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Cited by 470Poisoning and overdose treatmentsForensic Toxicology and Drug AnalysisPharmacology and Obesity Treatment

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

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Grundlingh, Johann, Dargan, Paul I., El-Zanfaly, Marwa, Wood, David M.·2011·Journal of Medical Toxicology
DOI 10.1007/s13181-011-0162-6PMC PMC3550200
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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.

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  • Reported side effects of DNP include acute cataract, sensory axonal polyneuropathy, fever, tachycardia, sweating, nausea, rash, breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, agitation, headache, and death.

    “The reported side effects of DNP include acute cataract [261,262], sensory axonal polyneuropathy [263], fever, tachycardia, sweating, nausea, rash, breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, agitation, headache, and death [264,265].”

    From Mitochondrial Uncoupling: A Key Controller of Biological Processes in Physiology and Diseases (2019) · cites this paper as [265]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Welcome to BuyBestAnabolicSteroids.com (2011) Available from: http://www.buybestanabolicsteroids.com/. Accessed 27 May 2011 20. Author unknown. Death after slimming treatment. The Lancet 1934;3:489

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Authors
Grundlingh, J., Dargan, P. I., El-Zanfaly, M., & Wood, D. M.
Affiliations
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Northwick Park Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Wood, David M.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Medical Toxicology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2011-07-08
Volume
7
Issue
3
Pages
205-212
ISSN
  • 1556-9039 (ISSN-L)
  • 1937-6995
DOI
10.1007/s13181-011-0162-6
PMC
PMC3550200
OpenAlex
W2106970936
Cited by
470
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 7
FWCI
2.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Medical Toxicology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Poisoning and overdose treatments
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
Keywords
2,4-dinitrophenol, weight loss supplements, mitochondrial uncoupling, acute toxicity, fatal poisoning, hyperthermia, tachycardia, diaphoresis, tachypnea
MeSH terms
Female, Hemofiltration, Humans, Male, Methemoglobinemia, Poisoning, Risk, Seizures, Illicit Drugs, Suicide, Uncoupling Agents, Weight Loss, Occupational Exposure, 2,4-Dinitrophenol, Anti-Obesity Agents, Internet, Drug Overdose

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