Dubai, Mar 22 (WAM) : The Ministry of Health and Prevention has warned against the use of sexual performance enhancers and weight reduction pills being promoted to residents on social media sites as these contain carcinogenic chemicals.

The ministry was notified by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the high risk of these diet supplements, which contain dangerous chemicals that cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and have serious side effects for patients suffering from cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and diabetes, Assistant Under-Secretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing at the ministry, Dr Ameen Al Amiri, said.

Wonder Erect Male Gum is one of the supplements that the ministry said should not be used by patients who take any nitrate-based medicines for heart disease.

Al Amiri added that these medicines must not be taken by patients who take any nitrate-based medicines for heart disease.

The official pointed out that some dietary supplements, which are not registered with the ministry but were being sold online, should not be bought by the general public because they have serious side effects that can trigger hypertension, stroke, heart attacks and can even lead to death.

Other weight reduction pills that contain chemicals such as vardenafil, sibutramine and phenolphthalein need to be avoided because they induce hypertension and heart disease and are known as carcinogens, Al Amiri noted.