FDA issues warning telling consumers to stay away from DMAA.

The Boston Globe (4/12, Kotz, 250K) reports in its "Daily Dose" blog that "the US Food and Drug Administration issued a harsh warning on Thursday against energy drinks and supplements containing dimethylamylamine (DMAA) telling consumers to stay away from it while adding that the agency was 'using all available tools at its disposal' to ensure that it's no longer sold on the marketplace." The American Academy of Pediatrics has said that over a third of kids consume energy drinks. "It's time for the FDA to crack down on these drink makers and for the FTC to investigate advertising practices of these companies to ensure that kids and parents are not being subjected to deceptive marketing practices," said Massachusetts Congressman and Senate candidate Edward Markey. The FDA has been attempting to more clearly distinguish between energy beverages and dietary supplements for the past four years.

        In a preview of Friday night's upcoming broadcast, NBC News Rock Center (4/12, Klein, Specter, Taylor, 4.13M) adds that a supplement called Jack3d has gained popularity among some fitness enthusiasts for its use of 1,3 dimethylamylamine, or DMAA, which the FDA says is illegal. "The FDA has received 86 adverse event reports believed to be linked to DMAA," but Dr. Daniel Fabricant, director of the division of dietary supplements programs at the FDA, says banning it would be difficult. "We don't have pre-market approval…we don't evaluate [dietary supplement] products for safety or efficacy prior to them going to market," he stated. DMAA is even available at local retailers like GNC.