I looked at the ingredients in this supplement and found that it contained 300 mg  of caffeine (a cup of coffee contains 40mg) plus the additive propylene glycol which has been taken out of all medications in the US because it caused liver and kidney damage.  Supplements must be scrutinized like food, read the ingredients and beware.  Remember food is the only safe option.
 
OTHER INGREDIENTS: MEDIUM CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES, SESAME OIL, GELATIN, FD&C RED NO. 3, FD&C RED NO. 40, CARAMEL COLOR, POLYSORBATE 80, INK (SHELLAC, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, BUTYL ALCOHOL, DEHYDRATED ALCOHOL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, POVIDONE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, FD&C YELLOW NO. 5), SILICA. CONTAINS SESAME INGREDIENTS. MAY CONTAIN SULFITES AND WHEAT.

Diet supplement linked to illness

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has been urged to review a popular body builders' supplement - linked to one death in the United States - after a young Australian man fell ill.

The 23-year-old man needed treatment in a Sydney hospital for an inflamed liver, after he took a supplement promoted as a dietary and muscle-toning aid.

Doctors who treated the man say he was the "first reported Australian case of acute hepatotoxicity associated with the weight-loss product Hydroxycut Hardcore".

"... We advise medical practitioners and consumers in this country to be wary of the product and call on the TGA to re-examine its continued availability," wrote doctors N Nudrat Rashid, of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Jason Grant of Ryde Hospital.

The man said he did not exceed the recommended dosage and took the supplements over 10 weeks.

He was jaundiced and complained of feeling lethargic when he arrived at hospital, according to the case detailed in a letter published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA).

"Results of the patient's liver biopsy showed severe acute hepatitis," the doctors also wrote.

The man stopped taking the supplements and recovered full health but he remained in hospital for eight days.

The Australian case follows a spate of illnesses linked to the body builders' supplement in the US, including 23 reports of related serious injury and one case of liver failure leading to death.

The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moved in May last year to warn US consumers to stop using the product.

Australian users were also then told to "exercise caution" by the TGA, which said the supplement sold here had a different formula than that sold in the US.

There were no cases of adverse reactions in Australia, the TGA also noted in advice posted on its website on May 8 last year.

Hydroxycut Hardcore is available in Australian health supplement stores and the US variant may still be imported when purchased over the internet.

The TGA has confirmed it will re-examine the supplement.

"Consumers should seek medical advice if they develop any symptoms suggestive of liver disease such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and are encouraged to report such events to the TGA," a spokeswoman said.

"The TGA will be following up the case with the authors of the article to identify the product and the exact nature of the adverse event."

Source: DANNY ROSE in SMH.com.au February 1, 2010, http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/diet-supplement-linked-to-illness-20100201-n6te.html

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