Okay, since a lot of you guys come in here to genuinely discuss the State of Supplement Regulation in America, or often inquire as to what is going on with certain supplements, this is the place where we freely discuss the happenings and current events as well as things already accomplished. This also has a lot to do with you guys outside America in terms of ordering supplements as they must pass through customs (which I don't know if you know but if you're in America, phone ordering is a big way for the DEA to actually nab you, they do what's called "controlled deliveries" and that's how they busted Rodney St. Cloud, former New York Firefighter for Steroids), and how it affects International trade. I'll begin with letting you all in one some information I came across as to the History of the Ephedra ban. Oddly enough none of the Internet articles I read post this information, which is funny considering the Internet is the one place you can, but I've only found it in written word.
Which reminds me, keep in mind you younger guys that EVERYTHING your Government does here in America has to be filed Publically and is a matter of Public Record as technically they all answer to YOU. So if you know where to look you can find the proper documentation. I'll cite my sources tomorrow as I left the Article at work.
Apparently the MAIN study the FDA is basing their conclusions on the hazardous nature of Ephedra/Ephedrine in and of itself found NO evidence of long-term effects on blood-pressure or heart eurythmia that would suggest that anyone WITHOUT a pre-existin condition would be in any danger. The Doctors who conducted that specific study that they elusively refer to in their Final Ruling concluded there was nothing wrong with Ephedra use. What the FDA did was have THEIR contracted specialists review THIS study (as opposed to conducting studies of their own), and even more hilarious is that it appears that at least one of the FDA's own people disagreed that Ephedra was any long-term danger in people who were not afflicted by a pre-existing heart or liver condition, and used the Produc expressly as directed with proper medical supervision. In their final ruling they specifically use the words that their panel "in general" felt that there was evidence of significant long-term risk of health issues resulting from Ephedra use. If the results were that decisive, why did they need to use the words "in general", that suggests there was at least SOME disagreement even within their own system.
Now, I find it hilarious personally that this Association has the ability to ban a supplement based on their DISAGREEMENT with the evidence supplied to them by those who study the pharmacology of the supplement, as well as it's affects. Mind you NO STUDY has thus far to my knowledge gone longer than 6 months either.
Another funny thing about the current litigation is that the Judge that overturned the ban in Utah determined that the FDA had not shown sufficient evidence to warrant the supplement should be banned as a direct health-risk to responsible consumers. The problem with the whole 10mg thing is that the JUDGE stated 10mg in the ruling. This created a loophole for the FDA to uphold the ban for supplements containing higher doses. Had the Judge not stated 10mg specifically, there wouldn't be that dividing line.
This is how our Government is working. Now we've all heard the horror stories about the Pharmaceutical Industry. Another thing is financial gains even for private Companies are a matter of Public Record. So you can follow how much money from what Companies is going towards what. Look up information on how much money from what is now being called "Big Pharma" is going towards lobbying at the current moment. In the last two years it's almost doubled if memory serves me correctly. Mind you the Pharmaceutical Industry was already the biggest source of lobbying as it was, the numbers are to the point now where the FDA is basically dependant on an Industry it supposedly regulates. Ephedra is banned, Androstein is banned, neither can be DIRECTLY linked to Deaths or proven to be hazardous for the responsible consumer, and yet there are countless medications available for which a side-effect is DEATH, and the lists of these side-effects are often much worse than the initial condition. I mean anti-depressants are being perscribed that can invoke thoughts of SUICIDE.
It's getting out-of-hand, and has been for quite some time. But I tell you guys something. Money talks and bullshit walks. The only reason "Big Pharma" is getting away with this is because they're doing what Supplement, Nutrition, and even the Medical Community are not. They're unifying and paying the money necessary to get the Government on their side. Hopefully the newly formed Sports and Fitness Supplement Association (
http://www.sfsassociation.com/) and the USFA (
http://www.usfa.biz/) will be able to do something about it. But without public support these Companies just don't have the ability to fight the machine that has become the FDA.
One of the best ways to get involved is to find out what's going on with your Local Government and making this one of the issues the Politicians in your area must confront. How do they feel on it, what is their stance? Do they think our supplements should not be taken away and replaced with chemicals whose nature we have no idea of which basically makes us pharmaceutical guinea pigs? Get behind those who think this all sounds stupid.