Dietary Supplements

Some dietary supplements are important for good health. Calcium can help to prevent osteoporosis, and pregnant women should take folic acid to prevent certain birth defects. However, other dietary supplement ingredients have been associated with adverse events. Ephedra, for example, which is sold as an energy booster or as a diet aid, is a cardiovascular and central nervous system stimulant that has been associated with adverse events such as heart attacks and strokes.

Chronology

Friday, February 06, 2004
Ephedra Substitutes May Pose Dangers
Stimulants sold as ephedra substitutes, not addressed by the pending FDA ban, may have adverse effects comparable to those of ephedra.
- Letter to HHS

Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Protecting Against Unsafe Dietary Supplements
Reps. Waxman, S. Davis, and Dingell introduce H.R. 3377, the Dietary Supplement Access and Awareness Act, to increase FDA's authority to protect consumers from those dietary supplements that pose health risks and preserve access to safe dietary supplements.
- Press Release

Friday, October 24, 2003
Questions on Safety of "Ephedra-Free" Supplements
Rep. Waxman asks FDA about concerns over the safety of stimulant ingredients in "ephedra-free" dietary supplements.
- Letter to FDA

Friday, October 17, 2003
HHS Again Asked to Protect Americans from Ephedra
Rep. Waxman and Sen. Durbin ask when HHS will follow the lead of three of the most populous states in the nation and several of the nation's largest retailers in banning the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements.
- Letter to HHS

Friday, February 21, 2003
Professional Sports Asked to Protect Players Against Ephedra
In the wake of the tragic death of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler, Rep. Waxman writes the commissioners of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League, as well as the Major League Baseball Players Association to ask why they have not acted to protect their players by prohibiting the use of ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Medical experts have linked these products to heatstroke, heart attacks, stroke, and seizures. The NFL, NCAA and International Olympic Committee already prohibit their use by athletes.
- Letter to MLB Players Association
- Letter to NBA Commissioner Stern
- Letter to NHL Commissioner Bettman
- Letter to MLB Commissioner Selig

Tuesday, October 08, 2002
Metabolife Records Show Company Knew of Adverse Health Effects
A report released by Sen. Durbin, Rep. Waxman, and Rep. Davis examines 13,000 adverse event reports received by Metabolife, the largest manufacturer of ephedra-containing dietary supplements. The records include nearly 2,000 reports of significant adverse reactions including deaths, heart attacks, and strokes
- The Report

Thursday, September 19, 2002
Concerns About Ephedra-Containing Supplements
Rep. Waxman and other members have written Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to share their concerns about ephedara-containing dietary supplements.
- Letter to HHS with Follow-up Questions
- HHS's Response
- Letter to HHS on the Dangers of Ephedra

Monday, September 10, 2001
Supplement Use and Protecting Consumers
Rep. Waxman and other members have also sent letters to other government officials and other groups asking for information about supplement use and the steps that have been taken to try to protect consumers.
- Letter to FDA on the Use of Ephedra-Containing Supplements by Athletes
- Letter to NCAA
- Letter to NFL
- Letter to Army Surgeon General
- Letter to Navy Surgeon General
- Letter to FDA on Kidney Failure and Aristolochic Acid
- Letter to FDA on BSE