Class Action Suit Filed Against BPI Sports Over DMAA
LOS ANGELES (CN) – A class action claims Florida-based BPI Sports’ bodybuilding and dietary supplements “contain a dangerous amphetamine-like ingredient that poses a serious health risk and has potentially life-threatening side effects.”
… “At the time plaintiffs Clint Eskenazi and Camden Brady … purchased and used the products, they were unaware the products contained a dangerous stimulant, DMAA, the use of which is banned by several athletic organizations, and sale of which is completely prohibited in certain countries.
… “BPI failed to inform consumers that DMAA is a dangerous central nervous system stimulant which is banned by WADA, MLB, Canada and New Zealand, and that using the products can cause consumers to test positive for an illegal substance and/or amphetamine use.
… The plaintiffs say that DMAA has “extremely dangerous side effects.” Citing a Washington Post news report, the class claims that Don Caitlin, a “pre-eminent anti-doping scientist,” told the Post that DMAA is chemically similar to amphetamine and ephedrine, and can fatally raise the heart rate and blood pressure.
The natural products industry has already taken a strong stance against DMAA. It’s just a matter of time before US regulatory action follows, methinks.
November 18, 2011
I figured this would be coming eventually. There has been talk about a ban for a while now.
I have tried products with DMAA in the formula. I really don’t have any problems with it. As usuall, I’m sure a lot of people exceed the recommended dose.
November 18, 2011
I’ve never had a problem w/DMAA, either. But I have sampled formulas that definitely got me more wired than I cared to be – and at the recommended doses, no less. The industry as a whole tends to play with fire in order to appear edgy and hardcore, so I’m not too surprised when I see things like this.
November 18, 2011
I too, have tried DMAA supplements – and at the correct dose, absolutely love them. DMAA supps are HUGE sellers – check out the top sellers in the preworkout category for BodyBuilding.com…
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/goalpreworkout.htm
And GNC…
http://www.gnc.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3984282&cp=3593186
Anyone care to guess how many of tubs of Jacked have been sold? How many issues of adverse effects?
I bet it’s a tiny percentage. Love to see the evidence for the “extremely” dangerous side effects Mr. Caitlin mentions too; I haven’t seen any published evidence of ANY sort.
While the supplement industry can’t given a free pass for their role in this, this is a typical “the sky is falling” media response.
After all, it draws more eyeballs.
November 18, 2011
Caitlin is a media darling: he knows how to make things sound considerably more dire than they are. Take this quote, for example:
“The plaintiffs say that DMAA has “extremely dangerous side effects.” Citing a Washington Post news report, the class claims that Don Caitlin, a “pre-eminent anti-doping scientist,” told the Post that DMAA is chemically similar to amphetamine and ephedrine, and can fatally raise the heart rate and blood pressure.”
Well, a lot of compounds are “chemically similar to amphetamine and ephedrine.” Like the tyramine in my red wine, lol. It’s a diverse group, so “guilt by association” just doesn’t cut it. Caitlin’s supposed to be a scientist, and scientists deal in facts. So let’s see the AERs (adverse event reports) before talking about potential fatalities! The authors of this recent article ( http://www.nutraingredients.com/Industry/Time-to-act-on-unauthorised-DMAA-geranium-sports-products-in-Europe ) found NONE in the FDA database for 2008/2009.
Naturally, I agree that there are folks who shouldn’t take DMAA (just like ephedrine) and that warning labels should be more pronounced – particularly since DMAA is banned by a number of sports organizations. But the natural products/supplements industry is quite eager to see a ban: they’re scared s**tless of drawing more regulatory scrutiny, so throwing sports supps under the bus is a perfect way to appear “responsible,” and “self-policing.”
Of course, what will make or break DMAA is whether it’s DSHEA compliant. If it’s not (a strong possibility), then it will have to come off the supp market, regardless of any serious adverse effects.
November 19, 2011
I agree entirely. Ridiculous statements by Caitlin. Even caffeine can fatally raise the heart rate and blood pressure if you take enough of the stuff. It just annoys me that the press can’t be bothered to check ANYTHING. Nothing like phoning in your article…
November 19, 2011
I agree with both of you, as I said above. I also agree this looks like another one of those “let’s run that supplement out of town” ploys.
As you say Elissa, lets see some proof before we go throwing something under the bus.
May 5, 2012
It is a shame that the government is on the road to banning DMAA even though there are many other more harmful substance such as tobacco that are completely legal in the USA. Here is the most recent anti DMAA article http://www.cnbc.com/id/47266147 its pretty reactionary to say the least..
Fortunately creatine is still regarded as a safe ingredient and being one of the most effective as well so there will always be useful pre workout supplement products available to the public… that is until some ridiculous story gets published about creatine being dangerous…. lets not mention alcohol and tobacco though, right?
May 5, 2012
Thanks for the link to the cnbc article, Sam. Not surprised to see the companies re-formulating their products… I suspect the process was probably in the works even before the warning letters were sent – the FDA’s action isn’t coming from out of the blue.
Agree on the hypocrisy about tobacco. I watched my dad die of lung cancer – IMHO, no legal drug on the market even comes close to the death and debility caused by ciggies. But the tobacco industry has cash and legal firepower in spades, so they get a pass.
May 22, 2012
I hope this doesn’t happen I took ephedra for years never had a problem cause I didn’t over do it and I just found this product a month ago and it works almost as well as stackers.
May 22, 2012
Unfortunately, it is happening, Devon. The FDA recently sent out a series of warning letters to a range of supp companies, and more lawsuits have been filed. Although a few companies (USP Labs, in particular) seem willing to duke it out, I suspect it’s a losing battle.
And so it goes. A compound can’t be too effective, it seems.