DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol) FAQ A Gu i de b y P ri ma lk i d Note: All references and discussion details can be found in DNP, The Best Dieting Drug? Thread on Lyle forum. McDonald’s support forum. Is DNP safe?
If used properly, DNP is safe, effective, and has arguably less problems than other c ompounds. However, given the propensity of dieters to fall into a “more is better” trap and the fact that a single overdose of
DNP will kill you without fail, it is best that 99.99% of people cannot get acce ss to it. How does DNP work?
DNP inhibits energy (ATP) production within mitochondria by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation, which allows hydrogen ions (H+) to leak across the membrane and results in a rapid consumption of energy without generation of ATP. In other words, DNP causes inefficiency in ATP production and more substrate will be consumed and the wasted energy dissipated as heat. Interestingly, this is a very similar mechanism to brown fat cells. These specialized fat cells are packed with mitochondria that leak part of their H+ gradient futilely back across the membrane for the sole purpose of producing heat. Thus, DNP ’s mechanism of action isn't something "alien" or "esoteric".... but rather something very similar to what some specialized tissues in the body already do "by design". The inefficiency effects are present within all mitochondria and will increase the energy requirements of EVERYTHING done by the user, including simply staying alive. If DNP increases you metabolic rate by 30%, then this means EVERYTHING you do will expend 30% more energy to be performed, it doesn't matter if it is sleeping, digesting food, walking, running or doing X sets of whatever exercise you can imagine. All terms of the energy expenditure equation will be equally affected: BMR, RMR, TEA, NEAT, TEF, etc. One thing worth mentioning here: DNP is not a drug. To be technically precise it's a poison, similarly to some cytotoxic compounds used for chemotherapy. With low dosages we reap most of benefits with little to no sides... but up the dosage beyond a certain point and the toxic effects start to outweigh the benefits. In the case of DNP, there's no feedback mechanism to limit its effectiveness. It's not like clen or EC that requires higher dosages to cause the same effect. Your perception of the sides may vary, but the effects in your system are constant. The metabolic effects start in less than 1h after oral ingestion, and depending on your sensibility you may feel the effects sooner or later when it accumulates. Half-life is around 36h, but it will take more than a full week for it to fully leave the body after you stop taking; up to 15 or 20 days is not unheard of, but 7-10 is the average. However, the bulk of its effects cease after 24 to 48 hours after administration is stopped.
Crystal or Powder?
Sodium 2,4-dinitrophenolate, CAS NO: 1011-73-0 = "Crystal" 2,4-dinitrophenol, CAS NO: 51-28-5 = "Powder" Crystal DNP contains about 25% sodium and therefore 100mg contributes only 75mg of actual DNP. Powder DNP is pure DNP so 100mg is 100mg. Crystal is not stronger and the side-effects fade faster because it contains less DNP. If you compare 200mg of powder with 200mg of crystal, the crystal will appear to act "faster" with "less sides" (typical claims people throw elsewhere) but that's because it contains 25% less DNP so you will be ingesting less - in the above example 200 - 25% = 150mg. Another common claim is that crystal peaks quickly (faster effect/absorption) and dissipates quickly. This is BS and the opposite appears to be true: powder is “fast and furious” while crystal provides a
smoother and longer-lasting effect. This claim is likely the result of a dealer claiming his stuff was crystal when it was actually powder, giving a “better” or somehow more desirable rep to crystal.
How much?
