Diet Hormone Sale Halted

The Food and Drug Administration today ordered a halt to sale of DHEA, a steroidal hormone made from human urine, which has been promoted as a “natural” product for weight loss, enhanced sex life and even longer life.

The FDA directed manufacturers and distributors of Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, to stop selling the product because it lacks required federal approval for safety and effectiveness.

The agency said it has few adverse reaction reports associated with the product, which has been on the market for more than a year, but long-term risks are unknown.

DHEA is manufactured from human urine. The FDA said studies have not determined what effect reintroducing this concentrated bodily excess into the body might produce.

“The chemical is of legitimate interest for both weight loss and cancer treatment,” said FDA spokesman Bruce Brown. “But as so often happens, when the health food industry hears about it they race into the market with an unproven and untested pitch to consumers.”

The FDA said it knows of at least 17 manufacturers and distributors that sell DHEA. About half of the distributors are in California. The largest distributor is General Nutrition of Pittsburgh.