The border between wellness, nutricosmetics, and health is once again under regulatory scrutiny. The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), under the Ministry of Health, has ordered the prohibition of commercialization and the immediate withdrawal from the market of 22 products marketed as "natural" weight loss aids.
After receiving an alert notification from security forces and conducting analyses at the Official Medicines Control Laboratory, the AEMPS confirmed the presence of undeclared sibutramine in the composition of all inspected products. Seven of them also contained phenolphthalein, another pharmacological compound not reported on the packaging.
A serious health risk under the guise of a "natural product"
Sibutramine is an anorexigenic active ingredient (appetite suppressant) that was suspended in the European Union in 2010 after it was shown that its use significantly increased the risk of suffering vascular accidents and serious cardiovascular problems, such as arrhythmias or ischemic heart disease.
The main danger detected by the authorities lies in the concealment of the ingredient: by being presented to the consumer as 100% natural or herbal supplements, people who consumed them were unaware that they were ingesting a substance with potent pharmacological action, without medical supervision and with severe contraindications.
Additionally, the phenolphthalein found in seven of the references (Fatzorb, AB Slim, Get Lean, Slimina, Burn and Slim, Body Slim, and Black Panther) is a stimulant laxative withdrawn from the market years ago due to its risks of gastrointestinal alteration, massive electrolyte loss, and hypocalcemia.
List of affected references
Among the 22 products prohibited by Spanish Health are supplements such as:
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Slim U and Slim U Pro
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P57 Hoodia
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Bikini Siluet Perfect
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Slim 24
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14 Días
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Fatzorb
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AB Slim
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Get Lean
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Slimina
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Burn and Slim
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Body Slim
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Black Panther