200mg every day or every other day is a good protocol if going for an isocaloric diet. The absolute amount will depend on how large a deficit you want to achieve and how well you tolerate the sideeffects. DNP is dosage-dependent, so the more you take the more your metabolism will be e nhanced. According to the original clinical research (Cutting and Tainter's work), every 100mg of crystal DNP per day will increase metabolic rate an average of 11%, and every 100mg of powder DNP will increase metabolism by 15%. This difference is due to the sodium content of the crystal DNP, which makes the effective DNP amount 75% of the dosage used. Thus, to get the equivalent of 100mg of powder, you would need to take 130mg of crystal. Also note that this is only an average, and individual sensitivity to it will vary greatly. In one study by MacBryde & Taussig (1935), an increase in basal metabolic rate ranging from 30-70% was seen in obese patients taking about 400mg of DNP (actual, not crystal) daily. Taken together with other research, the expected metabolic boost would be around 60%, so you can see how individual tolerances interfere. Finally, this already takes into account the long half-life and indicates the increase in metabolic rate after the drug accumulates (so after 3-5 days at a given dose). So, for example, a daily dose 400mg of powder DNP (after it accumulates) will increase metabolic rate an average of 60%. 400mg/day of crystal DNP will increase metabolic rate an average of 44%. Because there is no residual metabolic effect of significance (the bulk of the effects last between 24-36 hours), every 100mg of actual DNP in isolation (without previous accumulation in the body) would boost metabolism around 5%. If you want to do napkin math, 33% will leave your body every 24 hours. Assuming a 200mg daily dose, your blood levels will peak at around 390mg after about two weeks. If the DNP was crystal, this would be a 22% boost, while powder would be 30%. Because the metabolic boost of DNP is based on the accumulated dosage which is about twice that of the ingested dosage, to get the metabolic boost of a
dose in isolation (no previous accumulation within the body) we must cut the accumulated dosage boost in half. Thus, every 100mg of crystal in isolation will boost metabolism around 5% and powder by 7-8%.
One important observation is that it ’s best to raise the dosage progressively. It takes about 5 days for the average daily intake to reach its peak, and for each increase in dosage it’s important to keep at least three days on the new level before considering another increase. Those without patience to do so can suffer very unpleasant side-effects and, yes, even death. Does DNP preserve muscle or help repartition weight-loss?
Unfortunately there's no research made to provide specific answers regarding nuances in the metabolic processes that can be caused by DNP. Even the lean body mass sparing effect attributed to DNP is just empirical/anecdotal evidence with no research proving the mechanism of this effect (there are theories but no definitive/proven answers). One such theory is that due to the forced activation of the AMPk system, DNP may also work as a powerful re-partitioning agent that has the body preferentially burn fat and spare everything else. So even if a given person has a "stubborn metabolism" that stops burning fat at the slightest insulin increase, DNP will over-ride it. The body's internal gears will be locked in fatburning mode and many of the pathways that could get in the way will be overridden. So does this mean I can eat anything and lose fat? Do calories matter? DNP doesn’t alter any hormonal processes, so substrate utilization is being increased for sure, but normal metabolic pathways aren’t being short -circuited or overridden in any fashion. Thus, it is still all
about calories and if you eat more than what is being burned while on DNP then you will store the excess. So while AMPk will be switched “on” most of the time, it is not absolute because it is simply a consequence of the energy imbalance caused by DNP. If there are plenty of carbohydrates, fats, or proteins floating around in the bloodstream, then anabolic pathways will be engaged instead just like
normal; it’s just that it takes a lot more to do so. It may seem counter-intuitive, but it is possible to bulk
while on DNP – but that would be stupid and counter-productive. Interestingly, there’s a theory that DNP doesn’t cause the acute metabolic adaptation that is caused with excessive or prolonged dieting because the body doesn’t “perceive” the deficit in the same way. On the one hand, the body doesn’t know why it’s c onsuming more calories to get the same ATP production,
and on the other hand, the widespread activation of AMPk is signaling that there is a deficit that needs to be addressed. Of course the above is utter nonsense and the drop in leptin and other hormones will occur regardless of how the deficit is achieved, DNP is just likely to overcome it. Think about it, if hormonal fallout reduces BMR by 20% (max), and you are taking 400mg crystal daily, then you will still be rocking a 25% met abolic boost (instead of the 44%). What are some other common misconceptions about DNP?
