Hydroxycut: Decade-Long Popular Weight Loss Supplement? - Research Paper

Introduction

Hydroxycut has been in existence for more than a decade and is among the most popular weight loss supplements used globally. The supplement contains various ingredients that are claimed to help in losing weight such as caffeine and some few plant extracts. An article by Fletcher and Cochrane (2019), provided various claims concerning the effects of Hydroxycut on people's weight loss goals and its possible side effects. The article claims that Hydroxycut may provide some weight loss benefits as a result of its caffeine content but there exists inadequate evidence to prove. Fletcher and Cochrane (2019) also claim that Hydroxycut comes along with various safety and side effects and has had some history of issues with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Some of the health problems listed include seizures, liver diseases, muscle problems, heart diseases, and even death. However, various studies have been conducted with reference to the effects and efficiency of Hydroxycut on its users.

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Sharma, Wong, L., Tsai & Wong, R. (2010) conducted provided a case report and review of literature on Hydroxycut. They viewed the continuous rise in the use of supplements and alternative drugs as a cause for alarm since most of the substances may result in unexpected medical consequences. Previous reports indicated 23 cases of liver damage, one fatality, and one liver transplant after exposure to Hydroxycut (Sharma, Wong, L., Tsai & Wong, R., 2010). According to the study, the former blend of Hydroxycut contains Garcinia Cambogia rind extract whose key ingredient is Hydroxy Citric Acid (HCA). Various reports have indicated a possible synergy of the acid with montelukast that constitutes fatal hepatotoxicity.

A study of a Hydroxycut patient showed development of severe liver injury after its use and comprehensive serological imaging. In this case, one of the components of Hydroxycut, Garcinia, was associated with both cholestatic and hepatocellular patterns of injury with a biopsy that suggested cholangitis that was a likely secondary to a drug-mediated injury. The study was, therefore, in support of the claims that the use of Hydroxycut constitutes various health problems with a specific focus on liver diseases and transplants. A gradual improvement was observed from the patient after withdrawing the medication, thereby pointing to Hydroxycut as the most likely possible cause of hepatotoxicity. The authors provided the case report to enlist the temporal and histological evidence of the toxicity of Hydroxycut while further defining its hepatotoxicity.

Another study by Ansari and Omar (2017) found Hydroxycut weight loss products as causal factors of death due to the cerebrovascular and cardiac accidents among young and healthy patients. A component known as ephedra in the supplement causes serious effects on the circulatory and nervous systems resulting in increased heart rate and blood pressure which lead to high risks of potent vasospasm and arrhythmias (Ansari & Omar, 2017). The study, therefore, supports the claim that Hydroxycut results in heart diseases and even death of the patient. According to the "National Institute of Medicine" (2016), the Hydroxycut contains a series of multi-ingredient nutritional supplements that lead to weight loss. Despite the reduction in the reported cases of liver injury as a result of Hydroxycut, they continued to appear. It, therefore, complies with the claims of the existence of the various negative impacts of using Hydroxycut. The onset of the injuries was within 2 to 12 weeks after the onset of regular usage and the symptoms include fatigue, abdominal pains, nausea among others ("National Institute of Medicine", 2016).

References

Fletcher, J., & Zara Risoldi Cochrane, F. (2019). Does Hydroxycut work? Weight loss and side effects. Medical News Today. Retrieved 2 October 2019, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324077.php

Mohamed Ansari, R., & Omar, N. (2017). Weight Loss Supplements: Boon or Bane?. Malaysian Journal Of Medical Sciences, 24(3), 1-4. doi:10.21315/mjms2017.24.3.1

"National Institute of Medicine", (2016). Hydroxycut. Livertox.nih.gov. Retrieved from https://livertox.nih.gov/Hydroxycut.htm

Sharma, Wong, L., Tsai & Wong, R. (2010). Hydroxycut (herbal weight loss supplement) Induced Hepatotoxicity: A Case Report and Review of Literature. Hawaii Medical Journal, 69(8), 188. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118021/