2,4-Dinitrophenol is an organic compound, previously medically used for weight loss due to its effect on raising the basal metabolic rate. It has been banned from clinical use since the 1930s due to severe adverse effects and risk of mortality. 1 However, its illicit use continues within bodybuilding circles, with several case reports of mortality due to 2,4-dinitrophenol use. 2,3 We describe a case report of a death due to 2,4-dinitrophenol use in a young adult male with no known medical history. The deceased had been reported to be taking multiple undisclosed substances for the purposes of competitive bodybuilding. He presented to the emergency department with fever, tachycardia and diaphoresis, then rapidly deteriorated in the hospital and died the same day. Toxicological analysis of blood, urine and gastric contents revealed the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol, which was within the fatal ranges in blood. The cause of death was given as 2,4-dinitrophenol toxicity. This case highlights the need for both forensic awareness of this substance in cases of death with such non-specific symptoms and no clear history of consumption, and public awareness of the dangers of consuming illicit bodybuilding substances.
Lee et al. (Sun,) studied this question.