One big fat myth that is mentioned in many DNP guides is that you "must" consume carbs as this is "required" for the fat to be burned. In all reality this is just a resurgence of an old myth that says "fat burns in a carbohydrate flame" which is just plain ignorance of basic biochemistry processes in the body. Another aspect of D NP frequently mentioned is that glycogen r eserves (muscle) are quickly "consumed". But I don't recall ever seeing an exact % figure for that. During a 72 hour fast with no exercise glycogen reserves decline around 30% then it stagnates at this level since the body will then extract most of energy requirements from fat while sparing glycogen. DNP won’t change that substantially. It may result in greater glycogen consumption initially, but it will also make the body switch to fat for fuel more quickly which in turn should spare glycogen reserves. Exception would be UD2-like glycogen depletion routines.... DNP probably deepens glycogen depletion under such protocols. A final myth never proven by any research but with lots of speculation in both ways: some saying that DNP blunts insulin sensitivity and others saying that it enhances sensibility. DNP may do both depending on circumstances. Does DNP interact with the thyroid?
It's not clear whether DNP directly interferes with T3 or not - this is yet another inconclusive question. Conciliator was convinced that it didn't affect, and he often mentioned the experiment a doctor he knew made by using DNP for weeks straight and then testing for T3 levels - it came unchanged. However, it was common in the 30s to administer DNP together with T3, at least for long-term treatments. This probably stemmed from the fact that dieting (prolonged deficit) by itself depresses T3 production, and by deepening the deficit DNP indirectly contributes to that. Can I use DNP during UD2.0 or other CKDs?
For a CKD or UD2.0, it can be used during the depletion stage with great effect. The half-life being about 36 hours, at least three full days should be provided to reduce DNP levels before the carbohydrate refeed. Five days would be better. Alternatively, you could take a low dose of DNP consistently to deepen the fat-loss stages and just ensure you eat extra food during the anabolic rebounds and maintenance
periods to cover the increased metabolism. Remember, DNP doesn’t magically keep you in fat-burning mode; if you eat enough calories you will switch “on” the anabolic processes, including glycogen
synthesis during the re-feed. Assuming you don’t take a consistent dose, you have several options for utilizing DNP depending on the
structure of UD2.0 chosen. In a normal 7-day variation, you may take the dose on day 1 and possibly on day 7 (but forgo the cardio on that day, you don’t want to large a deficit while still recovering from the power workout). If the 8-day 8 -day variation is used, then the same r ules apply although a dose may be able to be used on day 2 as well. The 14-day variation is the best option (and this is very similar to a category-1 rapid fat loss program). You may allow the DNP to build up in your system this way for maximum fat-loss by taking a dosage on days 1-8 before discontinuing, and then have the 2-3 day re-feed later on for a huge anabolic rebound. My lifts are going down, am I losing LBM?
DNP is unlikely to be causing muscle catabolism by itself, and any LBM-loss would come as a result of the extreme deficit combined with excessive exercise or poor nutrition. However, the fatigue that DNP may cause can certainly impact workout performance. If fat-loss is satisfactory and better than would be achieved with traditional dieting, then do not concern yourself with performance variations in the gym and stick with your plan until the end of the cycle. The exception here is if strength losses start to spiral downwards, going lower and lower e ach workout. Although many things could cause this, lifting heavy is still the number one way to prevent LBM-loss and if DNP prevents you from lifting heavy, then you are just digging yourself a hole. What are the side-effects?
