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Ephedra
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Ephedra (also known as "Ma Huang") is a botanical (i.e., plant) product
that is a source of ephedrine alkaloids. Ephedra is an amphetamine-like compound
with potentially powerful stimulant effects on the nervous system and heart.
Some dietary supplements in the US (promoted for uses such as weight loss, body
building, and increased energy) contain ephedrine alkaloids.
Recent updates:
- On June 14, 2002, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary
Tommy Thompson announced new efforts to expand scientific research on the
safety of ephedrine alkaloids and to aggressively pursue the illegal marketing
of non-herbal synthetic ephedrine alkaloid products. HHS recently funded the
RAND Corporation to conduct a comprehensive review of the existing science
on ephedrine alkaloids, particularly those in dietary supplements. The review
is projected to be finished by early fall and, once complete, will clarify
the existing state of the science on ephedrine alkaloids. The National Institutes
of Health (NIH) will use this information to guide an expanded research effort
to better understand the safety of ephedrine alkaloids.
- A related press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
is available here.
- A related news article (from washingtonpost.com) is available here.
- Consolidated
Information on Ephedrine Alkaloids, US Food and Drug Administration, Center
for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
- Bush
Orders Safety Review Of Ephedra, washingtonpost.com, June 15, 2002
- See related press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services here.
- Consumer
Group: FDA Must Ban Ephedra, USATODAY.com, September 5, 2001
- Adverse
Cardiovascular and Central Nervous System Events Associated with Dietary Supplements
Containing Ephedra Alkaloids (asbstract), The New England Journal of Medicine,
Volume 343, Number 25 (December 21, 2000)
- Scientists
Red Flag Popular Supplement Ephedra, CNN.com, November 6, 2000
- Public
Hearings Probe Ephedra Safety, CNN.com, August 9, 2000
- Dietary
Supplements: Uncertainties in Analyses Underlying FDA's Proposed Rule on Ephedrine
Alkaloids (PDF), US General Accounting Accounting Office, July, 1999
- FDA
Evidence Too Weak to Restrict Ephedra, Report Says, CNN.com, August 4,
1999
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