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CNN Live Saturday
Sanjay Gupta Takes A Closer Look At Ephedra
Aired August 02, 2003 - 14:42 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.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In today's "Paging Dr. Gupta" the federal government is being asked to ban a popular herbal supplement, ephedra. Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a closer look now at the controversial product and why there is a push to take it off the market.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Baltimore Oriroles pitcher Steve Bechler was one of 12 million Americans who used ephedra. In February he died of heat stroke during a practice after taking the supplement.
His family blames the ephedra and they filed a law suit against the company that made the type he used. His parents testified last week on Capital Hill asking the FDA to ban ephedra.
PAT BECHLER, MOTHER OF STEVE BECHLER: We need to get this off the market. We've got to help other children. They want the extra boost, thinking they can be better athletes. And it doesn't. Please let get this out of the hands of children.
GUPTA: The Food and Drug Administration reports a 123 deaths have been linked to ephreda. The American Medical Association wants the herb taken off the market. Manufactures and industries support groups say ephredra supplements are safe as long as taken as directed.
RICHARD KREIDER, EPHEDRA EDUCATION COUNCIL: If it was dangerous in a clinical study showed it was dangerous it would have already been pulled off the market. Ephedra is not for everybody, but there are millions of people who take it effectively with out any side effects.
GUPTA: The NCAA the International Olympic Committee and the NFL have all banned the use of ephedra. Last weekend Denver Bronco Lee Flowers was suspended for testing positive for ephedra.
Flowers said he wasn't aware the supplement was in his system. He said his positive test stemmed from a vitamin he took back in December. He also critised the NFL drug policy.
LEE FLOWERS, DENVER BRONCOS: I would have been better off smoking crack, I'm being honest with you, because I would have gotten a slap on the wrist. And that is a damn shame that you know here is something that we don't know what is going into these vitamins, but I can go out here and smoke crack and you know...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You smoke crack. GUPTA: Major League Baseball the NBA and the NHL do not ban ephedra. The FDA is still debating what to do about it. Dr Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 2, 2003 - 14:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In today's "Paging Dr. Gupta" the federal government is being asked to ban a popular herbal supplement, ephedra. Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a closer look now at the controversial product and why there is a push to take it off the market.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Baltimore Oriroles pitcher Steve Bechler was one of 12 million Americans who used ephedra. In February he died of heat stroke during a practice after taking the supplement.
His family blames the ephedra and they filed a law suit against the company that made the type he used. His parents testified last week on Capital Hill asking the FDA to ban ephedra.
PAT BECHLER, MOTHER OF STEVE BECHLER: We need to get this off the market. We've got to help other children. They want the extra boost, thinking they can be better athletes. And it doesn't. Please let get this out of the hands of children.
GUPTA: The Food and Drug Administration reports a 123 deaths have been linked to ephreda. The American Medical Association wants the herb taken off the market. Manufactures and industries support groups say ephredra supplements are safe as long as taken as directed.
RICHARD KREIDER, EPHEDRA EDUCATION COUNCIL: If it was dangerous in a clinical study showed it was dangerous it would have already been pulled off the market. Ephedra is not for everybody, but there are millions of people who take it effectively with out any side effects.
GUPTA: The NCAA the International Olympic Committee and the NFL have all banned the use of ephedra. Last weekend Denver Bronco Lee Flowers was suspended for testing positive for ephedra.
Flowers said he wasn't aware the supplement was in his system. He said his positive test stemmed from a vitamin he took back in December. He also critised the NFL drug policy.
LEE FLOWERS, DENVER BRONCOS: I would have been better off smoking crack, I'm being honest with you, because I would have gotten a slap on the wrist. And that is a damn shame that you know here is something that we don't know what is going into these vitamins, but I can go out here and smoke crack and you know...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You smoke crack. GUPTA: Major League Baseball the NBA and the NHL do not ban ephedra. The FDA is still debating what to do about it. Dr Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
