Adverse Cardiovascular and Central Nervous System Events Associated with Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedra Alkaloids

Abstract

The use of dietary supplements that contain ephedra alkaloids may pose a health risk to some persons. These findings indicate the need for a better understanding of individual susceptibility to the adverse effects of such dietary supplements.

Searching for ways to switch on brown fat: are we getting warmer?

“…Their validity as pharmacological targets to increase thermogenesis are supported by the effectiveness of drugs such as ephedrine and sibutramine at increasing sympathetic nerve activity to increase metabolic rate and reduce body weight (Finer et al 2000). Unfortunately, these drug-based strategies also result in the promiscuous over-stimulation of adrenergic receptors expressed in the cardiovascular system (Haller & Benowitz 2000, Torp-Pedersen et al 2007). As such, unacceptable increases to the risk of stroke and heart attack have precluded their continued use in humans.…”

Herbal Medicine and False-Positive Results on Lymphocyte Transformation Test

“…Whether there was a causal relationship between the use of Kampo medication and the occurrence of liver injury was assessed according to the criteria described by Haller et al, 15) independently from the results of the LTT. Namely, the patients with liver injury were divided into 6 groups: deˆnitely related, probably related, possibly related, insu‹cient information, probably unrelated and deˆnitely unrelated to Kampo medication.…”

“…When the course of events was highly inconsistent with the known course of drug-induced liver injury, or when hepatitis did not recur upon readministration of the``suspect'' Kampo medicine, the liver disorder was considered``deˆnitely unrelated'' (for example, in cases of liver disorders that persisted long after the use of a Kampo medicine had been discontinued). 15) Lymphocyte Transformation Test Results of lymphocyte transformation tests (LTTs) for herbs were reviewed in the``deˆnitely unrelated'' group. LTTs were performed during the admission period as described previously 17) by Bio Medical Laboratories (BML, Inc. Japan).…”

Fast Ephedrine Quantification by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

“…2,3 An ephedrine overdose usually causes a stroke, heart attack and addiction. 4,5 Ephedrine abuse is also widespread among amateur and professional athletes to improve performance (doping). 6 Because ephedrines are classical medicines and easily accessible, the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) included these compounds in their list of prohibited substances with a threshold concentration in urine.…”