Officials warn public over use of toxic DNP drug

Officials warn public over use of toxic DNP drug used by bodybuilders and slimmers amid a spate of deaths

• Professor Simon Thomas is director of Public Health England’s poisons unit
• He yesterday declared that no amount of the illegal DNP is safe for humans
• Deaths from taking the drug have risen this year, with 5 confirmed already
• Using DNP is known as ‘Russian Roulette’ because the user could either lose weight or die 

A warning has been issued over an illegal drug used by bodybuilders and slimmers amid a spate of deaths.  

Pills containing the deadly DNP substance have become popular amid an explosion of sales on the dark web in recent years. 

In recent court hearings and inquests involving DNP, experts have likened using it to ‘Russian Roulette’ – because it can either trigger weight loss or kill.

A 31-year-old businessman, from east London, was the first person to be convicted of manslaughter in relation to the sale of DNP pills in June.

Bernard Rebelo became a millionaire through selling the capsules. But he was jailed for seven years after selling them to a bulimic student, who later died.   

Professor Simon Thomas, director of Public Health England’s poisons unit, yesterday declared that no amount of the toxic chemical DNP is safe.

In a post on PHE’s website, Professor Thomas said: ‘There is a myth that if used in small amounts, users will be safe. This is not the case.’

‘Severe and even fatal adverse effects have occurred when the drug has been taken in the doses recommended on websites or by suppliers.’  

Bernard Rebelo has been jailed for selling toxic ‘slimming pills’ over the internet, which killed bulimic student Eloise Parry

Ms Parry took diet pills like these ones before her death. Low dosages burn fat – but the slightest overdose can destroy the cells of the body’s vital organs, including the heart

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Deaths from taking the drug have risen this year, with five fatalities having been confirmed already – compared to just three in 2017. 

DNP, known scientifically as 2,4-Dinitrophenol, is an industrial chemical, commonly used in pesticides and munitions. 

Adverts online have hailed it as a ‘wonder slimming aid’, even though UK laws state it is an offence to sell it for human consumption.

WHAT IS DNP? 

DNP, known scientifically as 2,4-Dinitrophenol, is an industrial chemical, commonly used in pesticides and munitions. 

Adverts online have hailed it as a ‘wonder slimming aid’, even though UK laws state it is an offence to sell it for human consumption.

Despite being illegal and deemed ‘unfit for human consumption’, dieting pills containing the substance can be bought online.

It has become popular among those wanting to lose weight rapidly in recent years, such as bodybuilders.

The drug prevents energy being stored as fat – instead the energy is released as heat.

This increases body temperature, which can damage the cells of organs such as muscle, kidney and even the brain.

The result can be seizures, coma, kidney failure, muscle damage and bone marrow failure.

Despite being illegal and deemed ‘unfit for human consumption’, dieting pills containing the substance can be bought online.

It has become popular among those wanting to lose weight rapidly in recent years, such as bodybuilders.

Several deaths have involved people in the bodybuilding world or those trying to lose weight by taking pills containing DNP.

Professor Thomas urged those trying to lose weight to overhaul their diet and to exercise more – and steer clear of the deadly pills.

The drug prevents energy being stored as fat – instead the energy is released as heat.

This increases body temperature, which can damage the cells of organs such as muscle, kidney and even the brain.

The result can be seizures, coma, kidney failure, muscle damage and bone marrow failure.

Once these effects have started to develop, they are very difficult to treat and in some cases, death is inevitable.  

Ian Hamilton, drug researcher at York University, said the drugs are ‘easy to access’ and called for more warnings over their use. 

He told MailOnline: ‘What is really worrying is that they seem to be appealing to male bodybuilders and women who are trying to lose weight. 

‘Both groups seem to think that using these pills is without risk but these latest figures on deaths due to DNP suggest otherwise.’   

ONLINE STEROID DEALER WHO SOLD TOXIC ‘SLIMMING PILLS’ IS JAILED FOR SEVEN YEARS 

An online steroid dealer who sold toxic ‘slimming pills’ which killed a bulimic student was jailed for seven years in June.

Eloise Parry, 21, from Shrewsbury, died in hospital in April 2015 after taking eight tablets containing the poisonous Dinitrophenol (DNP).

Bernard Rebelo, a 31-year-old from Beckton, east London, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court for supplying the pills.

He was convicted of manslaughter and one of placing unsafe food on the market.

In a statement to the court, Miss Parry’s mother Fiona said: ‘Dealing with Eloise’s possessions is something I still haven’t done.

‘When I try to sort through them I can’t. It still reduces me to tears. 

‘Eloise had many problems in life but I had always hoped that some how they would be sorted.

‘In the latter part of her life there were positive signs that things were changing for the better.

‘She had found a career she wanted to follow and she had positive plans for the future, like travelling and seeing the world not just a career.

‘When Eloise died, her life was undone and her possible future was unravelled. In that moment the hope that I had for her was also destroyed.’

The trial heard that, the day before her death, Miss Parry went out with her sister Rebecca to celebrate her birthday.

She was found next to some empty food packets the next morning, which her sister described to jurors as a ‘binge’. She later died in hospital.

Her sister, now 19, said in a statement read aloud in court that Eloise had been ‘focused’ on losing weight.

Mr Rebelo was importing the chemical from China for £340 for a 24 kilo drum and repackaging it in capsules to make a profit of £200,000 per drum.

He posed for pictures behind the wheel of a his Porsche and Corvette sports cars wearing a Rolex. He also jetted around Europe and the Americas in 2014 on a luxury holiday. 

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