They keep tobaco, but boot ephedra. Guess which lobby lost the battle?
The damn things not meant for weight loss.... its the misuse thats the problem.
Morons.
The damn things not meant for weight loss.... its the misuse thats the problem.
Morons.
Herbal supplement ephedra to be banned
(CNN) --Federal officials are moving to ban the sale of the herbal supplement ephedra because of continued health concerns about the product.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and Mark McClellan, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, are expected to announce steps leading to a ban on ephedra at an 11:30 a.m. ET news conference.
Illinois and New York already have banned the sale of products containing ephedra, and Florida banned ephedra sales to minors in May.
Ephedra is an herbal supplement that is found in many over-the-counter products designed to help people lose weight or increase their energy, and has long been the subject of criticism.
In February, a medical examiner said an ephedra supplement was linked to the death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler.
A study commissioned by the National Institutes of Health also called into safety the use of ephedra, saying it was associated with higher risks of heart palpitations, tremors and insomnia.
Other studies have also suggested links to health problems.
The Annals of Internal Medicine reported this year that, although products with ephedra make up less than 1 percent of dietary supplement sales, it has accounted for 64 percent of the serious side effects that have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in association with dietary supplements.
A second study published in the journal Neurology found that the rate of strokes among ephedra users was higher than in nonusers. The supplement users in the study took more than 32 milligrams a day; some ephedra labels recommend almost 100 milligrams daily.
In October 2002, members of the American Medical Association testified before Congress on the dangers of ephedra, and the group has urged the FDA to ban the diet aid.
The AMA said ephedra use is linked to heart attacks, strokes and seizures, among other conditions.
Supporters of ephedra say the supplement is safe when taken as directed. Earlier this year, the Ephedra Education Council told the FDA in a statement that under the FDA's current definition, "There is no question that ephedra supplements that meet current industry standards are safe and provide significant public health benefits for consumers who need to lose weight."
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/12/30/ephedra/index.html