SINGAPORE, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's Health Science Authority (HSA) on Wednesday warned that a weight loss product called Nutriline Bluvelle was found to contain a banned substance, sibutramine.
The product is marketed online as a health supplement for slimming and said to contain natural plant ingredients that are "safe and free of side effects." It is supplied by Nutriline Wellness Sdn Bhd., a company incorporated in Malaysia.
But HSA found it contains sibutramine, which was previously available as a prescription-only weight loss drug but has been withdrawn from Singapore since 2010, due to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Other serious adverse effects associated with the use of sibutramine include high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, hallucinations and mood swings.
According to HSA's press release, it advises people stop taking Nutriline Bluvelle and do not trust online product reviews, as these testimonials usually cannot be verified. The authority also requires sellers to stop selling Nutriline Bluvelle immediately.
