Army to Conduct DMAA Safety Review

U.S. Army soldiers will be test subjects in the first government-funded study into the side effects of 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA), a controversial ingredient in many popular dietary supplements. The research will be aimed at determining whether there is a link between the substance and reports of dangerous health conditions. DMAA has been associated with a number of serious side effects including seizures, heart injuries, kidney and liver failure, and death.

DMAA Lawsuit Update 5/4/12: Four DMAA supplement manufacturers who received warning letters from the FDA late last month have been slapped with class action lawsuits alleging their products are ‘illegal and dangerous.’ The litigation process will be watched closely, as the cases center around a hotly-debated point of contention regarding new dietary ingredients (NDIs): that synthetic versions of botanical derivatives are not classified as dietary ingredients, and are therefore not permitted for use in supplement products.

DMAA Update 4/27/12: The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) today sent warning letters to 10 manufacturers and distributors of DMAA-containing dietary supplements for marketing products whose safety has not been proven. Specifically, the FDA’s letters accuse the companies of marketing products for which a notification has not been submitted for the use of DMAA as a New Dietary Supplement (NDI).

DMAA Update 3/5/12: A new study has concluded that geranium oils do not contain the stimulant dimethylamylamine (DMAA), an ingredient in a number of best-selling dietary supplements. The new research once again questions an antiquated study often cited by pre-workout and weight loss supplement companies who market DMAA-containing products.

Free DMAA Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has suffered an injury you feel may have been caused by 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 of the dietary supplement and we can help.

What’s the problem?

March 3, 2012 – Military officials at the Army Public Health Command are currently in the process of identifying participants for a first-of-its-kind case-control study on the health effects associated with the consumption of DMAA. The move comes after two soldiers with DMAA in their systems died last year during routine physical exercises.

“We are in the process of identifying potential Army participants and (we) are still finalizing study procedures,” according to a statement released by the command.

The study is expected to be concluded by the end of the summer and will be released pending a comprehensive analysis by the Army and Department of Defense (DoD). In the meantime, the Army will be combing through health records from all branches of the military and conducting follow-ups with patients and providers.

The regulatory status and safety of DMAA has recently been challenged by Health Canada. There has been an ongoing debate about whether the substance, which was first synthesized by Eli Lilly in the 1940s, is a constituent of geranium, with the consensus growing that it is not. Health Canada issued a statement claiming that DMAA is not naturally found in geranium and that any products containing it should require drug authorization. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to rule on the safety and efficacy of DMAA, while various trade groups are conducting independent research on their own.

Side Effects of DMAA

DMAA has been linked to the following serious side effects:

• Hyperthermia
• Irregular heartbeat
• Seizures
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Liver damage or liver failure
• Kidney damage or kidney failure
• Psychiatric side effects
• Elevated blood pressure
• Sudden cardiac death

Other, less severe side effects associated with DMAA include:

• Skin reactions
• Irritability
• Nervousness
• Dizziness
• Trembling
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Profuse perspiration
• Dehydration
• Itchy scalp and skin

Related Article: Army Studies DMAA After Deaths of Two Soldiers

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 in January 2012. The suit alleges that OxyElite Pro and Jack3d contain DMAA in a “synthetic form that is both illegal and dangerous.”

FAQs

1. How Has the Regulatory Status of DMAA Been Challenged by Health Canada?

Health Canada claimed DMAA is not naturally found in geraniums, requiring products containing it to obtain drug authorization, challenging its classification as a legitimate dietary supplement ingredient.

2. What Is the Significance of the U.S. Army’s Study on DMAA’s Health Effects?

The U.S. Army’s study aims to determine if DMAA is linked to serious health conditions, influencing future regulations and safety guidelines for military personnel and the general public.

3. Why Is There Ongoing Debate About DMAA Being a Constituent of Geranium?

Yes, the debate persists because scientific studies conflict with whether DMAA naturally occurs in geraniums, affecting its classification, legality, and use in dietary supplements.

Do You Have a DMAA Lawsuit?

The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in DMAA lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and are currently accepting new seizure, heart injury, kidney failure, liver failure, and death cases in all 50 states.

Free DMAA Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has suffered an injury you feel may have been caused by DMAA, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a DMAA injury suit and we can help.