Metabolic Advantage

Starting date:

November 9, 2011

Posting date:

November 9, 2011

Type of communication:

Foreign Product Alert (FPA)

Subcategory:

Natural health products

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Undeclared Substance, Product Safety

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-120001579

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These products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Source of alert

Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA)

Product names

Metabolic Advantage

Manufacturer / Place of origin

Metabolic Advantage is manufactured in the U.S. by Enzymatic Therapy, Inc., and distributed in Singapore by Fu Fong Trading Pte. Ltd. / Protos Trading Pte. Ltd.

Product description

Metabolic Advantage is promoted as a complementary health product used to enhance thyroid health and support weight loss.

Reason for warning

The HSA warned consumers not to use Metabolic Advantage after it was found to contain undeclared thyroid gland and thyroid hormones.

Thyroid hormone preparations are prescription drugs used to treat hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones). Thyroid hormones should be taken only under the supervision of a health care practitioner.

Possible side effects

Side effects associated with thyroid hormones include headaches, increased heart rate and blood pressure, chest pain, anxiety, tremors, sweating, difficulty sleeping, diarrhea and stomach pain. The thyroid gland may be a potential source of thyroid hormones.

What you should do

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find the product listed above in the Canadian marketplace.

Background

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.

Report a health or safety concern

• Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.
• Visit Health Canada's Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax.

Media enquiries

Health Canada
613-957-2983

Public enquiries

613-957-2991
1-866-225-0709

Images

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