2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP): A Weight Loss Agent with Significant Acute Toxicity and Risk of Death

Abstract

2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) is reported to cause rapid loss of weight, but unfortunately is associated with an unacceptably high rate of significant adverse effects. DNP is sold mostly over the internet under a number of different names as a weight loss/slimming aid. It causes uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation; the classic symptom complex associated with toxicity of phenol-based products such as DNP is a combination of hyperthermia, tachycardia, diaphoresis and tachypnoea, eventually leading to death. Fatalities related to exposure to DNP have been reported since the turn of the twentieth century. To date, there have been 62 published deaths in the medical literature attributed to DNP. In this review, we will describe the pattern and pathophysiology of DNP toxicity and summarise the previous fatalities associated with exposure to DNP.

20 YEARS OF LEPTIN: Leptin at 20: an overview

“…This is despite the fact that there is a large body of evidence indicating that differences in metabolic rate can predict changes in weight (Ravussin et al 1988) and that an increase in peripheral metabolism such as after treatment with thyroid hormone or uncouplers of respiration such as dinitrophenol leads to weight loss (Grundlingh et al 2011, Pearce 2012. Moreover, while a defect in leptin signaling is associated with hyperphagia and a marked decrease in energy expenditure in mice, the principal effect in human is on appetite with little or no discernible effect on metabolism (Farooqi et al 1999).…”

Brown adipose tissue and bone

“…In the 1930 s, a small lipophilic molecule called 2,4-dinitrophenol was a popular, effective and widely used drug for losing weight. 1 2,4-Dinitrophenol increases energy expenditure through thermogenesis by disrupting the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane of cells, thereby uncoupling cellular respiration from ATP production. Unfortunately 2,4-dinitrophenol had to be removed from the market due to its narrow therapeutic index with risk of serious side effects.…”

DNP induced oxidative stress on blood components ameliorated by Pyrrole derivative of Tinospora cordifolia.

“…DNP is sold in different names like dinosan, dnoc, solfo Black, nitrophen, aldifen and chemox. Some internet sites have DNP available in bulk quantities, allowing users to purchase kilograms of DNP powder or hundreds/ thousands of DNP-containing tablets [6]. Water contamination due to spillage of DNP during transportation or from factories and industries leads to toxic injuries on exposure [7].…”