Few would deny that obesity is now an epidemic in America. Many Americans, desperate to shed those unwanted pounds, turn to diet supplements and appetite suppressants to help speed their metabolisms and prevent them from overeating. Some diet supplements and suppressants, however, have been proven to have very dangerous, and even deadly effects. As a result, these supplements have been banned in the United States as well as many other countries around the world.
Ephedra
Ephedra is a weight-loss supplement made from ma huang, a Chinese plant. Ephedra is a thermogenic diet supplement that works by stimulating the nervous system and heart, therefore making the body burn energy faster. In December of 2003, the United States Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of supplements containing ephedra because of over 16,000 reports of adverse health effects due to taking products containing ephedra, according to The Harvard Medical School's Family Medical Guide website. Ephedra raises blood pressure and puts stress on the heart, which makes it unsafe, according to the FDA.
Fen-Phen
According to Joseph Lee Klapper, M.D., author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boosting Your Metabolism," phen-fen is a combination of two appetite suppressants, fenfluramine and phentermine. In 1997, the FDA banned phen-fen from the market after receiving 66 reports of heart-valve disease. A study at the Mayo Clinic that same year supported the allegations that fen-phen was linked to heart-valve disease, as well as primary pulmonary hypertension.
Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)
As of 2005, the FDA recommended that over-the-counter products containing phenylpropanolamine, or PPA, are discontinued or reformulated by their manufacturers. PPA was marketed as an appetite suppressant and dietary supplement designed to help users lose weight. The FDA issued this recommendation after a Yale University study indicated that PPA can increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke in women, which is when a blood vessel bursts and causes bleeding in the brain and surrounding tissues.
Recommendations
Your best option is to consult your physician or nutritionist if you are interested in taking a diet suppressant or any other supplement designed to help you lose weight. Even herbal diet supplements can have risks, and your physician or nutritionist can help you select one that is right for your needs or help you create a diet and exercise plan that can eliminate the need to take additional supplements.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Consumer Alert-Ephedra
- The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: Ephedra
- CNN Health: Florida Becomes First State to Ban Fen-Phen Use; September 2009
- Silverman and Fodera Personal Injury Law Firm; Fen-Phen; September 2010
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boosting Your Metabolism"; Joseph Lee Klapper; 2008
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Information Page
Member Comments