U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are calling on the FDA to investigate manufacturers of dietary supplements who list "acacia rigidula" as an ingredient in their products. That phrase masks the addition of BMPEA, a dangerous synthetic amphetamine. A study released earlier this month in Analytical Chemistry found the drug in 11 out of 21 of over-the-counter dietary supplements. The supplements that contain BMPEA, or β-methylphenylethylamine, increased from 42.9% in 2012 to 52.4% in 2014. The Senators wrote, "for too long, dietary supplement manufacturers have either failed to list BMPEA on product labels or have listed the stimulant as a 'natural botanical' which the Food and Drug Administration's own scientists have disproved. Other countries and entities … [Read more...]

A new study published in Analytical Chemistry has revealed that an ingredient common in many dietary supplements, weight loss supplements, and workout supplements has never been studied for safety and efficacy in human beings. The ingredient is called β-methylphenylethylamine (BMPEA). It is chemically almost identical to amphetamines, so it is called an amphetamine isomer. Canadian health officials pulled supplements that contain BMPEA from store shelves in December 2014. But in the U.S., the FDA has said that the stimulant "does not identify a specific safety concern at this time." Many scientists disagree. In the United States, the multi-billion-dollar supplement industry is not well regulated. In fact, what is in the dietary supplement you buy doesn't always match the ingredient … [Read more...]