The response to DNP is highly individual and side-effects should not be used as the sole guide for dosages. A perfect example of this is the warmth. DNP will make you hot; it will make you sweat; you will not need a jacket in the snow. This warmth feeling, however, will depend on the person. Some get horrible night sweats with 200mg daily, while others can dose up to 600mg and experience nothing. If you do experience it, it will become evident very soon after ingestion of the first dosage. This doesn’t mean you won’t get any side-effects; you will. What this means is that the magnitude of the effects will
vary from person to person, from unnoticeable to unbearable. Aside from the heat, two other universal side-effects are a dry mouth and throat, and yellow sweat and semen (and possibly other bodily fluids). The latter will, unfortunately, stain everything yellow. Anything you sweat in will have a yellow stain. In the first week of usage you may also experience some transient nausea upon ingestion regardless of food intake, but this fades with continued usage. Yet with continued usage, some people may also develop a ravenous appetite from AMPk activation within the brain, and the time between consumption of a meal and being hungry again is significantly reduced as well. Depending on your hydration status you may also have an acute thirst increase as the body recalibrates its heat dissipation mechanisms. DNP doesn’t, however, cause dehydration; it merely lowers the heat
threshold. So if external temperatures are high or exercise is performed, you will generate more heat than normal, but provided you continue to satisfy your thirst then there is no need for concern. The recommendation to drink “gallons” of water “just in case” is not necessary and in fact stupid because it
may cause true dehydration through electrolyte dilution and imbalance. Another main side-effect as mentioned above is an energetic pull (lethargy). This feeling is either caused by a higher dose of DNP (low dosages may actually increase well-being sensation and this is documented by research) or the transition from carb metabolism to fat metabolism (like when you start a ketogenic diet or fasting, the first 24h can be unpleasant). If the later, DNP will speed up this process (consuming liver glycogen faster, etc.) and some people may interpret this as a “sugar -crash”, but it’s not. This infamous “DNP fatigue” may seem like a minor issue, but it is not. It may make the entire cycl e
questionable depending on the circumstances and variables. This feeling of tiredness or lack of motivation or even an irresistible urge to lay down and stay immobile (the higher the dosage, the worse it gets) is something that needs to be considered, as it may trash the "NEAT" element from the metabolism equation, cancelling part of the deficit DNP would otherwise gener ate. Finally, an actual positive and lasting side-effect is increased mitochondrial density. Because the mitochondria must work harder and use more substrate to produce ATP, the body increases the amount in an attempt to overcome their inefficiency. The magnitude of this effect is unknown and may very well be negligible. Bottom line: there is an adaptation component and you need to progress carefully at the beginning until your body is fully adapted. Just delay the next dosage until temperatures back-off and after you take your next dosage, try to avoid heavy-carb meals too, at least temporarily. What are the risks?
Regarding risky side-effects, to sum up (each is discussed in greater detail below):
Cataracts: extremely rare and a very distant risk. Common anti-oxidants, especially Vitamin C may have a protective effect. Just in case, take daily supplements but don't overdo it as excess causes its own problems.
Rashes/allergic reactions: it's common and in some cases manageable with antihistamines like Loratadine, Zyrtec, Benadryl, etc. If this happens the symptoms reverse few days after interrupting DNP.
Arthritic pain (aka joint pain): Somewhat rare, usually comes together with peripheral neuritis but not always. It improves relatively fast after discontinuation but if it does show up, DNP must be interrupted.
Peripheral Neuropathy (PN): It may be as common as rashes/allergic reactions and is the most problematic side-effect to be concerned with. Be sure to pay attention to any signs and stop DNP indefinitely if it manifests.
Loss of taste (neuritis): Less frequent than PN but a strong indicator that PN may develop. If this happens you should stop DNP.
Yellow skin or yellow eyes: This is very unusual and not really a risk but if it does happen it's a not a good sign and you should stop.
