Severe hepatotoxicity associated with the dietary supplement LipoKinetix.
BACKGROUND
LipoKinetix (Syntrax, Cape Girardeau, Missouri) is a dietary supplement marketed for weight loss.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a possible causal association between LipoKinetix and hepatotoxicity.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic, tertiary care hospital, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration databases.


METHODS
Routine medical and supportive care.


METHODS
Clinical and laboratory evaluation.


RESULTS
All patients developed acute hepatotoxicity within 3 months of starting LipoKinetix. At presentation, symptoms and results of laboratory tests were characteristic of acute hepatitis. All patients recovered spontaneously after LipoKinetix use was discontinued. Three of the seven patients, including one who developed fulminant hepatic failure complicated by cerebral edema, were taking LipoKinetix alone at the time of presentation. Of the four patients who were taking multiple supplements, two resumed taking supplements other than LipoKinetix without incident.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of LipoKinetix may be associated with hepatotoxicity. Despite extensive evaluations, no other cause for hepatotoxicity could be identified in the seven patients studied.
Favreau
Joya T
JT
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Burns and Allen Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA. joya.favreau@cshs.org
Ryu
Mina L
ML
Braunstein
Glenn
G
Orshansky
Greg
G
Park
Sean S
SS
Coody
Gary L
GL
Love
Lori A
LA
Fong
Tse-Ling
TL
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D001572:Benzofurans; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004104:Diiodothyronines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017277:Drug Approval; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D015016:Yohimbine / Q000009:adverse effects*
D001572:Benzofurans; D001578:Benzopyrans; D004104:Diiodothyronines; D004338:Drug Combinations; C453460:lipokinetix; D015016:Yohimbine; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D002110:Caffeine