The Health ministry announced last Monday that a number of potentially dangerous slimming products marketed by the Herbalife company are under investigation after it emerged that the deaths of nine patients, who suffered liver failure between 2003-2007, may have been caused by the drugs.

Since then, it has been revealed that dangerous hormones have also been detected in two further products, both manufactured by the Auramail company - Tropex Light and Detoxykall.

The hormones detected in the diet treatments increase a patient's heart rate, and may cause a number of unpleasant side-effects such as insomnia, anxiety, tachycardia and leg tremors.

Health authorities advise the public to seek medical advice before embarking on any course of weight reduction programme, and to avoid acquiring such treatments in circumstances that obscure where, how, when and by whom the products were manufactured - such as via the internet or by mail-order, which is how Herbalife and Auramail, respectively, market their remedies.