First they took ³andro² supps off the market, and now they want your
DHEA. As I predicted, emboldened by their successful removal of andro
supp and ephedra, less controversial supps like DHEA are now on their
hit list. I have never taken an andro supp in my life, nor am I a
particularly big fan of andro, but I knew it was a slippery slope from
what I didn¹t use (andro or ephedra) to what I did use (DHEA, creatine,
etc.) and recommended people contact their reps regarding this issue.
Some took the ³I don¹t use andro, why should I care?² attitude. Don¹t
think for a second that creatine and many other favorite supps wont be
on their hit list if DHEA is successfully removed from the market, even
though it has 20 plus years of safety data. You have been warnedŠ
________________________________________
6/13/2005 - The National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) is
stepping up its campaign over a bill that would classify DHEA
(dehydroepiandrosterone) as an anabolic steroid and lead to its
withdrawal from the market.
The industry body is calling on consumers to register their opposition
to bill S. 1137, introduced on 26 May by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA),
with senators and representatives.
Dietary supplements containing DHEA, which is derived from a plant in
the wild yam family, have been on the market for over 20 years. But this
history of use by older Americans to help alleviate the symptoms of a
number of health conditions could come to an end if Grassley's bill
becomes law, and DHEA becomes a federally-controlled substance.
Grassley refered to DHEA as an ³anabolic steroid that can be bought by
anyoneŠ that may cause a number of long term physical and psychological
effects, including: heart disease, cancer, stroke, liver damage, severe
acne, baldness, dramatic mood swings, aggression etc."
NNFA¹s description could not be more different, however: ³DHEA is not an
anabolic steroid,² it said. ³It is a naturally occurring hormone that
has a wide range of benefits, including maintaining muscle strength and
strong bones, boosting immunity, and improving mood and sleep patterns.²
DHEA occurs naturally in the blood of young people. Levels have been
shown to peak between the ages of 20 and 30 years, but decrease
progressively thereafter. It is known to break down into various sex
hormones, including testosterone, which helps build muscle.
Recent investigations into the potential benefits of supplementation
include a study published in this February¹s issue of the Archives of
General Psychiatry, suggesting that DHEA may be an effective alternative
to traditional anti-depressants for sufferers of midlife-onset major or
minor depression.
Last year researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine
wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association that DHEA could
play a role in the prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome
associated with abdominal obesity.
Much more research into DHEA is needed however, as it has also been
linked to build-up of cholesterol in the arteries, raising risk of heart
disease.
Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern
California have also warned athletes against using DHEA to improve their
performance, as the testosterone created from DHEA does not stay long in
the blood, they said, but instead breaks down into other hormones
associated with prostate gland growth.
--
Will Brink @ http://www.brinkzone.com/