In a recent press release, the United States Defense Department announced that it is investigating dietary supplements containing Dimethylamylamine (DMAA), a popular body-building supplement/stimulant that has been compared to amphetamine and ephedrine.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the Navy Exchanges have recalled all fitness supplements containing DMAA, and the Army launched its safety review after two soldiers suffered heart attacks and died during fitness exercises. There also have been reports of liver and kidney failure, seizures, loss of consciousness, heat injury, and muscle breakdown, according to the Army.

DMAA has been marketed as an ingredient found naturally in Asian geraniums that can be safely used to increase workout energy and efficiency, but medical literature has documented its toxicity since the 1950s.

The most serious side effects associated with DMAA include:

• Death
• Heart Attack
• Cardiac Arrest
• Heat Stroke
• Seizure
• Kidney Failure
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Liver Failure
• Loss of Consciousness
• Heart Palpitations

DMAA was originally sold over the internet in 2006 and is widely used in the United States of America. General Nutrition Centers has reported sales of more than 440 million supplements containing DMAA since 2007. By claiming that DMAA is natural, manufacturers have been able to add the stimulant into products sold to service members while avoiding high costs associated with the process necessary to gain FDA approval (estimated to exceed $1 billion).

It has been banned by Canada and New Zealand as an unapproved synthetic drug, while Major League Baseball and the World Anti-Doping Agency  prohibit its use as a “performance-enhancing drug.” The supplements remain available in stateside stores and may also be obtained online. The American Herbal Products Association has also recently acknowledged that DMAA is a “synthetic ingredient not derived from geranium.”

DMAA has been listed as an ingredient in the following products marketed as workout performance boosters at GNC outlets in military exchange stores around the world: USPlabs Jack3d (Tropical Fruit and Lemon Lime), USPlabs OxyELITE Pro, Nutrex Research Lipo-6 Black (his and hers), Nutrex Research Lipo-6 Black Ultra Concentrate (his and hers), Nutrex Research Hemo-Rage Black Powder (Punch, Berry), iSatori PWR, Muscletech NeuroCore, Muscletech HydroxyStim, Fahrenheit Nutrition Lean EFX, Muscle Warfare Napalm, SNI Nitric Blast, BIORhythm SSIN Juice, MuscleMeds Code Red, SEI MethylHex 4,2, and Gaspari Nutrition Spirodex.

If you or a loved one used any of the DMAA products listed above and have been injured, you may have a claim. Call The Brad Hendricks Law Firm at (501) 221-0444 or (800) 603-5100 for a free confidential consultation to discuss your dietary supplement DMAA claim or lawsuit.

The Brad Hendricks Law Firm proudly serves clients throughout Arkansas, including Arkadelphia, Benton, Conway, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Texarkana, and West Memphis as well as numerous counties throughout the State of Arkansas, including Arkansas County, Baxter County, Benton County, Bradley County, Calhoun County, Clark County, Columbia County, Conway County, Crittenden County, Faulkner County, Garland County, Hempstead County, Hot Spring County, Izard County, Lawrence County, Lonoke County, Monroe County, Nevada County, Pike County, Poinsett County, Polk County, Pope County, Prairie County, Pulaski County, Saline County, Sharp County, Stone County, Washington County, White County, Woodruff County, and Yell County, and all other counties in the State of Arkansas.