Supplements containing ephedra, a herb used by bodybuilders and added to some supplements for weight loss, can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and sometimes death even in otherwise healthy people. Since the mid-1990s, 54 deaths and at least 1,000 cases of serious problems have been reported in the United States. my huang, the Chinese name for ephedra.
While these cases are few compared to the billions of times these products are consumed, it appears that the incidents are clearly related to the lack of clear guidelines on maximum recommended daily doses and aggressive marketing of the products, since there are hundreds of products containing ephedra on the US market.
The results of the latest research, commissioned by the US government’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), showed that out of 140 cases studied, at least a third of the incidents appeared to be clearly related to ephedra. These results were also unveiled the same day the FDA recommended that pharmacists withdraw over-the-counter drugs containing phenylpropanolamine, an ingredient used in many products to suppress appetite and fight cold symptoms, because that it can cause vascular accidents.
According to various commentators, the problems with ephedra are probably due to the fact that people were taking other stimulants like caffeine at the same time, that the doses of ephedra can be very different from what is indicated on the label. label and that some people should not have consumed because of their health problem. Indeed, as ephedra is a powerful stimulant, its effects add up and even potentiate the effects of other stimulants consumed at the same time. On the other hand, ephedra is contraindicated or should be taken with caution by people with a history of heart disease, vascular problems, kidney or thyroid disease, diabetes, and epilepsy.
The main symptoms observed by the researchers were very high blood pressure, heart palpitations, heart attacks, strokes and seizures.
Because of its importance, the editors of the New England Journal of Medicine published the research in its full version on their website as of November 6, while it will not appear until December 21, 2000 in the print version.
The ephedra sheet, on PasseportSanté.net, gives the indications, contraindications, precautions and suggested dosage.
Haller CA, Benowitz NL, Adverse Cardiovascular and Central Nervous System Events Associated with Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedra Alkaloids, NEJM 2000; 343 (25), December 21, 2000.
HealthPassport.net
Document created on November 22, 2000.
