WASHINGTON—The Department of Defense temporary halted the sales of products containing 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA) within military facilities after recent reports showed two soldier deaths and additional adverse health effects in other service members may be related to use of the dietary supplements.
DMAA has recently been in the news with a California class action lawsuit that claims bodybuilding and weight management supplements from Florida-based BPI Sports contained undisclosed DMAA, and a new requirement from American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), which says its members will no longer be able to label it as geranium oil or as any part of the geranium plant. AHPA said a critical review of the scientific literature determined no credible evidence showed the constituent is found in geranium species (Pelargonium spp.).
The Department of Defense's moratorium will remain in effect pending further review of relevant scientific evidence and reported events, officials said.
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Jonathan Woodson asked the surgeons general of the military services to conduct a review of available scientific evidence and adverse event reports (AERs) to better understand any potential relationship between DMAA and these events. Recommendations from this review will guide further decisions, officials said.
"We support the decision of the Military Exchanges and Commissaries to remove products containing DMAA from their shelves until we can make a further determination about the safety of this ingredient," said Michael Kilpatrick, the deputy director of Force Health Protection and Readiness Programs with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection and Readiness.
"We are concerned about reports of heat illness, kidney (and) liver damage, and sudden death in service members who reportedly used products containing DMAA," Kilpatrick said.
DMAA is a vasoconstrictor and central nervous system stimulant. Opponents argue it is an amphetamine-like ingredient that poses a serious health risk and has potentially life-threatening side effects.
As for the lawsuit
A California class action lawsuit claims bodybuilding and weight management supplements from Florida-based BPI Sports contained undisclosed 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA), an amphetamine-like ingredient that poses a serious health risk and has potentially life-threatening side effects, according to the suit.
As reported in Courthouse News, plaintiffs Clint Eskenski and Camden Brady allege BPI's best-selling products, "1.M.R" powder and tablets, "RoxyLean ECA" and "Rx6"' (marketed for bodybuilding and weight loss) contain the dangerous stimulant, which they were unaware of when they bought the products. The lawsuit says BPI failed to inform consumers of the DMAA content of its products, and accuses the company of selling synthetic DMAA even though it is marketed as an extract of geranium oil.
The plaintiffs seek restitution and class damages for consumer law violations, unfair competition, false and misleading advertising, breach of express warranty and breach of implied warranty.
DMAA is banned by several athletic organizations, including the World Anti-Doping Agency and Major League Baseball. It is illegal to sell in many countries, including Canada and New Zealand. The lawsuit says the ingredient is supposedly derived from the oil of the geranium plant, however the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Board conducted a review of DMAA earlier this year and reported scientific literature determined no credible evidence showed the constituent is found in geranium species (Pelargonium spp.).
http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/news/2011/11/lawsuit-claims-supplement-contained-dmaa.aspx
