How is DNP toxic? Please cite your claims
Dinitrophenol (DNP) is an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of explosives, herbicides, dyes, and wood preservatives. When ingested, DNP uncouples mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylaation, interfering with the cell’s ability to store energy as ATP. Instead, the energy is dissipated as heat causing severe hyperthermia that in case reports has proven very difficult if not impossible to control. In addition, ATP depletion causes release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in muscles. The resulting uncontrolled muscular contraction produces even more heat Patients with
DNP toxicity often die of hyperthermia, multi-organ failure, and cardiovascular collapse. Presenting signs and symptoms of acute
DNP toxicity include headache, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, coma, and death.
In the 1930s, DNP was often used as a diet aid after a clinical pharmacologist found that — by increasing the metabolic rate — controlled doses of the chemical could cause an average loss of 1.5-2.0 pounds per week. One laboratory brought out a product called Formula 281, that contained DNP 1.5 grains. The promotional brochure gushed: “Here, at last, is a reducing remedy that will bring you a figure men admire and women envy, without danger to your health or change in your regular mode of living”. Enthusiasm for this product waned when it became apparent that the gap between the “therapeutic” and
toxic doses was extremely narrow, and customers taking even the recommended dose started to go blind from “dinitrophenol cataracts“.
A recent case report made it clear that
DNP toxicity from diet products is not a thing of the past. This case series has a different angle, reporting a series of 16 cases of occupationally-related DNP poisoning among workers and their relatives. There were two deaths. The authors note that the skin of some patients were dyed yellow and/or black.
However, certain
Bro's on internet bodybuilding sites have claimed the substance is "Perfectly safe".
