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1st appeared 29 May 1998 "Dietary Supplements" Can Be Deadly, Experts Warn Consumers need to be extremely cautious about drinking or eating off-the-shelf products that promise weight loss, increased energy, or enhanced athletic performance, advise experts with the California Poison Control System (CPCS). The death of a Southern California woman in April was linked to the use of such a product and since then the California Poison Control System has received several calls about those types of products, which are often sold as "dietary supplements" or "metabolic enhancers," said Christine Haller, a consultant with CPCS and a fellow in medical toxicology at UCSF and the SF Veterans Affairs Medical Center. "People should not assume that any dietary supplement is safe just because it is labeled 'natural' or 'herbal,'" she said. "Many contain active ingredients that can be dangerous to certain individuals because of their current health condition or because of medications they are taking. Any person considering using one of these products should consult a physician first." Since January 1, the CPCS -- which is under the administration of the UCSF School of Pharmacy and serves all 33 million California residents -- has been monitoring its calls about adverse reactions associated with dietary supplements as part of a nationwide multi-center trial. Haller is collaborating on the study with Kent Olson, a CPCS medical toxicologist and UCSF professor of pharmacy, medicine, and pediatrics. Many of these products are marked "thermogenic" and marketed with claims of being able to alter one's metabolism, according to Haller. Product ingredients often include ma huang, a Chinese herbal product that contains the drug ephedrine, and guarana, a plant seed that contains caffeine. "The combination of ephedrine and caffeine is known to cause increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as nervousness, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting," said Haller. "Adverse effects related to products that contain ephedrine have included stroke, heart attack, seizures, and even death." Olson emphasized that consumers need to be aware that dietary supplement products are considered neither food nor drugs from a legal standpoint. "Therefore, they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are solely responsible for product quality, and toxicity may be related to product impurities, contaminants, or high levels of active ingredients," he said. CPCS is under the administration of the UCSF School of Pharmacy and serves all 33 million California residents. source: Corinna Kaarlela, News Services |
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