Government has called for a dietary supplement to be taken off shelves in Bermuda due to health threats that have been linked to the product.

A Ministry of Health spokeswoman said that ‘OxyElite Pro’ has been linked to several cases of serious illness, including liver damage and liver failure overseas.

“Due to these potential risks, the Ministry of Health and Environment cautions the public against the use of this product,” the spokeswoman said. “It is recommended that any member of the public who is in possession of the supplement cease taking it immediately.”

As of December 11, a total of 72 cases of acute non-viral hepatitis have been reported with an unknown cause subsequent to the use of the weight loss/muscle building dietary supplement products labelled as OxyElite Pro.

The reports, which mostly originated in Hawaii, appear to have tapered off and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped surveillance efforts for dietary supplement-related hepatitis on December 5, but continues to follow up on reports received prior to that date.

“Both Hawaii’s Department of Health and the Department of Defence are moving forward with plans for case-control studies to further examine risk factors for illness,” the spokeswoman continued.

“The FDA has analysed several OxyElite Pro samples of recalled product from store shelves and from domestic case patients. Testing is ongoing, but to date the FDA has not identified a causative agent. Local investigation to confirm the presence of this product in Bermuda is ongoing.”