Adulteration of over-the-counter slimming products with pharmaceutical analogue--an emerging threat.
OBJECTIVE
To review pharmaceutical analogue adulteration of non-prescription slimming products.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral centre for toxicology analysis, Hong Kong.


METHODS
All patients known to have been hospitalised after taking slimming products adulterated with pharmaceutical analogues from September 2004 to December 2006.


METHODS
Age, reasons for hospital admission, major biochemical findings, and toxicology analysis results of the offending slimming products.


RESULTS
N-nitrosofenfluramine, an analogue of fenfluramine with hepatotoxic effect, was found in two slimming products. Three patients were hospitalised after taking these slimming products, one of whom developed liver failure treated by liver transplantation. Another slimming product was found to contain N-desmethyl-sibutramine, an analogue of sibutramine. A patient with an unremarkable medical history developed acute psychosis after taking the latter product for 1 week.


CONCLUSIONS
Analogues, created by modifying the chemical structures of pharmaceuticals, are used as adulterants in non-prescription slimming products, in an attempt to evade regulatory inspection. The imperceptible use of these analogues is very dangerous because they have not been tested formally for efficacy and safety. In view of the potential harm to the public, more effective and proactive measures are required to guard against the illicit use of pharmaceutical analogues. There is also a need for increased awareness among the public and the medical professionals about this emerging threat.
Yuen
Y P
YP
Department of Pathology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Laichikok, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Lai
C K
CK
Poon
W T
WT
Ng
S W
SW
Chan
Albert Y W
AY
Mak
Tony W L
TW
D000328:Adult; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D006723:Hong Kong; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001067:Appetite Depressants; D003503:Cyclobutanes; D005277:Fenfluramine; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; C058254:sibutramine