New warnings issued over deadly DNP ‘diet drug’

“The families of two young people who died after taking the fat-burning pill DNP are campaigning for it to be classified as a class-C drug to criminalise its possession and supply in the hope of preventing more deaths” The Guardian reports.

This is the latest in a series of warnings about the dangers of 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP), which has officially been linked to 60 deaths worldwide.

What is DNP?

DNP is a combination of compounds that was widely used during the early 20th century in a range of industrial processes.

In 1933, an American researcher discovered that when taken by humans, DNP dramatically speeds up the metabolism leading to rapid weight loss. It was subsequently marketed as a weight loss drug. It was quickly withdrawn from the market, however, after it was found to be highly toxic, causing significant side effects and in some cases, deaths.

In 1938 the American Food and Drug Agency issued a statement saying DNP was “extremely dangerous and not fit for human consumption”.

It appears that DNP has becoming increasing popular during the last decade among bodybuilders for its “quick-fix” ability to lead to rapid weight loss. Presumably this information was spread both by word-of-mouth as well as via internet forums and message boards.

Why is DNP so dangerous?

One of the risks of DNP is that it accelerates the metabolism to a dangerously fast level. Our metabolic system operates at the rate it does for a reason – it is safe. Speeding up the metabolism may help burn off fat, but it can also trigger a number of potentially dangerous side effects, such as:

• fever
• dehydration
• nausea
• vomiting
• restlessness
• flushed skin
• excessive sweating
• dizziness
• headaches
• rapid breathing
• rapid or irregular heartbeat

The combination of these side effects can have an extremely damaging effect on the body and can result in coma and, as we have seen, death.

Long-term use can lead to the development of cataracts and skin lesions and may cause damage to the heart and nervous system. There is also evidence from animal studies that DNP is carcinogenic (cancer causing) and increases the risk of birth defects.

Is DNP legal?

No. It is illegal to sell DNP as a weight loss drug and doing so could place you at risk of criminal sanctions.

What is being done about DNP?

Links To The Headlines

DNP victims’ families lead fight to have fat-burning drug classified. The Guardian, January 14 2014

Victims’ families call for killer diet drug ban: Fat-burning pills have caused 60 deaths worldwide. Mail Online, January 15 2014

Teenage rugby star took deadly diet pill for beach holiday six pack, say parents. Metro, September 17 2013

Chris Mapletoft’s parents: how was it so easy to buy toxic diet pills? The Times, September 17 2013

Tragedy of the gifted rugby player, 18, who died after buying deadly ‘fat-burning’ pills online. Daily Mail, September 16 2013

Police probe ‘diet pill’ death of boy, 18. Daily Express, September 16 2013

Deadly online diet pills claim another British life. Daily Star, September 16 2013

Teenage rugby star killed by online diet pills. The Daily Telegraph, September 15 2013

Teenage rugby star killed by toxic online diet drug. Metro, September 15 2013

The deadly trail of the killer slimming drug DNP. The Daily Telegraph, April 28 2013

Sarah Houston family call for ban on DNP slimming drug. BBC News, April 23 2013

Links To Science

Grundlingh J, Dargan PI, El-Zanfaly M, Wood DM. 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP): A Weight Loss Agent with Significant Acute Toxicity and Risk of Death. Journal of Medical Toxicology. September 11 2011