Dangers of Ephedra

Neil Sherman, HealthScoutNews Reporter

Ephedra, a popular weight-loss and energy-enhancing dietary supplement, has been targeted for government ban by Public Citizen, a consumer health watchdog group. Citing increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and seizure as a result of ingesting ephedra, the group has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration for a ban on ephedra's sale to the general public. The National Football League has demonstrated similar concerns, banning the supplement's use at the start of the 2001 season, while in Texas a mandate was passed that products containing ephedra include toll-free numbers on their packaging for consumers to report any problems with usage. With proper use, ephedra is an effective weight-loss agent; however, because it raises blood pressure and heart rate, its use must be monitored carefully. And that strategy—regulation, rather than an outright ban—is advocated by the Ephedra Education Council. Nonetheless, its use has been associated with a variety of problems, including heart attacks, heart rhythm abnormalities, and strokes—more so than all other dietary supplements combined, according to FDA reports between 1993 and February 2000. While a number of studies exist that prove the safety of ephedra, Public Citizen wants nothing short of a complete ban on the product, as well as an FDA-issued advisory to the public on the risks posed by the supplement, both as a single agent and when used in conjunction with other stimulants such as caffeine. The FDA has not yet commented on the ephedra debate, but, according to a spokesperson at the agency's headquarters, "We'll carefully respond to the petition when we receive it." Return to Top