2,4-Dinitrophenol

Encyclopedia : 2 : 24 : 24D : 2,4-Dinitrophenol

---

---

 

2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP), C₆H₄N₂O₄, is a cellular metabolic poison. It uncouples oxidative phosphorylation by carrying protons across the mitochondrial membrane, leading to a rapid consumption of energy without generation of ATP.

Dinitrophenols as a class of compounds, of which there are six members, do not occur naturally but are all manufactured compounds.

Chemical properties

2,4-Dinitrophenol is a yellow, crystalline solid that has a sweet, musty odor. It sublimes when carefully heated and is volatile with steam. It is soluble in water (sparingly) (its crystalline sodium salts are also soluble in water), cold water (sparingly), ethyl acetate, acetone, chloroform, pyridine, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, alcohol, benzene, and aqueous alkaline solutions (Merck, 1989). It forms explosive salts with alkalies and ammonia, and emits toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides when heated to decomposition (Sax, 1989). It is incompatible with heavy metals and their compounds

Industrial uses

Commercial DNP is primarily used for making dyes, other organic chemicals, and wood preservatives. It is also used to make photographic developer, explosives, and insect control substances. DNP is sold under many trade names, some are Caswell No. 392®, Sulfo Black B®, and Nitro Kleenup®.

Environmental toxicity

DNP is considered an important environmental contaminant by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It has been found in 61 of 1400 priority sites that need clean-up of industrial waste. It can enter the air from automobile exhaust, burning of certain industrial substances, and from reaction of nitrogen in air with other atmospheric chemicals. The major site of degradation is the soil, where microorganisms metabolize it.

However it's effects on anaerobic micro-organisms are still largely undetermined. Some studies suggest there is anaerobic toxicity due to a reduced methane prodiction.

Use as dieting aid

DNP was used in the 1930s in diet pills, since it promotes the metabolizing of carbohydrates and fats, the patient losing the energy as heat and causing dramatic weight loss over a relatively short time. However, there were concerns about cataracts, as well as the risk of overdose leading to severe health risk and death, and this use was discontinued.

Today, DNP is used by bodybuilders to rapidly lose body fat before contests. Fatalities at doses advertised to be safe have been reported. The risks of the use of DNP as a dieting aid cannot be understated.[link]

Side effects in persons using DNP as a dietary supplement

• Heat- users will feel very hot while taking DNP. It is very similar to jogging a slow pace all day long, so users should prepare to sweat a little. In some subjects profuse sweat is not uncommon. Body temperature will rise in proportion to the dose, once the user reaches a threshold where additional heat cannot be dissipated. This increase in core body temperature causes a vasodilation effect throughout the body to promote cooling. However, evaporative cooling with the aid of vasodilation will not be effective when the surrounding environment is not condusive to proper cooling. For example, being out in the summer sun when it’s 90 degrees and high humidity can cause you to rapidly overheat to dangerous levels. Avoid hot environments at all costs. Stay indoors if you choose to use it in the summer and only go outside briefly when it’s absolutely necessary. Dehydration can cause the body to not regulate temperature properly and rapidly overheat as well. Drink water liberally.
• *Insomnia- sleeping will be very difficult for some subjects, not because of the familiar central nervous stimulation experienced with ephedrine and caffeine supplementation, but because of heat. Many users find it very difficult to sleep when sweating profusely. The best way to combat this is with external cooling agents (e.g. fans, air conditioner, ice pack in pillow)
• Water retention- this is very closely associated with heat. When the vasodilation occurs due to the rise in body temperature, blood vessels expand, causing an increase in blood volume and subsequent water retention. Also, an increased blood volume leads to decreased pressure, which would lead the body to try to store more sodium and cause even more water retention. All the water retention will subside within approximately a week after stopping the DNP dosage, but often sooner than that. Popular diuretics are not very effective, or safe against DNP induced water retention because these diuretics mainly focus on one aspect of diuresis and that is suppression of the anti diuretic hormone (ADH), but the cause of water retention from DNP is independent of ADH. While diuretics will get rid of some naturally stored water, it would put the user in jeopardy of death or serious health complications due to potassium depletion.
• Lethargy- This is the biggest, albeit not most dangerous, problem associated with DNP. Dinitrophenol impairs the production of the ATP that is required for energy. The extent of the lethargy will depend on the dose. At very high doses, lethargy can be extreme. Lethargy subsides within 24-36 hours of stopping the doses.
• Shortness of breath/ rapid breathing- this is another common side effect, especially in higher doses. Breathing displayed in subjects is sometimes comparable to light-to-moderate aerobic excercise, even at rest. Subjects may show difficulty in catching breath.
• Dehydration- The most dangerous side-effect of Dinitrophenol is dehydration. If hydration levels are not adequate it can predispose the body to severe overheating and death. Water needs to be replenished liberally.
• *Headache- largely due to dehydration. In most subjects, forcing down a liter of fluids will alleviate the headaches
• *Dry/sore throat
• *Chapped lips
• *Dry skin
• *Electrolyte depletion- Caused by excessive water and salt loss through sweating. Drinking water will replace fluids, but not electrolytes. This can lead to a host of other side-effects if not remedied including (but not limited to):
• **excessive lethargy
• **low blood pressure
• **poor cardiac function
• **nausea
• **diarrhea

• Nausea- This is a common side effect that affects approximately 30% of users. There could be several nauseating factors: dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, low blood pH, and other unknown body mechanisms, such as allergic reaction
• Diarrhea - Due to electrolyte imbalance and/or undissolved DNP that passes onto the large intestine causing osmotic imbalances. If this becomes problematic the user must either decrease the dosage or stop completely, as this also leads to dehydration
• Allergies/dermatitis- Relatively rare, and seen in less than 10% of subjects. The allergy manifests first as phantom itches (itching without any rashes or redness) around the torso in some people. It later develops into rashes and or hives around the body and possibly spread to the face, neck, lips, and scalp area in severe cases. Over the counter or prescription allergy medication (anti-histamines) should remedy allergy symptoms but allergic subjects should halt use immediately. Subjects allergic to DNP have been known to show less severe reaction to future doses. It first gets worse, then better with successive cycles. Allergic subjects should stop use immediately and start again 7-10 days later; this can be repeated as necessary until no allergic reaction occurs. Allergies are also dose and length relative.
• Cataracts - While taking DNP, several women (including younger women) reported rapidly developing and irreversible cataracts. This was the primary cause for the ban of the drug. Different mechanisms have been proposed including glycation, oxidative stress, and direct uncoupling of the proteins of the lens of the eye.
• Coloration of Bodily Fluids - Fairly common, especially in subjects who do not hydrate properly. Yellow tinged sweat, saliva, and semen, and intensely (but not bright as with high concentration of vitamins) colored urine are commonplace.

References

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (September 1996). [ToxFAQ about Dinitrophenols]. Verified availability July 17, 2005.
• Eugene J Fine, and Richard D Feinman (2004). "[Thermodynamics of weight loss diets]." Nutrition & Metabolism, 1(1):15. Verified availability July 17, 2005.
• Food Standards Agency (June 17, 2003). "[Food Standards Agency issues urgent advice on consumption of 'fat burner' capsules containing DNP]". Press release. Verified availability July 17, 2005.
• [General 2,4-dinitrophenol information.]
• "Dinitrophenol in healthy persons" By "Monte E.,"(2006), Deutschland; independent laboratory researcher observational report

External links

• For a full list of external links to MSDSs, spectroscopic data, commercial chemicals suppliers etc. for this compound, see [Chemical sources].

 

---

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.

---

Search Titles

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

?