DNP doesn't damage or negatively affect any organ (heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, reproductive organs, etc.), so you don't need to be concerned with any of that, but mind the above list as it is the key things to be aware of. Furthermore, there is a tendency of symptoms to get worse before improving and the sooner DNP is discontinued once the first symptoms appear, the quicker recovery is. There are three possible explanations for the “darkest before the dawn” symptoms. First, according to
some sources, DNP can take up to 14 days to clear the body, so there is a lag-time between discontinuation and actually getting rid of the toxic side-effects. Second, some research suggests that DNP itself may have neural-protective effects and that it is not the DNP that causes the problems but rather some by-product of its metabolism. These by-products take longer to eliminate than the DNP itself and with DNP out of the picture the toxins effects may be exacerbated. Finally, there is evidence from animal studies that after DNP is stopped, there is a rebound spike in mitochondrial ROS production that compound any damage already present. Regardless, if DNP is discontinued upon the first signs of something gone wrong, then recovery is extremely likely. It is also likely that it is the toxic by-products of DNP metabolism rather than the DNP itself that is the ultimate cause of all the following issues. There are two main hypotheses. The first being that most people probably have a certain toxicity t hreshold (which is very individual) and so long as the toxin levels remain within this range there will be no observable problem. Many people from the 30s used DNP nonstop for over a year without any issue. The second hypothesis is that the effects happen regardless of dosage but will be intensified at higher doses, making the symptoms’ appearance a matter of time. This
relates to the first hypothesis in that how soon the symptoms appear depend on the individuals toxicity threshold, but differs in that dosage is irrelevant and higher amounts will speed things up but going lower wouldn’t prevent anything, just delay it.
Bottom line: Better safe than sorry. If you notice any weird feeling or symptom that you know is not usual for you or that you have never felt before, or any discomfort or pain that doesn’t have an obvious cause (stubbed toe, poor posture, etc.), and these things don’t disappear within 24-48 hours, you should
discontinue DNP, likely indefinitely. You read correctly, continued use of DNP after recovery will only bring the issue back with more potency, greater duration, and a reduced chance of recovery the second time. Cataracts
The primary reason DNP was removed from the market was because of the formation of cataracts. There were 170 some odd case reports from the 1930's with an estimated incidence rate of 0.1-1% by Horner. Early research in the 1930's and 40's made a bunch of different hypotheses about the etiology. Some thought the cataracts were caused by oxygen deficiency and lactic acid buildup in anaerobic
metabolism (which is predominant in the lens). Others thought it was because of interference with glycolysis. Some thought it was secondary to liver damage (though DNP was found not to be hepatotoxic). The best research came in the 1950's by Ogino and Yasukura. They found that guinea pigs fed a vitamin C deficient diet developed cataracts while those that were supplemented with vitamin C did not. As they explained, "In these experiments, it is clear that there is a close relationship between the production of cataract and vitamin-C deficiency." They then went on to isolate the cataractogenic metabolite of DNP. They identified it as 2-amino-p-quinonimine, and found that the hydroxyl- and nitro-radicals of DNP in the p-position of the benzene ring are essential to the production of cataracts via DNP. Furthermore, it appears that genetics play a tremendous role in susceptibility to getting cataracts from DNP. To quote Ogino and Yasukura, "This suggests that a genetic predisposition plays an important role in susceptibility to this cataract. This notion is strengthened by the fact that, in spite of extensive experiments of long duration by many authors, it has been found impossible to produce [DNP] cataracts experimentally experimentally in various other species, namely, in rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and dogs, although Bettman observed [DNP] cataracts in a special strain of mice."
