Weight-Loss Product May Pose Risk

Americans should not consume some older versions of the dietary supplement Nature’s Nutrition Formula One products, the Food and Drug Administration warned this week, saying they pose a potentially serious health risk. The warning came after more than 100 reports of injuries, ranging from heart attacks to hepatitis, and several deaths among people who used the weight-loss and energy-enhancement products. The FDA said the products, sold by Alliance U.S.A., are labeled as containing the Chinese herb ma huang and caffeine-bearing kola nut. The FDA said the cocktail of ephedrine, an amphetamine-like chemical found in ma huang , and the caffeine from kola nuts poses a danger even when the supplement is used as directed.

The FDA said it issued the warning because Richardson, Tex.-based Alliance did not recall the product as requested by the agency last November. Alliance contended that a recall was not needed because the product is no longer on store shelves. However, the FDA received reports of sales last month, and it noted that consumers may still have unused Formula One at home.

Alliance has changed the recipe of Formula One, now selling a supplement that contains only ma huang. The FDA is not warning against use of that product. Consumers can tell the two versions apart by reading the ingredient list. The agency added that it is continuing to evaluate the safety of the ephedrine-containing products produced or distributed by Alliance and other companies.

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