2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP)

Evidence: ★★☆☆☆ · Status: Controlled

In plain English

It makes your cellular engines run hot and wasteful, so you melt fat — but the same mechanism can literally cook you from the inside. The lethal dose is close to the effective dose. People die from it every year.

How it works

Mitochondrial oxidative-phosphorylation uncoupler — carries protons across the inner membrane, so the proton gradient is dissipated as heat instead of making ATP. The body burns enormous energy to compensate (~+17% expenditure in animals).

Molecular target & official sources

2,4-Dinitrophenol (PubChem CID 1493) · DNP toxicity review (PMC)

Watch out

Fatal hyperthermia, no antidote, narrow margin. **Illegal; documented here only so the danger is unambiguous.**

Bottom line

Do not use. Included for completeness and to state plainly that it kills.

Helps with: Lose Fat · Live Longer

Stacks with

Shares a pathway — often paired with: Metformin, Statins (Atorvastatin/Rosuvastatin), Magnesium, Iron.

Availability & where to buy

Controlled substance. A controlled substance in most countries — illegal to buy, sell or possess without authorisation (in Singapore: HSA / CNB). Education only.

How it works: the Mitochondria pathway →