by Nancy Conway
www.shapeupshop.com

March 2003 -- The latest news on ephedra is neither new nor good for those who support its use. Products containing this supplement have been under fire for the past five years because of the high ratio of adverse effects attributed to its use for weight loss and as an energy booster.

But, since the recent death of Baltimore Oriole pitcher Steve Bechler who collapsed after a spring training workout last month and reportedly used a product that contains ephedra, the FDA is under more pressure to make decisions regarding warning labels, even banning its use.

The Chinese ephedra, Ma huang, has been used for at least 5,000 years to treat wheezing and asthma. More recently, Ephedrine, which is synthesized from ephedra and is classified as a drug, was widely used to treat breathing difficulties and nasal congestion due to asthma and sinusitis until more effective synthetic compounds took over the market. Ephedrine is still sold as nasal sprays and in bronchodilators.

According to news reports, Bechler's family knew he had taken an over-the-counter weight loss product containing ephedra and now medical examiners are attributing his death to this product. Final test results are not completed. Bechler apparently used ephedra for at least two years and had told a doctor about his use when he saw him about a liver problem. When he reported to spring training he was listed at 6'2" and weighed 239 pounds. That's obese according to the BMI scale.

Ephedra use problems began when manufacturers turned to marketing ephedra as a weight loss drug. Teamed with St. John's Wort it was dubbed the "natural" fen-phen -- a combination of fenfluramine and phentermine that was supposed to be the successful drug to combat obesity. Fen-phen's success was short-lived and the drug was banned after deaths and adverse events were directly attributed to fen-phen use. An Internet search today for fen-phen brings up a long list of law firms and attorneys involved with law suits against the drug's manufacturer.

There is so much conflicting data out about ephedra. Proponents say it aids in wieght loss, elevates metabolism, burns fat faster and raises energy levels. They endorse these products (which usually also include guarana that includes caffeine) for use during physical workouts and suggest taking it with caffeine to heighten effects.

Some baseball players interviewed in a Wahington Post story admitted they took ephedra products without reading the label or knowing they were marketed for weight loss. Instead they use various products that contain ephedra for an energy boost.

Opponents maintain ephedra supplements raise blood pressure and can cause heart palpitations during physical exertion. Ephedra is a stimulant stronger than caffeine and close to adrenaline in strength. Taking ephedra with another stimulant such as caffeine or taking more than the recommended amount could increase the chance for dangerous health risks and physical stress on the body.

In the middle are users who believe they are taking ephedra safely and people desperate for a weight loss program that works for them.

The FDA is immediately seeking public comment on the latest studies including the Rand Corporation study which was commissioned by the National Institutes of Health that concluded ephedra use may lead to important health risks including death and finds limited proof of health benefits attributed to using ephedra.

FDA is also seeking a strong new warning label for all products that contain ephedra and will impose harsh punishment on those who continue to make "unsubstantiated claims" regarding use for enhancing sports performance.

FDA must also decide if all the evidence gathered about ephedra supplements proves it to be a "significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury." This finding is necesaary if the FDA decides to prohibit sale of ephedra supplements.

Now to a certain extent, getting a ruling from the FDA is really good news. Everyone wants to be protected from scams and products that can injure or cause death. If the FDA finds that the product ephedra is the culprit and not due to misuse by users, if the FDA decides stiff punishments on product manufacturers and vendors who make false claims, and stronger warning labeling will not mean a safer product, then the only recourse is to ban selling products that contain ephedra, altogether.

The information about side effects, who should not take it and what to realistically expect from use has always been readily available. Ephedra has more side effects than Carter has little liver pills. Web sites that endorse ephedra have this information even though it may be overshadowed by what they claim are the benefits.

We hope this does not renew a push to have the FDA regulate all supplements, since all but apparently a few manufacturers, producers and supplement vendors work very hard to provide the public with safe and healthy products. No one wants to intentionally hurt someone else. The industry already strives to create a safe and healthy industry, which is the same aim as the FDA's.

Instead we hope to see drug and supplement manufacturers take every precaution to provide safe products and all of the data needed to determine its safety. Those developing new products need to consider all of the consequences, study and test the function, results and safety before bringing it to market.

We hope drug and supplement vendors carry on that process by passing on ALL information and providing as much education as possible for consumers. They should always be available to answer consumer questions and allay their concerns. And they should listen, rather than ignore potential problems.

And we hope consumers take every step possible to know about a drug or supplement before they decide to take it. Consumers should evaluate claims by talking to their physician and getting information about the product from other sources such as www.fda.gov, wholehealthmd.com or www.mayoclinic.com.

This article was originally published on Shape Up Shop -- www.shapeupshop.com