Don't believe the hype

 In April of 2012 the FDA released a warning letter to ten manufacturers who produce dietary supplements that contain dimethylamylamine (DMAA) that their products may not be safe and possibly no longer be sold.  DMAA is essentially a stimulant and has effects that mimic other popular stimulants such as ephedra and caffeine.  Typically stimulants increase heart rates, blood pressure and have effects on the central nervous system aka 'focus'.  These products are marketed to increase energy levels, burn extra body fat and otherwise get your motor running in the gym.

 Unfortunately, DMAA has been in the news as the cause of about five deaths. Notably there was a 22 year old US Army solider and a 30 year old marathon runner among the deceased.  In the 2012 FDA press release reported that "The agency has received 42 adverse event reports on products containing DMAA. While the complaints do not establish that DMAA was the cause of the incidents, some of the reports have included cardiac disorders, nervous system disorders, psychiatric disorders, and death". In response  to the recent reports several governing bodies have banned DMAA, including Major League Baseball (they're already a mess when it comes to drugs), the World Anti-doping agency, and the NCAA. Additionally products containing DMAA have been removed from all military base stores. 

 What I'm not here to do is bash the sports supplement industry and claim there is some big conspiracy.  We are a drug obsessed culture and the manufacturers are giving us what we want.  We need pills to wake up and pills to go to sleep. Also of the handful of deaths there are thousands of people who take these supplements reportedly symptom free.  Even the Army is not fully convinced saying it is 'too soon' to tell the relationship between DMAA and these deaths.  Finally, people take these supplements because it gives them the results they want.  

 The point here is people should be reading the back of supplement labels as much they read the front.  The sports supplement industry is a multi billion dollar business and they spend a lot of time and money marketing and defending their products.  (Admittedly, most of their ads are laughably stupid. "Are you ready to declare war on the weight room?" and 'Do you want monster extreme totally rad barely legal guns bulging out of your shirts??!!" Um, I guess so.....) I'd suggest talking with your doctor and reading up something before you start any supplementation.

Do You Even Lift Bro?