The story is that of Matteo, a business school student, who died at the age of 20 after consuming a chemical used illegally as a fat burner called DNP (2,4-dinitrophenol). The Parisian tells the ravages of this product, originally used to make explosives.
Reported by Interpol since 2015
It is a substance first used for dyes, as a herbicide or even as a preservative. In the 1930s, we realized that it also allowed to lose pounds, in increasing the temperature in the cells, allowing calories to be burned quickly.
The drug circulates a lot in the world of body building and has already caused many poisonings and deaths. According to the UK’s National Poisons Information Service, 32 people have died since 2007, and 140 have suffered poisoning. The substance is often in the form of a yellow powder, and can be bought on the internet, and since 2015, a global alert has been circulating, filed by Interpol.
There is no antidote to DNP
Increased heart rate, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, diabetes, insomnia, extreme need to hydrate, decreased urine production, thyroid problems … The side effects are numerous and lead to a fever which can be fatal. Matteo died after his body became so rigid that it was impossible to give him heart massage.
Besides, the CNRS published a study which estimates the drop in life expectancy of people on DNP by 20%. The problem is thatthere is no antidote to this drug yet, which once consumed, produces an unstoppable effect on the body. It is also not known whether there is an acceptable limit dose or not. Finally, the risks of this substance are increased by the illegal nature of its manufacture.
Sources: Le Parisien, CNRS
Read also:
- It is possible to declare the side effects of food supplements
- Gonorrhea, a disease that will soon be incurable due to covid-19?
