More on Jack3d and OxyElite Pro

We recently wrote about “The lure of Jack3d” and answered a “Question from the Field” about OxyElite Pro. Jack3d is marketed as a pre-workout supplement and OxyElite Pro is marketed as a fat-burner product. Both contain the ingredient 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA). Since we last wrote about both products, there have been new reports about DMAA.

Makers of Jack3d and OxyElite Pro claim that DMAA is a “natural constituent” of the geranium plant. DMAA has been identified on many herbal product labels as being derived from geranium oil, stem, or extract, but review of the scientific literature has not found this to be true. Recently, the American Herbal Products Association announced that products containing DMAA (which can also be seen on labels as 1,3-dimethlypentlyamine, methylhexaneamine, or MHA, in addition to 1,3-dimethylamylamine) cannot be labeled as geranium oil or any part of the geranium plant. The use of DMAA in these products has been allowed due to the purported belief that it is a natural constituent of geranium oil, which is allowed in foods. If it is not a natural constituent of geranium oil, it will not be acceptable in dietary supplements or foods. Health Canada recently announced that DMAA will no longer be classified as a natural health product and therefore will not be acceptable as a substance in foods or dietary supplements. Health Canada has shared this information with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which has banned this substance to athletes, and with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Caution is advised when using dietary supplement products that contain DMAA, as health inspectors have found high levels in many products. As we previously reported, DMAA is thought to have stimulant effects, and there has been a case report of a 21-year old male who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage after taking DMAA and caffeine capsules together. Due to the new finding that DMAA does not appear to be a constituent of the geranium plant, we may soon find changes in products with this substance sold in the U.S.