver transplant in otherwise health people.
The recall on Hydroxycut was issued on May 1, 2009, after the FDA reported that at least 23 cases of serious liver problems have been linked to Hydroxycut. Information provided by the FDA suggest that the reports date back seven years.
Typically the number of FDA reported adverse events associated with a medical product are estimated to reflect only about 1% of all issues. However, the problems with Hydroxycut reported by the FDA likely represent only a fraction of 1% since the product was widely used, sold over the counter and complications can develop months after Hydroxycut is stopped.
According to an editorial published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology the liver problems from Hydroxycut may have been prevented if U.S. regulators had taken the more precautionary approach taken by regulators in other countries like Canada and Europe:
Poor regulation of dietary supplements in the US has been noted by consumer advocates, researchers and policymakers. US manufacturers of dietary supplements are not required to conduct trials establishing safety or efficacy prior to marketing; only provide a copy of their label for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review. Ingredients do not need to be considered “generally regarded as safe” as pharmaceuticals or food additives do, and the FDA must prove that a supplement is harmful before taking regulatory action. This means consumers in effect become unwitting subjects in a large scale post-marketing trial of a product’s safety.
LAWSUITS OVER HYDROXYCUT RECALL
The Hydroxycut lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are evaluating potential claims throughout the United States on behalf of individuals who used a Hydroxycut weight-loss product and have been diagnosed with:
- Liver Damage
- Elevated Liver Enzymes
- Jaundice
- Liver Failure
- Kidney Failure
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Death
To find out if you, a friend or family member may be entitled to compensation, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