Rigdon also did research on DNP induced cataracts in chickens and turkeys in 1959. He said "of course, necrosis in any tissue may occur by different mechanisms. However, the similarity of the effect of DNP and a deficiency of vitamin E on the lens may be significant." One of DNP's uncommon metabolites is a substance known as a semiquinone, which can produce substantial oxidative stress. Yet, the body is equipped to handle them with NADPH –semiquinone reductase, and as long as your antioxidant system is normal and functioning, you shouldn't have any problems. If it's compromised, however, this quinone can result in the formation of cataracts, and possibly other adverse effects. This explains the 0.1% (1 in 1000) incidence rate of catarac ts in those who took DNP in the 1930 's. With all this taken in consideration, those individuals who developed cataracts either 1) had a genetic predisposition as Ogino and Yasukura hypothesized, 2) were vitamin C/E deficient, or 3) both. Vitamin C supplementation didn’t make it big until Linus Pauling’s promotion of vitamin C mega -dosing in the 70’s,
and it is thus very possible that the individuals in the 30’s were eating an unbalanced diet with antioxidant deficiencies. Regardless, it appears that you need the genetic predisposition to even be at risk, and supplementation with vitamin C, vitamin E, and other antioxidants would be expected to reduce the incidence rate or even prevent cataracts altogether. Accordingly, it's smart to take a normal daily dosage of antioxidants: 500-1000 mg/day vitamin C, 400800 IU/day vitamin E, and if you have them, ALA, NAC, and coQ10. If you don't have these latter ones it's worth worrying about. The incidence is already low enough to begin with that no supplements are "mandatory" while taking DNP, but for those who are susceptible, for whatever reason, a normal dose of vitamin C and E might offer some insurance. Don’t super-dose antioxidants and other ancillary supplements though, as it almost always causes more trouble than it prevents.
So for all intents and purposes cataracts can be considered a non-issue. Curiously, however, in animals the cataracts were temporary and the lens returned to normal as soon DNP was discontinued, but in humans, with the exception of one case where cataracts regressed after suspending DNP, all other reported cases the DNP-induced cataracts we re irreversible. Rashes
Rash is the most common side-effect of DNP, and can be managed in most individuals with the use of Benadryl, Zyrtec, Loratadine or any anti-histaminic commonly used to treat allergic reactions. They are believed to affect anywhere from 10 to 20% of people ingesting DNP, and if you are unfortunate enough to be a non-responder to antihistamines then DNP should be discontinued. Arthritic (Joint) Pain
Joint pain is somewhat rare and usually comes bundled with peripheral neuritis but not always. It improves relatively fast after discontinuation but if it does show up, DNP must be interrupted. Peripheral Neuropathy
Given cataracts are likely preventable and have a negligible incidence to begin with, peripheral neuropathy (PN) is the greatest risk with DNP usage. High doses my speed up the process, but even at conservative dosages (200-300mg daily) PN may manifest itself. The average time to onset is about ten weeks, and all available data suggests it's either a case of predisposition or individual sensitivity/threshold. One such study notes that symptoms of PN didn't develop at low dosages (around 100mg/day of crystal DNP, which is a very small dosage) for short periods of time. But they did develop for about 10% of patients who took t he usual therapeutic dosages (300-400mg/day) for about 3 months. Furthermore, several individual case reports described symptoms consistent with peripheral neuritis in patients taking DNP for weight reduction. In these reports, doses ranged from 1.86 to 3.53 mg/kg/day, and durations ranged from 10 days to several months (Anderson et al. 1933; Bortz 1934; Epstein and Rosenblum 1935; Hitch and Schwartz 1936; Hunt 1934; Nadler 1935). Looks like peripheral neuritis can start with as little as 10 days of treatment. That's really fast. The symptoms that you must be aware of include abnormal sensations of numbness, “pins and needles”, heat and cold sensitivity, heightened pain sensitivity, or loss of taste and numbness of the
tongue (some describe a metallic taste). Note that PN persists for several weeks after discontinuing DNP but does improve. If DNP is not discontinued, it only gets worse and there is a risk of permanent nerve damage. Also not everybody get the harmless numb feeling.... some go straight to pain and lots of it. So this should be taken into consideration even for those willing to roll the dice with DNP. Numbness in the feet is generally the first sign. It's like a mild anesthetic that looks to be on the verge of dissipating but never does. The same may happen to the hands. This is the cue to leave the train.... the sooner DNP is interrupted when the first symptoms shows up, the quicker the recovery will be. Usually PN starts at the toes/fingers but if the underlying cause is not removed (DNP in this case) then the symptoms start to escalate in many ways, engulfing the entire feet/hands and then crawling up towards
