WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense has implemented a temporary
moratorium on the sales of products containing DMAA within military
facilities.
The moratorium will remain in effect pending further review of relevant
scientific evidence and reported events, officials said.
Recent reports show that two Soldier deaths and additional adverse health
effects in other service members may be related to the use of dietary
supplements containing DMAA, which is also known as dimethylamylamine.
"We support the decision of the Military Exchanges and Commissaries to remove
products containing DMAA from their shelves until we can make a further
determination about the safety of this ingredient," said Dr. Michael
Kilpatrick, the deputy director of Force Health Protection and Readiness
Programs with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Force Health Protection and Readiness.
DMAA is sold as a single supplement and in combination with multiple other
ingredients. In particular, it is often combined with caffeine, a legal,
natural stimulant. Stimulants may accelerate metabolism, heart rate and blood
pressure, which may increase the body's production of heat, especially in hot
and humid conditions.
"We are concerned about reports of heat illness, kidney (and) liver damage,
and sudden death in service members who reportedly used products containing
DMAA," Kilpatrick said.
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Jonathan Woodson asked
the surgeons general of the military services to conduct a review of
available scientific evidence and adverse event reports to better understand
any potential relationship between DMAA and these events. Recommendations
from this review will guide further decisions, officials said.
"We take the health of our service members and families very seriously, and
believe this action is necessary as a precautionary measure until we can
learn more," said Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, the Army surgeon general.