Autopsies have confirmed that two people who died after taking Lyn brand weight-loss products had suffered severe side effects from sibutramine, a banned appetite suppressant, police say.
The two victims -- one in Kanchanaburi and one in Lat Lum Kaeo district of Pathum Thani -- died from the same cause, said deputy national police chief Wirachai Songmetta, who has reviewed the autopsy findings.
Doctors detected abnormalities in the heart, lung and spleen in both cases and concluded that the victims died from sibutramine poisoning that caused acute heart failure, Pol Gen Wirachai said at a news briefing on Saturday.
Sibutramine, an appetite suppressant banned since 2010 in Thailand and many other countries, was found in the blood of the two victims. They had suffered from severe side effects that caused an irregular heartbeat.
Autopsy results are still pending on the bodies of two other people who died after taking weight-loss products containing sibutramine.
Pol Gen Wirachai said earlier that an examination of Lyn-branded weight-loss pills indicated they contained sibutramine which has been linked with heart failure in some individuals.
An investigation was launched after Phimonwan Mon-ing, 31, of Kanchanaburi took the pills and died last month. She reportedly suffered chest pains before losing consciousness.
A 48-year-old Pathum Thani man who had taken the pills for more than a month died on April 27, with preliminary tests indicating acute heart failure.
The deputy national police chief said sibutramine was a dangerous drug that could pose a threat to life. Thailand has banned the manufacturing and import of the substance for use in the food industry. He believes it might have been illegally smuggled into the country.
He said anyone found to have smuggled sibutramine could face up to two years in jail. However, because the substance has now been linked to deaths, violators could face a 10-year jail term and be forced to compensate the victms' families.
The Department of Medical Sciences under the Public Health Ministry has examined dietary supplement products at the notorious Don Mueang New Market (Talat Mai) and found products of 10 brands were unsafe, said Pol Gen Wirachai .
The brands in question are Kalow, The Eight, Vivi, S-Secret, Finale, L-Fin by Luksamrong, Boxy Indelar, Alert Real White, ViVi Push She and Luk Sam Rong.
Police are still in the process of summoning a number of celebrities who promoted food supplements and other products found to be unsafe.
Manufacturers and sales agents of the products would face legal action for selling unsafe food supplements, he said.
Police have already revoked the operating licence of the Lyn producer and closed its factory. Investigators are gathering evidence to take further action against those involved.
