Label Review: Metab-o-Lite®
Label Review: Metab-o-Lite®
With Comments by Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD
Package Information
"Thermogenic dietary supplement for METABOLISM and ENERGY with ephedra"
Suggested Usage
Only for use by, and sale to, adults 18 years of age and older: 1 bottle per serving. Do not exceed two (2) bottles in a four (4) hour period and eight (8) bottles per day. This product contains 12 mg concentrated ephedrine group alkaloids per serving in the form of herbal extracts. DO NOT EXCEED 100 mg ephedrine alkaloids from the combination of all sources per day—it will not improve results.
Supplement Facts
Serving size: 1 bottle (10.5 fl oz, 310 mL)
Amount per serving % Daily Value
Calories 220
Calories from fat 25
Total fat 3 g 5%
Saturated fat 2 g 10%
Cholesterol 10 mg 4%
Total carbohydrate 40 g 13%
Dietary fiber 5 g 20%
Sugars 35 g *
Protein 10 g
Vitamin A 2,000 IU 40%
Vitamin C 60 mg 100%
Vitamin D 160 IU 40%
Vitamin E 30 IU 100%
Vitamin K 20 mcg 25%
Thiamin (vitamin B1) 0.53 mg 35%
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) 0.6 mg 35%
Niacin 7 mg 35%
Vitamin B6 0.7 mg 35%
Folic acid 120 mg 30%
Vitamin B12 2.1 mcg 35%
Biotin 105 mcg 35%
Pantothenic acid 3.5 mg 35%
Calcium 400 mg 40%
Iron 7.2 mg 40%
Phosphorus 600 mg 60%
Iodine 52.5 mcg 35%
Magnesium 140 mg 35%
Zinc 2.25 mg 15%
Selenium 17.5 mcg 25%
Manganese 0.7 mg 35%
Chromium 42 mcg 35%
Molybdenum 26 mcg 35%
Sodium 360 mg 15%
Potassium 525 mg 15%
Ephedrine alkaloids 12 mg
from Ephedra (Ma-Huang) extract (aeriel parts)
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
* Daily Value not established.
Ingredients: Skim milk, sugar, chicory fiber (inulin), sweet cream, cocoa, dimagnesium phosphate, natural and artificial flavors, sodium ascorbate, mono- and diglycerides, sodium phosphate, ephedra (ma-huang) extract (aeriel parts), calcium carbonate, sodium citrate, sodium hexametaphosphate, carrageenan, di-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, ferric orthophosphate, zinc gluconate, niacinaminde, salt, calcium d-pantothenate, manganese, sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, retinyl palmitate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, biotin, chromium chloride, sodium selenite, sodium molybdate, phytonadione, potassium iodide, cyanocobalamin, and cholecalciferol.
Warning: Do not use if pregnant or nursing. If you have, or have a family history of, heart disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, recurrent headaches, depression or other psychiatric condition, glaucoma, difficulty in urinating, prostate enlargement, or seizure disorder, consult a health care provider before using this product. Do not use if you are using monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or for two weeks after stopping an MAOI drug; certain drugs for depression, psychiatric or emotional conditions; drugs for Parkinson’s disease, methyldopa, or any product containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenyl-propanolamine (ingredients found in allergy, asthma, cough/cold, and weight control products). Stop use and call a health care professional immediately if dizziness, severe headache, rapid nausea, noticeable changes in behavior, or loss of consciousness occur. Discontinue use at least two weeks prior to surgery. Exceeding recommended dosage or consuming products with caffeine may cause serious adverse health effects, including heart attack and stroke. The maximum recommended dosage of ephedrine for a healthy adult human is no more than 100 mg in a 24-hour period for not more than 12 weeks.
Keep out of reach of children.
This supplement has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Distributed by Richardson Labs, Inc., Boca Raton, FL 33487 USA. Telephone: (888) 776-5383.
Price: $2.49/bottle
Comments
Now here’s a weight loss product for people who can’t add. At 220 calories a drink, drinking eight bottles would add 1,760 calories to daily intake, a hefty caloric load for someone trying to lose weight. Of even more concern is the amount of ephedrine in this product: 12 mg ephedrine/bottle (or 96 mg/8 bottles).
Health care practitioners should discourage the use of any ephedrine-containing products for weight loss, bodybuilding, or energy. An orally active sympathomimetic amine, ephedrine is an a-1 agonist and a non-selective b-agonist. One hundred forty adverse events associated with ephedra-containing products were reported to the Food and Drug Administration between June 1997 and March 1999; among cases considered definitely, probably, or possibly related (62%), 10 deaths and 13 cases of permanent disability resulted.1 Most adverse events involved cardiovascular symptoms (most commonly hypertension, followed by palpitations or tachycardia) and central nervous system effects (stroke and seizures).
Although this product contains appropriate warnings, there is no evidence that the upper limit of intake recommended (100 mg) is safe. In fact, it is not clear that any dose of ephedra is safe; many adverse effects have occurred with doses of ephedra alkaloids of less than 60 mg/d, and one death from cardiac arrest occurred in a 38-year-old male with no known concurrent risks who was consuming about 20 mg ephedrine daily.1
There also is no good evidence that ephedra is effective for weight loss. Ephedra increases thermogenesis, as do many sympathomimetic agents, but results from trials of ephedra or ephedra/caffeine combination products have been mixed and have shown significant adverse effects (see Table and Alternative Therapies in Women’s Health November 2000 for more information on ephedra and weight loss).
Ephedra is used in small doses in traditional Chinese medicine as well as in Western herbal medicine, primarily for respiratory problems; this use does not appear to be dangerous. Virtually all adverse effects reported with ephedra alkaloids have been associated with products for weight loss, exercise enhancement, energy enhancement, or recreational use.
References
1. Haller CA, Benowitz NL. Adverse cardiovascular and central nervous system events associated with dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1833-1838.
2. Boozer CN, et al. An herbal supplement containing Ma Huang-Guarana for weight loss: A randomized, double-blind trial. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2001; 25:316-324.
3. Molnar D, et al. Safety and efficacy of treatment with an ephedrine/caffeine mixture. The first double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study in adolescents. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000;24:1573-1578.
4. Buemann B, et al. The effect of ephedrine plus caffeine on plasma lipids and lipoproteins during a 4.2 MJ/day diet. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1994;18:329-332.
5. Breum L, et al. Comparison of an ephedrine/caffeine combination and dexfenfluramine in the treatment of obesity. A double blind multi-centre trial in general practice. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1994;18: 99-103.
6. Astrup A, et al. The effect and safety of an ephedrine/ caffeine compound compared to ephedrine, caffeine and placebo in obese subjects on an energy-restricted diet. A double blind trial. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 199216:269-277.
7. Astrup A, et al. The effect of ephedrine/caffeine mixture on energy expenditure and body composition in obese women. Metabolism 1992;41:686-688.
8. Daly PA, et al. Ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin: Safety and efficacy for treatment of human obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1993;17(Suppl 1):S73-S78.
9. Mancini MC, et al. Ephedrine, caffeine and aminophylline preparation (ECA): An alternative in the treatment of obesity. Int J Obes Rel Metab Disord 1990;14(suppl 2):141.
10. Pasquali R, Casimirri F. Clinical aspects of ephedrine in the treatment of obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1993;17(Suppl 1):S65-S68.
11. Cesari MP. The therapeutic dilemma of ephedrine in obesity and the inefficacy of caffeine. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1989;13(Suppl1):152.
Fugh-Berman A. Metab-o-lite. Altern Ther Women's Health 2002;4:38-40.Subscribe Now for Access
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