Dangerous Diet Supplements Remain On The Market

-CBS News

07/22/2009 - "Rapid Weight Loss"… "Get the Body You Want"… But at what cost? These powerful claims are being made about a popular diet supplement, but the key ingredient is known to cause liver damage. So why is it on the market? CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine has a serious warning.

A diet supplement with a key ingredient already banned in several European countries, but not here. It's found in one quick weight loss product already pulled from the market, as well as another you can still buy over-the-counter today.

Rene and Flor Mendoza's lives changed dramatically after she started taking diet supplement Hydroxycut, an herbal mix with green tea and African fruit extracts as its main ingredients.

"I felt nauseous and I felt tired," Flor said.

Flor Mendoza is now a liver transplant recipient.

"We thought it was more like a virus, a stomach virus, until she turned yellow," said Rene.

"A 31-year-old healthy woman, a mother of three children, who now reports taking Hydroxycut products for two and a half months, is in liver failure," said

Mendozas attorney sued both the seller and manufacturer after Mendoza was rushed to the top of the top of the transplant list and several weeks later had a life-changing liver transplant.

The same supplement was also popular with body builders at Ron's Fitness Center in Roseland where several people used Hydroxycut and reported they had headaches, and stomach aches.

Fitness expert Ron McNeal said, "I was nauseated when I used Hydroxycut."

Hydroxycut was heavily advertised until six weeks ago when the FDA recommended it be taken off the market. As for what the suspect herb could be, Dr. Nancy Reau from University of Chicago Hospitals says "point blank the best assumption would be the green tea extracts and the African fruit extract."

Yet the same manufacturer is now selling another diet supplement, Xenadrine, with the same main ingredients, green tea and West African fruit extracts. It's available right now at most pharmacies and health food stores.

McNeal said, "…Xenadrine doesn't work either. It has a similar effect as Hydroxycut."

"I think that Xenadrine takers should be very aware there is a potential risk of green tea extract causing liver injury," Dr. Reau said.

The FDA's response to our repeated questions about Xenadrine?: "We do not at this time have information to warrant action."

Yet their initiative got Hydoxycut pulled from market, yet Kreisman says they should be looking out for the so-called "son of Hydroxycut," drugs like Xenadrine with a similar make-up.

For the past week, CBS 2 has repeatedly called and e-mailed the company which distributed Hydroxycut and now Xenadrine. They first promised us a statement, which several days later turned out to be "no comment."

If you or a loved one have been injured or suffered a loss as a result of Hydroxycut use you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Hydroxycut Lawyers of Ennis & Ennis, P.A. today for a free case evaluation by filling out the form on this page or calling toll-free: 1-800-856-6405. Our experienced Hydroxycut Attorneys can answer any questions you may have about Hydroxycut side effects, Hydroxycut recall, or a potential Hydroxycut lawsuit.