The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) issued a statement in response to a new analysis, “A Synthetic Stimulant Never Tested in Humans, 1,3-dimethylbutylamine (DMBA), is Identified in Multiple Dietary Supplements,” published online in Drug Testing and Analysis.
Steve Mister, president & CEO, CRN, said the council agrees with the authors of this analysis that is an illegal dietary ingredient and therefore should not be used in dietary supplements.
“In fact, last month, CRN formally requested that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigate the regulatory status of this ingredient, marketed as Amp or Amp Citrate. If, in fact, this product is an illegal dietary ingredient, FDA has ample authority under the law to take it off the market, and we would support that,” said Mister.
The council president urged the agency to consider the potential dangers of this product, given it is a similar substance, in chemical structure and in effect, to DMAA, an ingredient already prohibited by FDA from use in dietary supplements. “Beyond the questionable regulatory status of using DMBA in supplements, if the agency determines this ingredient presents a safety risk, it has numerous enforcement tools available under the law, and we would urge FDA to take swift action against companies that put consumers at risk,” said Mister.
Mister said consumers also need to be smart about the sports nutrition supplements they choose. “We recommend they avoid products containing DMBA, as well as other so-called supplement products marketed as alternatives to a banned substance or with promises of drug-like effects,” said Mister. “There are many safe and beneficial sports nutrition supplement products on the market, and consumers would be wise to talk with their healthcare practitioner about what products are right for them.”
For more information, visit www.crnusa.org.
