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.
DMAA Update 5/14/12: Despite a recent FDA crackdown on DMAA-containing bodybuilding products, the Army will continue its research into the effects of the controversial dietary supplement ingredient. According to a Department of Defense (DOD) spokesperson, the military has an ‘intense interest’ in the results of the Army Public Health Command’s ongoing research on DMAA.
Dietary Supplement Update 4/10/12: Less than a third of active soldiers discuss dietary supplement use with their doctors prior to taking them, according to a new study about drug use by military service members. Many of these individuals don’t consider the use of supplements to affect medications. However, when taken simultaneously, prescription drugs and dietary supplements can significantly increase a person’s risk of potentially life-threatening side effects.
DMAA Update 3/2/12: U.S. Army soldiers will be test subjects in the first government-funded study into the side effects of DMAA. The research will be aimed at determining whether there is a link between the substance and reports of dangerous health conditions. Click here to learn more.
Free DMAA Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been injured after taking a dietary supplement containing DMAA, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and we can help.
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What’s the problem?
January 3, 2012 – As reported by NutraIngredients-USA, the U.S. Army and Air Force banned the sale of all products containing DMAA (dimethylamylamine) in response to two recent soldier deaths.
“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,” said Dr Michael Kilpatrick, deputy director of Force Health Protection and Readiness Programs with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection and Readiness.
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.
In 2010, a 21-year-old New Zealand man suffered a cerebral hemorrhage shortly after taking two party pills that were laced with DMAA. Subsequent testing of the pills revealed a DMAA level of 278 milligrams. No other stimulants were detected.
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. filed a patent on dimethylamylamine in 1944, and trademarked the compound as a nasal decongestant under the name Forthane in 1971.
According to one Chinese study published in the Journal of Guizhou Institute of Technology (1996, Vol. 25, pp. 82-85), DMAA is derived from geranium oil, but no other research to date has been able to detect its presence. The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) enacted a trade requirement that will go into effect later this month which bars its members from labeling DMAA as a geranium-based constituent.
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.”
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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.
To contact us for a free review of your potential case, please fill out the form below or call us toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing: