FDA warns consumers to stop using Hydroxycut: one dead, 23 seriously ill

The heavily marketed diet product line Hydroxycut has been blamed in the death of at least one person and for nearly two dozen serious ailments, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to warn consumers to immediately stop using the product line.

Some of the Hydroxcut products, which use a variety of herbal extracts, have been associated with serious liver injuries, the FDA said. The manufacturer, Iovate Health Sciences Inc. agreed to pull the products from the market. The Hydroxycut web site now only shows the recall information.

The one death was due to liver failure. The FDA reported other problems including seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and a type of muscle damage that could lead to kidney failure.

Although the FDA said the incidences of injury was "rare," the agency said it decided to tell consumers to avoid unneeded risks. Additional information about Hydroxycut is available from the FDA's web site.