Sports-performance ingredient DMAA could be deadly

If you're hoping to boost your athletic performance, don't be tempted by supplement claims. On Monday, researchers reported that supplements account for more than half of all FDA drug recalls known as "Class I"—those for which serious adverse health consequences or death are a reasonable probability. Most of the supplements recalled are bodybuilding, weight-loss, or sexual-enhancement products that contain unapproved medicinal ingredients, according to researchers who analyzed FDA Enforcement Reports since 2004. The findings were published online yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Last week the FDA warned the public not to purchase or use supplements containing the amphetamine derivative DMAA, also known as geranium extract, often touted as a "natural" stimulant in products that claim to improve your body-building workouts, enhance your athletic performance, and help you lose weight. "This substance narrows blood vessels and arteries, which can elevate blood pressure, and may lead to cardiovascular problems such as shortness of breath, arrhythmias, tightening in the chest, and heart attack, as well as seizures and other neurological and psychological conditions," the agency announced. Products containing DMAA are illegal, the FDA warned. The ingredient may be particularly dangerous when used with caffeine.

Read our report 10 Surprising Dangers of Vitamins and Supplements .

The FDA has received 86 reports of adverse events associated with products containing DMAA. These events include psychiatric disorders, heart problems, nervous system disorders, and death. Such reports, the agency added, are not proof that the product actually caused the problem.

Though the FDA has warned companies that products containing DMAA are illegal, USPlabs has yet to agree to stop using DMAA as an ingredient in their products Jack3D and Oxy Elite Pro, said the FDA. USPlabs did not return our request for comment yet. CNN reported on Monday that USPlabs stands by its products and has cited "eight peer-reviewed published clinical studies detailing the safety of (DMAA) and products containing it, making it one of the most heavily clinically studied dietary ingredients ever." The FDA acknowledged that USPlabs has submitted published studies but the agency said it found the information insufficient.

See our advice on potential benefits and risks of vitamins and supplements.

Sources
Stimulant Potentially Dangerous to Health, FDA Warns [FDA Consumer Update]

Q & A on DMAA in Dietary Supplements [FDA consumer questions and answers]

The Frequency and Characteristics of Dietary Supplement Recalls in the United States [JAMA Internal Medicine]

—Doug Podolsky