Eloise Aimee Parry, 21, Dies From Taking 'Diet Pills': What Is Dinitrophenol (DNP)?

Eloise Aimee Parry, a 21-year-old student, has died after taking "diet pills" she purchased on the internet.

On 12 April, Parry passed away in hospital after accidentally taking a lethal dose of dinitrophenol (DNP), a "very dangerous" chemical traditionally used in a range of industrial processes.

The student from Shrewsbury began to feel unwell around lunchtime and reportedly felt like she was "burning up from the inside". That afternoon, she died.

Studies show that DNP has been known to cause side effects such as difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, fever, dizziness, vomiting and, in some cases, death.

But despite there being evidence of more and more people having extreme adverse reactions to the supplement, others are still buying it.

According to figures published last year, DNP has increased in popularity despite several fatalities from the fat-burning pill.

Speaking out about the drug, Professor Simon Thomas, director of the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS), which is commissioned by Public Health England, said: "It is important that people understand that any dose of this drug poses a potential risk to the user.

"We strongly advise people not to take DNP as a weight loss aid."

SEE ALSO:
Eloise Aimee Parry, 21, Dies After Taking Toxic 'Diet Pills' Bought On The Internet
DNP Fat-Burning Drug 'Linked To Extreme Adverse Reactions, Including Five Deaths', Warn Health Experts

DNP was first discovered as a potential dietary supplement in 1933, when an American researcher found that it could dramatically speed up metabolism, leading to rapid weight loss.

For a short period, it was marketed as a weight loss drug but was soon withdrawn from the market after it was found to be highly toxic.

“Dinitrophenol can be very dangerous when used for weight loss," Dr Nitin Shori, Medical Director of the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service and a working NHS GP tells HuffPost UK Lifestyle.

"It can accelerate the metabolism to such a level that it has a serious impact on your body.

“There are many weight loss supplements available over the internet. Some have been tested for safety, but many haven't, so it’s important to check what you are buying is safe and is from a reputable source. It’s best to consult with a doctor or seek help from your pharmacy.”

According to the NHS, in 1938 the American Food and Drug Agency issued a statement saying DNP was “extremely dangerous and not fit for human consumption”.

But regardless of the dangers, the supplement has somehow made a comeback and can be purchased online - despite it being illegal to sell the drug.

Story continues below...

5 Things We Didn't Know About Weight Loss

This Writing Exercise Could Be As Slimming As The Kind You Do With Hand Weights(01 of05)

Women who were asked to make a list of values (like relationships, politics and religion), and then write about the one that that was most important to them lost more weight, had lower BMIs and smaller waistlines than those who didn't write about their values, found researchers from Stanford University and the University of Waterloo in Canada. In the journal Psychological Science, the study's authors speculated that when we focus on what's important to us, we feel better about ourselves and more in control of our habits, making us less likely to turn to food in times of stress or emotional need. (credit:Thinkstock)

Cutting Your Restaurant Budget Can Also Help You Cut Calories(02 of05)

Your weight loss goals are in direct opposition to the restaurant's profit goals, so even if you send back the bread basket and order everything grilled, steamed or dry, you'll still probably consume more than you realize. Eating just one meal a week away from home can translate into two extra pounds a year for the average person, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently calculated. The average adult eats out nearly five times a week, and often consumes around 134 additional calories per meal. (credit:Thinkstock)

Sex Doesn't Burn As Much Energy As You Think(03 of05)

Getting busy can get our hearts racing and make us feel short of breath, so it makes sense that we'd assume the act burns a fair amount of calories (most people think that number is between 100 and 300 per romp). But when obesity researchers set out to dispel some unfounded myths about weight loss, they determined that most of us burn only around 21 calories during sex -- about 14 more than if you and your partner spent the same amount of time vegging out on the couch. There are plenty of reasons sex is good for your health, but getting a cardio workout isn't one of them. (credit:Thinkstock)

Exercising More Won't Necessarily Help You Lose More(04 of05)

Everything in moderation -- including exercise, it turns out. Sedentary men who worked out daily for 30 minutes lost more weight over 13 weeks than those who worked out at the same intensity for an hour, found Danish researchers last year (an average of 7 pounds vs. 5 pounds). The study authors believe that the shorter exercise sessions inspired the men to get up and get moving, while also allowing them "to burn calories without wanting to replace them so much," they told the New York Times. The longer exercise sessions seemed to be more tiring and left the men without enough surplus energy to, say, take the stairs, and their food diaries also showed that they were eating more than usual. (That said, both groups of exercisers lost more weight than members in the control group, who engaged in no extra activity at all.) (credit:Thinkstock)

Exerting Self-Control Can Be A Surprising Path To Joy(05 of05)

Researchers from the University of Chicago found that people who showed the greatest self-control also reported more good moods and fewer bad ones. In a study recently published in the Journal of Personality, researchers revealed that study participants didn't possess superhuman willpower that allowed them to reject frosting-covered vices; rather, they were exceptionally proactive about avoiding tempting situations in the first place. "One interpretation of this finding is that people use self-control to set up their lives so as to avoid problems," the authors explained to Time magazine. And that makes them feel good about themselves -- and about life in general. For sweets lovers, this could simply mean that the shortest distance between here and happiness is the route that doesn't pass by the bakery. (credit:Thinkstock)

Unfortunately, because of lack of restrictions on the internet it is incredibly easy to sell (and purchase) DNP - particularly from foreign countries.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said in a statement last year, that it is actively working with police to stamp out the illegal sale of DNP to consumers, however it's proving to be increasingly difficult.

To prevent future fatalities, FSA director Rod Ainsworth said that personal responsibility must play a big part.

"It’s really important that people understand quite how dangerous DNP is," he said.

"We have been working hard to raise awareness of the dangers of DNP and to encourage people to let us know if they are sold products containing this chemical.

"If people are offered DNP they should not take it and should instead contact the FSA or their local authority."

uk lifestyle news Health Health News diet pills Diet and fitness

Related