Q | I thought ephedra was banned. Why is it still being sold at convenience stores and gas stations?
A | FLEX has always maintained that ephedra is a safe and effective supplement for bodybuilders when used in appropriate doses. Nevertheless, the sale of ephedra-containing products was officially banned in 2004. At the time, the Food and Drug Administration issued a ruling "declaring dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids [ephedra] adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ... because these dietary supplements present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury under the conditions of use recommended or suggested in labeling, or if no conditions of use are suggested or recommended in labeling, under ordinary conditions of use."
As you may know, the overwhelming majority of ephedra-containing supplements were formulated and marketed for people who wanted to increase energy or reduce bodyfat. These products are produced using ephedra or ma huang as the source of ephedrine alkaloids, and they are the ones that the legislation banned.
However, there are other applications for products that contain ephedrine alkaloids, one of which is to improve breathing through bronchodilation, which can aid asthmatics and people with colds. The products sold for this purpose typically contain ephedrine that is chemically synthesized.
This form of ephedrine is regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act as drugs. The ephedra-containing products you see being sold are classified as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Many of these products also include another ingredient called guaifenesin. It thins mucus in air passages and makes it easier to cough up mucus and clear airways, allowing easier breathing. It relieves the coughs of colds, bronchitis and other lung infections.
These OTC drugs are not subject to the same restrictions as ephedra-containing dietary supplements. In other words, dietary supplements with ephedra or ephedrine are no longer legal to market or sell, whereas OTC products containing ephedrine that are marketed to improve breathing function, etc., are legal. Seems a bit contradictory.
There is still consumer demand for ephedra-containing dietary supplements, so nutrition companies are continuing to lobby to once again be allowed to sell such products. Keep reading FLEX for the latest updates on the ephedra situation.
--Steve O'Reilly, RD, LD
COPYRIGHT 2005 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
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