Decades ago 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) was introduced as a weight loss drug acting as an agent that uncouples oxidative phosphorylation causing significant increase in basal metabolic rate. However, the consumption of the product has resulted in many deaths due to misuse causing adverse effects such as hyperthermia, tachycardia, diaphoresis and tachypnea.
The rate of metabolism is closely linked to the rate of respiration; therefore, if metabolism is increasing there should also be an increase in carbon dioxide because for every molecule of oxygen that is consumed, a molecule of carbon dioxide is produced. Dinitrophenol is able to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation and stimulate systemic oxygen consumption (Rognstad and Katz 1969) which would
The rate of metabolism is closely linked to the rate of respiration; therefore, if metabolism is increasing there should also be an increase in carbon dioxide because for every molecule of oxygen that is consumed, a molecule of carbon dioxide is produced. Dinitrophenol is able to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation and stimulate systemic oxygen consumption (Rognstad and Katz 1969) which would