Dangerous Ephedrine-like Stimulant Found in Popular Nutritional Supplements.
A dangerous stimulant called Oxilofrine has been found in 14 nutritional supplements sold across America.
What Is Oxilofrine?
Oxilofrine is an ephedrine-like substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and many other sports organizations.
Despite the ban, a recent study by NSF International revealed that the substance can be found in 14 over-the-counter nutritional supplements available for purchase at retail stores and online outlets across America.
This marks the fourth time in three years that NSF International has found unapproved stimulants in popular nutritional supplements.
The drug is particularly dangerous for adolescents. However, many of the tested supplements contained double the recommended level of adult dosage – so the effects could be “catastrophic” for anyone who takes the unlisted stimulant.
The Stimulants Are Disguised as Botanical Ingredients
Most of the supplements work the same way: they promise enormous weight loss benefits using “natural” ingredients. The ingredients label (if there is an ingredients label) claims that the supplements contain botanical and herbal extracts.
In reality, independent testing shows that these botanical and herbal ingredients can actually be unapproved stimulants.
People take these pills expecting natural weight loss benefits. Then, they may notice certain immediate health benefits: like greater energy, increased fat burning, and faster metabolism.
The pill may be working as advertised, but it’s not working in the way the manufacturer advertised. That’s a problem.
In many supplements, manufacturers have listed oxilofrine under ingredient names like “extract of Acacia” or under chemical names like methylsynephrine.
The US FDA Has Warned Several Companies
The FDA doesn’t strictly govern nutritional supplement sales in America.
However, on April 4, 2016, the US FDA sent warning letters to seven companies. The letters informed the manufacturers that their products contained oxilofrine without listing it on the label.
The study from NSF International was a joint project between Harvard Medical School, the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands (RIVM).
Oxilofrine Has Similar Effects to Ephedrine
Oxilofrine has been linked to some dangerous side effects – similar to a previous popular stimulant named ephedrine.
A long time ago, there was a diet pill ingredient called ephedrine. Ephedrine was banned by the FDA in 2004. It caused dramatic weight loss benefits: but it also put you at a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and other conditions.
Ever since, manufacturers have been searching for the next big diet pill ingredient. Other stimulants that have shown promise include DEPEA, DMAA, and DMBA. Oxilofrine is yet another replacement stimulant.
Oxilofrine does appear to have weight loss benefits. The problem is that manufacturers often use an unsafe dosage, leading to a greater risk of unwanted side effects. Reactions to Oxilofrine have included:
-Nausea and vomiting
-Tachycardia
-Chest pain
The approved dose of Oxilofrine is 125mg per day. Some of the tested supplements contained a daily dose of 250mg.
In total, the study from NSF International listed 26 adverse effects.
Adolescents Face a Serious Risk of Health Problems
Doctors are particularly concerned that adolescents who take the drug could put themselves at a greater risk of the above side effects:
“Adolescents who use these products might be placing themselves at risk of serious harm. The larger-than-adult doses we found might overstimulate their smaller, growing bodies,” said Dr. Pieter Cohen, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in the press release from NSF.
Dr. Cohen has conducted extensive research on supplements.
“In countries where oxilofrine is prescribed by doctors the usual amount of the drug for adolescents is 24 mg or less. We found amounts in supplements of oxilofrine more than three times higher than the usual pediatric dose. Combined with physical activity and other stimulants commonly found in supplements, the consequences could be catastrophic.”
One of the problems with nutritional supplements is that they can be purchased by anyone of any age. Most labels claim the products are not recommended for those below the age of 18, but that rarely prevents a purchase.
Which Supplements contain Oxilofrine?
NSF International has released the names of the affected supplements found to contain unlisted amounts of Oxilofrine. Those supplements include all of the following (along with their unlisted dosage of Oxilofrine and their labeled benefits).
— Hyper Drive 3.0 by ALR Industries, Contains 250 mg of Oxilofrine— Marketed as a “hardcore diet and energy aid”
— Ephedra Free Shredder by TBN Body Nutrition, 220 mg — “A killer ABS formula”
— Lean Pills by Line One Nutrition, 98 mg — “Fat burning”
— China White 25 Ephedra by Cloma Pharma Laboratories, 23 mg — “Energy, thermogenesis, alertness, fat burning”
— Ephedra Free Tummy Tuck by TBN Total Body Nutrition, 44 mg — “A killer ABS formula”
— Methyl Drive 2.0 by ANS, 35 mg — “Powerful thermogenic rush”
— Drop Factor by MTS Nutrition, 33 mg — “Thermogenic powerhouse”
— Fastin by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, 190 mg — “Pharmaceutical-grade weight loss aid for optimal diet and energy”
— Hypercor by Kat-a-lyst Nutraceuticals, 1.2 mg — “Metabolic formula”
— Exile by American Muscel Sports Nutrition Co., 25 mg — “Euphoric weight loss”
— Phenadrine by APS, 11 mg — “World’s strongest diet and energy diet”
— MethylDrene 25 Ephedra Elite Stack by Cloma Pharma Laboratories, .05 mg — “Super intense-hardcore version”
— Miami Lean by Skyline Nutrition, 02 mg — “Fat burner”
— Eliminator X by Rok Hard Body Sport Nutrition, .0003 mg — “Maximum strength formula”
In many of these supplements, Oxilofrine was labeled as acacia extract or as an “extract of Acacia rigidula”. Consumers may have purchased the diet pill believing it to be a natural nutritional supplement with gentle weight loss benefits.
In reality, these consumers were exposing themselves to a potentially dangerous dosage of a powerful stimulant. That stimulant isn’t naturally derived: it’s synthetically produced in a lab.
The above supplements can still be purchased from retail outlets across America – including retail locations and online stores.
As you can see, the supplements vary widely in terms of stimulant content – from as low as .0003mg of Oxilofrine to as much as 250mg – which is twice the adult dose.
