In a study published last week, researchers at Harvard University examined 21 brands of dietary supplements containing an herbal stimulant called Acacia rigidula. The supplements were marketed to help people lose weight and to enhance energy. Because studies of safety and efficacy in humans have not been performed, its unknown whether it is dangerous. It appears that BMPEA is intentionally added to these supplements for its stimulant properties and since it is not listed on the labels of these products, consumers have been unknowingly ingesting this untested stimulant.
The story about synthetic stimulants popping up in dietary supplements is not new. A little over a decade ago the major dietary supplement of concern in the US was ephedrine an alkaloid found in ephedra.
Ephedrine was widely used for weight loss and performance enhancement although it also has approved medical applications. Use of ephedrine supplements was highly prevalent by the late s, and between and an estimated 2. For too long dietary products containing ephedrine alkaloids have been heavily promoted and widely used. They are simply too risky to be used, whether by people who want to lose weight or by elite athletes seeking to enhance their performance, or by youngsters who want to be like these athletes.
Thompson continued, "Second, the regulation that FDA will be publishing will set a new significant legal precedent. For the first time, we will be articulating the legal standard for protecting the public health under the standards of the dietary supplement law which Congress passed approximately 10 years ago [DSHEA]. This is a workable and I think coherent standard that will enable Americans to have access to dietary supplements while enabling FDA to be able to protect consumers from adulterated products.
As intimated by Thompson, HHS and FDA announced the creation of a forthcoming new "framework" for determining if a dietary supplement "presents a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury under conditions of use suggested in the labeling or under ordinary conditions of use. The impact of the proposed ban on ephedra on other herbs and supplements was unclear.
Despite the good safety record of most popular herbs in the U. Thompson said that the FDA could not have acted any sooner because DSHEA does not require manufacturers to prove a product safe prior to bringing it to the market. To remove an unsafe supplement from the market, FDA must prove a clear danger to public health.
Now, Congress should take a look at whether or not they want that to continue. To clarify this issue, a leading Washington, D. In an action related to the announcement, FDA sent letters to 62 firms that market dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids "to give you advance notice of the publication of this rule to facilitate your earliest compliance," and to inform these firms that "FDA intends to begin enforcing the rule as soon as it becomes effective" i.
Questions from reporters sought the identity of additional herbs whose safety may be considered questionable that FDA may consider banning. At the press conference, Commissioner McClellan did not reveal any names, but stated, "Many dietary supplements have important values. On three separate occasions Secretary Thompson expressed his desire to have the authority to receive [mandatory] reports of adverse events from supplement manufacturers.
While some individual studies did not demonstrate serious side effects of ephedra or ephedrine consumption, mild to highly concerning side effects became apparent upon examination of all available research.
While the ephedra herb and products like ma huang tea are available for purchase, dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids are not. Some ephedrine-containing medications are still available over the counter, though regulations on the purchase of these products can vary by state.
For this reason, some dietary supplement manufacturers will market weight loss products that contain other compounds found in ephedra, but not ephedrine alkaloids.
These products may not have the safety concerns observed for products containing ephedrine — but they may also be less effective. While some countries outside of the United States have also banned ephedrine-containing products, the specific regulations vary. Dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids were banned by the FDA in Medications containing ephedrine and the ephedra plant are still available for purchase, though regulations may vary by location.
Ephedrine, one of the main components in ephedra, can boost metabolism and cause weight loss — especially in combination with caffeine. Still, due to safety concerns, dietary supplements containing ephedrine — but not necessarily other compounds in ephedra — are currently banned in the United States and elsewhere. Your metabolism determines how many calories you burn each day. Here are 9 easy ways to boost your metabolism, backed by science. Caffeine is a natural stimulant consumed throughout the world.
This article reviews caffeine and its health effects, both good and bad. This is a detailed, evidence-based review of the 12 most popular weight loss pills and supplements on the market today. Poison control centers are getting more calls about dietary supplements. Most of them involve children. Here are some safety tips for parents. Hydroxycut products came onto the market in Early formulations contained ephedra, a plant extract said to increase energy.
Haller, C. New England Journal of Medicine. Oshima N. Yakugaku Zasshi. Lee MR. The history of Ephedra ma-huang. J R Coll Physicians Edinb. Manore, M. Dietary supplements for improving body composition and reducing body weight: where is the evidence? Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellFit. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.
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