AHA Calls for Ban on Ephedra April 7, 2003
News Summary
The American Heart Association (AHA) is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban over-the-counter ephedra supplements, Reuters reported April 3."Consumers who take these products may think they are doing something good for their health, but the truth is they may be putting themselves at serious risk," said AHA President Dr. Robert Bonow. "There is no such thing as a magic weight-loss pill and anyone who takes these products looking for a quick fix is misleading themselves."
The FDA has proposed limiting the manufacturing and marketing of ephedra-based dietary supplements.
Ephedra is an adrenaline-like stimulant that affects the heart and nervous system. A RAND study released last month found 16,000 adverse health incidents involving ephedra, including heart attacks, strokes and even death.
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