Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 14:03:21 +1200

-----Original Message-----

From: USSW

Date: Tuesday, 3 March 1998 05:15

Subject: Risky supplements

In from the Silicone Angel.

Risky supplements

February 22, 1998 Web posted at: 11:26 p.m. EST (0426 GMT)

By The Associated Press Some supplements that the government and other experts warn can be risky:

* Ephedra: Also called ma huang, epitonin and sida cordifolia, it contains stimulants known chemically as ephedrine. The Food and Drug Administration has 900 reports of side effects, including heart palpitations and psychosis, heart attacks and strokes. Several states have banned ephedrine-containing supplements. Federal limitations are pending.

* Chaparral: Sold as teas and pills to fight cancer and "purify blood," it has been linked to serious liver damage. FDA has recorded two deaths and 10 cases of hepatitis or other liver abnormalities in users.

* Comfrey: Banned in Canada and severely restricted in Germany, comfrey root originated as a poultice to reduce swelling but later was used internally. It contains alkaloids toxic to the liver, and animal studies suggest it is carcinogenic, said Varro Tyler, an emeritus professor at Purdue University and author of "The Honest Herbal." FDA knows of one death.

* DHEA: A hormone that turns into estrogen and testosterone inside the body. The National Institutes of Health says there is no evidence that DHEA fights aging as it claims, and warns that it could increase cancer risk and may lead to liver damage even when taken briefly. FDA records show 31 reports of possible DHEA side effects, from fainting to hepatitis.

* "Dieter's teas:" Herbal blends containing such ingredients as senna -- also known as cassia angustifolia -- aloe, rhubarb root, buckthorn, cascara and castor oil. They act as laxatives that, when consumed in excessive amounts, can disrupt potassium levels to endanger the heart. The teas are linked to diarrhea, vomiting, chronic constipation and fainting, and the FDA knows of four young women who died after excessive consumption. Spurred by California law, some manufacturers are adopting warning labels.

* Pennyroyal: A member of the mint family, it induces abortion. The FDA knows of one woman who died of cardiac arrest in 1994 while attempting a pennyroyal abortion.

* Sassafrass: Once a flavoring for root beer, the oil is banned as a U.S. food additive. But sassafras still is sold as a supplement to make "tonics" and teas. "It's never been proven to be good for anything," Tyler said, but has been shown to cause liver cancer in animals.

Possible dangerous interactions Other supplements may interact dangerously with medicines:

* Eating lots of licorice root, a popular herb also found in some licorice candies, speeds potentially serious potassium loss when used with laxatives.

* Flax seed can delay absorption of medicines.

* Kava kava can increase the effects of alcohol and certain psychological drugs.

* High doses of Vitamin E cause bleeding in people taking blood thinners. So can bromelain, a pineapple enzyme used as a digestive aid.

High doses of vitamins and minerals sold in some supplements also can cause serious side effects:

* Vitamin A: High doses during pregnancy can cause birth defects. Also, doses of 25,000 International Units a day can cause severe liver injury, headaches and joint pain.

* Vitamin D: Consuming for several months doses 10 times the daily recommended allotment of 10 micrograms can cause dangerously high calcium levels and lead to kidney damage. Early symptoms are vomiting and increased thirst.

* Vitamin C: Doses higher than 1,000 milligrams a day can cause diarrhea and kidney stones.

* Iron: One of the most frequent causes of fatal poisonings in children who take supplements meant for adults. High doses in adults also are linked to heart disease.

* Selenium: Supplements of 5 to 50 milligrams a day can cause nausea, loss of hair and nails and nerve damage.