Weight Loss, Workout and Brain Supplements Pose Danger

A new study published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis, found that 12 out 14 weight loss, workout or brain support supplements contain a synthetic stimulant called AMP Citrate, or DMBA (1,3-dimethylbutylamine).  This stimulant is similar to DMAA, which was banned by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012 because of dangerous side effects including heart attack, stroke, seizure and even death. These compounds act like amphetamines, which are controlled drug substances.

The authors of the study say that the ingredient AMP Citrate has never been studied on humans. By taking any of these supplements is like enlisting yourself in a game of Russian roulette because there is no way of knowing the dose or side effect. Supplement bottles are misleading and often list the ingredient as AMP Citrate, 4-amino-2-methylpentane citrate or other chemical names among several as a proprietary blend. The study reports that the amount of the stimulant varied greatly among the products.

Supplements, including over the counter vitamins and minerals are treated like special food, rather than like medicine by the Food and Drug Administration. This means that dietary supplements are not put through rigorous testing or clinical trials and do not have to be proven as safe and effective. According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration):

  • Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.
  • FDA is responsible for taking action against any adulterated or misbranded dietary supplement product after it reaches the market.

The FDA is lax on supplement industry oversight despite indications that ingredients are not safety tested and bottles are often deceptively labeled as cure-alls. The supplement industry should be required to test products by third party quality controllers before being sold to the public. To learn about how to eat a well-balanced diet without deprivation or the need for supplementation, pick up a copy of my book Beyond The Mediterranean Diet: European Secrets Of The Super-Healthy