upper arm/legs. Heat/burning sensation is another common symptom that comes with the numbing but it tends to go away faster. faster . So in case someone wonders about potential causes, Vitamin B is not the issue, nor is any vitamin or antioxidant. If there's some potential antidote for this issue, it's none of these things unfortunately. From what we saw, using DNP for relative short period of time (say 30 days) then staying off for six months or more is one way to sidestep PN since research shows that 11 weeks is the average for this issue to manifest. There's no way to predict if one will get the "short stick" with DNP or not, and rolling the dice is the only way to find out. We could say that up to 30 days is a "grace period" where PN is unlikely to happen, so DNP should be used to help with the final stages of a recomposition or cutting cycle for those looking to keep the risks at a minimum. For long-term weight-loss this is yet a factor that must be pondered by the individual who must come to the decision themselves. To summarize, it would seem that around 10% of people that take DNP with dosages starting from 200mg and higher are affected by PN and symptoms usually start to develop within 11 weeks of continued ingestion, although in some cases it showed up as quick as 10 days. If it wasn’t for this crap side-effect, DNP could be looked upon like ephedrine (for example); something to rely upon whenever fat loss is required. Alas this is clearly not the case and people should seriously consider PN in their riskreward calculations. And it's always good to remember: Anyone hit by this side-effect should scratch DNP entirely from his mind and move on with other methods. Diet, consistency and patience are always a requirement, and while DNP speeds up things for sure, like a turbocharger that makes a car reach faster speeds, it doesn't replace the t he engine. Loss of Taste (Neuritis)
Loss of taste has been reported within numerous studies and usually manifests itself between five to seven weeks of usage. Of course "loss of taste" is not accurate, as some people get what they describe as "messed up taste" and "metallic taste". Not fun, but the issue disappeared in one month without discontinuing DNP. Yellow Skin or Eyes
Some individuals get yellow eyes after just 2 weeks on a small dosage of 200mg/day. While this is not known to be harmful per se, it's a sign things didn't work out as planned, prompting discontinuation. Any supplements to take?
A multivitamin, 1g of vitamin C, 400IU of vitamin E, NAC, and fish oil seem prudent. The ROS rebound mentioned before was based on research with rats, so it's speculative at best if this really happens in humans after discontinuation of DNP, but it doesn't hurt to take preventive measures. Why do we take antioxidants with DNP?
A rare second order metabolite of DNP (a semiquinone) can cause cataracts. Most people (99%-99.9%) are able to neutralize this pro-oxidant without any problems. The other few probably have some
deficiency or genetic mutation that makes them susceptible. Antioxidants can be thought of as insurance against this for those unlucky few who are susceptible. They're hardly mandatory though. Thousands of people have taken DNP without antioxidants and have done just fine. The recommendation above is simple enough. Is there a best diet to follow?
There are many potential mechanisms by which a ketogenic diet can both protect against and help with recovery from DNP-induced oxidative stress. For instance, the Myelin Sheath is probably the key structure damaged during any neuropathy condition, and the degradation of this insulation is probably the key factor that causes the symptoms of neuropathy. With this insulation compromised, the electric signals traversing the neuron's axon suffer interference from surrounding ions and interference means the signal either gets interrupted/attenuated (causing loss of sensation like the numbness feeling) or (which is worse) corrupted, sending false signals to the brain (causing pain or other sensations even though the skin is perfectly fine). And this insulation is made of fat and ketone bodies are preferred substrates for the synthesis of neural lipids. This together with the reduction of ROS production (free-radicals cause damage of their own, slowing recovery) and all other potential mechanisms strongly suggests that a ketogenic diet may indeed help with protection and recovery of nerve damage. This a legit enough reason to go with a ketogenic diet during a DNP cycle to reduce/limit any potential damage to the peripheral nerves, and those already hit by PN may benefit from a quicker recovery and attenuation of symptoms.
