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Circle The WagonsIf you've never used a supplement that contains ephedra, you might not be concerned about the recent announcement that ephedra has been banned by the FDA. But this drastic measure goes way beyond the outlawing of just one herb. An Associated Press headline made that clear on the last day of 2003: "Ephedra Ban Puts Industry On Notice - Move Shows Government Will Crack Down On Supplements." If you value your freedom to make your own choices about what dietary supplements you take, brace yourself. We are now officially under fire. ------------------------------------------------- So exactly what are we losing? ------------------------------------------------- "If there ever were an indication that the drug companies control what agents we can and cannot acquire, the ephedra scandal is it." That was the opening line of an e-mail I received last week from HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., who added: "The simple proof of drug company influence is that far higher doses of the (concentrated) synthetic analog of ephedra herb are still available, and in far higher doses per pill than the herbal form. Ever heard of Sudafed? It stands for 'pseudo-ephedrine,' and is available in any drugstore, 7/11, or Jiffy Mart you choose to enter, with no limit on the dose you might want to take." Dr. Spreen also makes the point (which you've heard here before) that hundreds of people die every year due to complications associated with aspirin and acetaminophen. That's more people every year than have died in ephedra-related deaths total. Yet, last summer, Congress held an emotional, high-profile hearing about ephedra side effects. Have you ever heard of any such hearings about aspirin? No. And as long as giant drug companies continue their very aggressive and well funded lobbying efforts you never will. ------------------------------------------------- One of the worst aspects of the campaign to ban ephedra is the way the dietary supplement industry has been portrayed as reckless. But just the opposite is true. In fact, supplement manufacturers have provided perfectly adequate self-regulation of their industry. For instance, without any laws being passed, and without any FDA directives, guidelines for ephedra dosage and label warnings were drafted in 1994 by the American Herbal Products Association, in collaboration with the National Nutritional Food Association. The draft was revised and adopted in 2000 by the Consumer Health Products Association. What NO ONE can regulate is the way people use supplements. You simply can't protect customers who ignore warning labels or use products at dosages much higher than recommended. ------------------------------------------------- Hopefully the t's and i's of this rule WILL be challenged and severely tested. Because behind the familiar accusations about this "dangerous" herb is the lesser-known truth about its altered forms and the way those forms have been seriously misused. So in spite of the fact that the ban sounds like it's signed, sealed and delivered, there may still be one more hurdle. If that hurdle is easily jumped, I think we can fully expect FDA officials to press even harder to increase the agency's regulatory powers over the supplement industry. And you can be sure that nothing would please the drug companies more. Sources: "FDA Announces Plans to Prohibit Sales of Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedra" Food and Drug Administration press release, 12/30/03, fda.gov Copyright © 1997 - 2004 by Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C. |
