Published by Following the deaths of two soldiers, the U.S. Department of Defense has banned the sale of so-called ‘dietary supplements’ containing DMAA within military facilities. Mounting research and numerous case studies have linked DMAA to heat illness, kidney and liver damage, as well as sudden death. The World Anti-Doping Agency lists DMAA as a prohibited stimulant, and Health Canada recently reclassified the compound as a drug.
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What’s the problem?
The U.S. Department of Defense banned DMAA (dimethylamylamine) sales in military facilities after two soldier deaths, while multiple proposed class action lawsuits have been filed against companies like BPI Sports and USPLabs. The ban on DMAA sales is currently classified as indefinite, and will remain in effect pending further review of relevant scientific evidence by the surgeons general of the military services.
To date, DMAA-containing dietary supplements have been the subject of several proposed class action lawsuits. In November 2011, Florida’s BPI Sports was hit with a proposed class action in California, and a similar complaint was filed against USPLabs last month. The suit alleges that OxyElite Pro and Jack3d contain DMAA in a “synthetic form that is both illegal and dangerous.”
Click on the links below if you’d like additional information about these topics from Schmidt & Clark, LLP:
Latest DOD DMAA Ban Updates
- May 14, 2012 – Despite FDA crackdown on DMAA-containing bodybuilding products, the Army continued research into the effects of the controversial dietary supplement ingredient. The Department of Defense maintained an ‘intense interest’ in the results of the Army Public Health Command’s ongoing research on DMAA safety and efficacy.
- April 10, 2012 – Military study revealed that less than a third of active soldiers discuss dietary supplement use with their doctors prior to taking them. The research highlighted dangerous drug interactions when prescription medications are taken simultaneously with dietary supplements, significantly increasing risks of potentially life-threatening side effects.
- March 2, 2012 – U.S. Army soldiers became test subjects in the first government-funded study into DMAA side effects. The research aimed to determine whether there is a definitive link between the substance and reports of dangerous health conditions affecting military personnel. Click here to learn more.
- March 2012 – The U.S. Army and Air Force banned the sale of all products containing DMAA in response to two recent soldier deaths [1] . The deputy director of Force Health Protection and Readiness Programs issued the following statement:
“We support the decision of the Military Exchanges and Commissaries to remove products containing DMAA from their shelves until we can make a further determination about the safety of this ingredient. … We are concerned about reports of heat illness, kidney (and) liver damage, and sudden death in service members who reportedly used products containing DMAA.” – Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, deputy director of Force Health Protection and Readiness Programs
- 2010 – A 21-year-old New Zealand man suffered a cerebral hemorrhage shortly after taking two party pills laced with DMAA. Subsequent testing revealed a DMAA level of 278 milligrams with no other stimulants detected, establishing a clear link between DMAA consumption and serious neurological injury.
- 1996 – A Chinese study published in the Journal of Guizhou Institute of Technology (1996, Vol. 25, pp. 82-85) claimed that DMAA is derived from geranium oil, though no subsequent research has been able to detect its presence. The American Herbal Products Association later enacted trade requirements barring members from labeling DMAA as a geranium-based constituent.
- 1971 – Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. trademarked DMAA as a nasal decongestant under the name Forthane, after filing the original patent on dimethylamylamine in 1944.
- November 2011 – Florida’s BPI Sports was hit with a proposed class action lawsuit in California alleging that dietary supplements contained DMAA in a “synthetic form that is both illegal and dangerous.”
FAQs
1. How did the FDA’s ban on DMAA impact the dietary supplement industry?
The FDA’s ban on DMAA led to product recalls and reformulations, causing industry shifts as manufacturers removed DMAA and sought alternative ingredients to comply with regulations.
2. What are the potential health risks Associated with DMAA?
DMAA can cause severe health risks including increased blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. It poses significant dangers, especially to individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
3. Can consumers still find dietary supplements containing DMAA on the market?
While the FDA has banned DMAA, some unregulated or illegal supplements may still contain it. Consumers should verify ingredient lists and purchase from reputable sources to avoid DMAA.
Do You have a DMAA Lawsuit?
The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in DMAA lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new DMAA injury cases in all 50 states.
Free DMAA Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been injured by a dietary supplement containing DMAA, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a DMAA injury suit and we can help.
Reference:
https://www.29palms.marines.mil/Articles/Article/499196/dod-ban-on-dmaa/