The Dark Side of Nutritional Supplements: Ephedra the Killer

Ephedra products were in almost every store in the late 1990s. Manufacturers packed their products full of this Asian herb. However, adverse reactions soon started to concern the FDA. Its resulting ban of the herb in 2004 as a nutritional supplement was justified in the following ways: first, the product was dosed irresponsibly; second, no clinical trials were performed; and finally, many deaths were caused by oversight. The crisis surrounding ephedra is a great example of why nutritional science must be studied to protect the public.

It is widely agreed that in doses of 8 milligrams or less, the active ingredients in ephedra are beneficial for allergies and fevers(Kilham, 2013). In any greater amount, however, major health risks such as heart murmurs and seizures abound. Most nutritional supplements that used this plant contained much more(Kilham, 2013).

Before these products were introduced to the US market, no adequate clinical trials were done to test for unwanted effects. Consumers were naive to what the product could potentially do. This left room for manufacturers to make illicit claims about their product(Thompson, 2004).

As a consequence, many consumers paid the ultimate price. From 1993 to 1995, seven deaths in Texas alone were connected with ephedra use(Roseberry, 2005). More were also reported across the country, but since many were taking additional stimulants, no definite rate of mortality is connected to ephedra use for these regions(Thompson, 2004).

As students of nutritional science, these kinds of crises are what we learn from the most. Thoughtless abuse of this alleged superdrug caused pointless deaths and severe trauma for thousands of people. Ephedra’s overuse and eventual ban as a supplement only further proved the saying, “the difference between a medicine and a poison is the dose”(Kilham).

References

Kilham, C. (2013, August 7). Ephedra: a beneficial and controversial herb. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/08/07/ephedra-beneficial-and-controversial-herb/

Thompson, T. (2004, February 4). Final rule declaring dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids adulterated because they present an unreasonable risk. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/04-2912.htm

Roseberry, K. (2005, November 16). Ephederine: banned by the FDA 2004. Retrieved
from http://healthpsych.psy.vanderbilt.edu/ephedraBanned.htm