Before 2004, some people, including medical professionals, believed it was safe to use the natural substance ephedra in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise program. But that changed when the Food and Drug Administration declared ephedra and its alkaloids unsafe for use and banned sales within the United States.
Famous Ties
One of the first signs that the ephedra diet supplement was potentially unsafe was the 2003 death of Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler. Bechler had taken diet supplements with ephedra and caffeine to boost his weight loss efforts and increase his chances of becoming a star baseball player. The 23-year-old pitcher died of heatstroke, but medical officials said the toxicity of ephedra and caffeine played a significant role is his death.
Potential Side Effects
When the FDA banned ephedra and ephedrine in 2004, officials stated that the supplement created an unacceptably high risk of serious health problems in some users. Ephedra, especially when combined with caffeine, may cause heart attack, stroke, tachycardia, arrhythmia, central nervous system excitation and high blood pressure, warns the Mayo Clinic.
Statistics
Between 1993 and 2004, FDA officials received 16,961 reports of cardiac events and seizures attributed to the ephedra diet supplement, according to Consumers Union. An estimated 100 people died after taking ephedrine. The Mayo Clinic notes that despite safety concerns, prior to the ban about 14 percent of American dieters continued to use products containing ephedra.
Weight Loss Potential
Ephedra actually does not lead to as much weight loss as dieters want to believe, especially when it is not combined with caffeine, warns the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Any weight loss is usually short-term and does not promote good health, especially when compared to the risks of the ephedra diet.
Illicit Sales
Some manufacturers still sell ephedra and ephedrine diet supplements online, notes Consumers Union. Unscrupulous merchants disguise the ephedra ingredient under names such as epitonin, ma huang, sida cordifolia and sinica; manufacturers sometimes mask the caffeine ingredient by labeling it guarana, kola nut, maté, paullinia cupana and tea extracts.
Additional Dangerous Remedies
Some drugs and herbal remedies may be just as dangerous as the ephedra diet supplements, warns the Mayo Clinic. As of 2011, the FDA is investigating claims that bitter orange or citrus aurantium caused problems similar to those attributed to ephedra. The FDA also banned other natural ingredients such as country mallow or heartleaf and is investigating whether the over-the-counter drug Alli causes serious liver injuries.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Ephedra (Ephedra sinica)/ma huang
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Ephedra; April 2004
- Consumers Union; Ephedra Fact Sheet; December 2003
- Mayo Clinic; Over-the-Counter Weight-Loss Pills: Do They Work?; February 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Bitter Orange Weight-Loss Supplements: Do They Work? Katherine Zeratsky; November 2009
- "USA Today"; Medical Examiner -- Ephedra a Factor in Bechler Death; March 2003
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