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CNN Live Today
FDA Calls for More Research Into Ephedra Products
Aired June 14, 2002 - 13:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We want to bring you up-to-date on that ephedra component used in dietary supplements that has used created a lot of controversy and a lot of adverse effects from illness to death. Our Rea Blakey has the latest on the decision evolving the ephedra supplement -- Rea.
REA BLAKEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, you could say that there is no decision at this very moment. The Food and Drug Administration is not announcing on ephedra products today. Instead, it's calling for more scientific research.
Now, that comes as a major blow to consumer watchdogs, who had petitioned the FDA for an ephedra ban.
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DR. SIDNEY WOLFE, PUBLIC CITIZEN: This just happens to be the most dangerous herbal supplement, and even though the FDA is somewhat handicapped in regulating dietary supplements and herbals, this one is so dangerous that it really should come off the market.
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BLAKEY: Now, the FDA is also cracking down on the illegal marketing of synthetic ephedrine, which unlike herbal ephedra, is considered a drug. Therefore it's regulated by the FDA.
Now, six letters like this one have been sent to synthetic ephedrine product manufacturers, who are selling their product over the Internet. And at least one of the companies sells the products as alternatives to illicit street drugs, like ecstasy, cocaine and nep (ph). Those companies have about 15 days to tell the FDA how they are going to comply, i.e., get those products off the market, or face aggressive enforcement action.
As for the herbal ephedra, it already has warning labels in many cases, telling people with heart problems and high blood pressure that they should not take that medication. But the herbal ephedra industry wanted more out of the FDA today, including mandatory warning labels prohibiting sales to minors, and limits on the amounts of the supplement contained in each pill. The industry maintains that ephedra is effective for the right people, who take it in the right dose. Now, some of the latest research published in the "International Journal of Obesity" reports a study by obesity researcher, Dr. Carol Boozer. She found 160 healthy people taking an ephedra and caffeine combo for six months saw no adverse events. Now, many of the weight loss products contain that combination.
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DR. CAROL BOOZER, ST. LUKE'S-ROOSEVELT HOSPITAL: Using 24-hour blood pressure monitors and 24-hour heart monitors, we felt that if there had been negative effects in those areas, we would have found them.
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BLAKEY: Her work almost entirely funded by the ephedra product manufacturers, we must say, does conclude that ephedra is a safe weight loss tool -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much -- Rea Blakey coming from Washington -- appreciate that.
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