A product sold on the internet as a dietary supplement and claimed to cause a 10-kilogram weight loss in a month was found to contain the substance sibutramine. Sibutramine can lead to sudden death, heart attacks, and strokes.
Drawing attention to the deadly danger behind seemingly innocent slimming teas and dietary supplements, Head of the Department of Pharmacology Prof. Tayfun Uzbay highlighted the lack of regulation of weight loss products and emphasized that the authority must urgently be transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Health.
Prof. Uzbay stated: “Losing 10–15 kilograms in a month is not healthy at all. Whether for weight loss through dietary supplements or any other medicine, drugs should not be used randomly. It must be done with the evaluation, prescription, or recommendation of an endocrinology specialist and under the supervision of a dietitian.”
Üsküdar University Advisor to Rector and Head of the Department of Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Tayfun Uzbay, made statements about the substance sibutramine, which has been secretly added into weight-loss products that recently caused deaths and is banned worldwide.
“It reduces appetite, but that is where the danger lies…”
Prof. Uzbay explained the effect of sibutramine on the brain and the extent of its danger as follows: “This substance increases the effects of well-known neurochemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline. It causes them to have a greater impact at nerve endings. Yes, appetite decreases, and the desire to eat decreases. But this is where the danger lies. Because it increases noradrenaline, it is already expected to raise blood pressure. It can cause severe vascular damage, hemorrhages, and strokes. Due to these properties, it was banned and withdrawn from the market both by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).”
“The problem is that approval comes from the Ministry of Agriculture”
Highlighting the legal loophole and lack of regulation behind the danger, Prof. Uzbay said: “The real problem here is that these dietary supplements are approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, easily released to the market, and poorly supervised. We don’t know what else sibutramine is being added to. This authority must be completely transferred to the Ministry of Health, and such products should not be able to enter the market so easily.”
The “herbal means harmless” myth is a deception
Prof. Uzbay noted that a widespread misconception among the public aggravates the danger, explaining that labels such as “herbal” and “not a medicine” are deceptive: “Unfortunately, health literacy in our society is very low, and people have been fed this idea: ‘Anything herbal, all plant-based products, are harmless.’ For this reason, the supervision of the Ministry of Health has been bypassed. What really matters is that the active substance produces such effects. Being herbal does not mean an active substance has no side effects. What do these products say on their labels? ‘Not a medicine.’ But all of them are marketed for health, claimed to be good for diseases, and sold in pharmacies just like a medicine.”
“Viagra’s active ingredient is also added”
Prof. Uzbay stated that this fraud is not limited to weight-loss products and that similar practices are also found in supplements claiming to enhance sexual performance: “There are many other supplements sold on the market that claim to boost sexual power. If these were examined, most of them would be found to contain sildenafil, the active ingredient of Viagra. These products can be obtained from companies selling online and informally, and they can even be delivered to your door by couriers.”
“Those involved must be banned from such practices”
Prof. Tayfun Uzbay outlined the steps that need to be taken to stop this deadly trade: “Whoever is behind this, whether companies or individuals marketing these products, they must be punished. Before banning, clear and deterrent penalties must be established. Those engaged in such practices must be banned from continuing this business. And the authority responsible for supervision should not be the Ministry of Agriculture but rather the Ministry of Health. By writing ‘not a medicine’ on the label, they escape liability. Yet, if a physician prescribed such a drug and the patient was harmed, the doctor would bear serious responsibility. These products should also fall under such responsibility.”
“Do not use medicines randomly!”
Prof. Uzbay concluded his remarks with a vital warning to citizens: “Losing 10–15 kilograms in a month is not healthy at all. Whether for weight loss through dietary supplements or other medications, drugs should not be used randomly. It must be done with the evaluation, prescription, or recommendation of an endocrinology specialist and under the supervision of a dietitian. Otherwise, people may face very severe consequences.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)