Sports Supplements Can Be Contaminated with Botanical Stimulants and Anabolic Agents

Since ephedra was banned from dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2004, supplement manufacturers have begun promoting botanical compounds with stimulant or anabolic properties, including α-yohimbine, methylliberine, halostachine, turkesterone (a plant steroid), and octopamine. Investigators studied 57 sports supplements that were marketed and sold online and purported to contain the above ingredients. The supplements were analyzed for these compounds (which are not prohibited by the FDA) and for possible contaminants that are prohibited.

Of the 57 products, 23 (40%) did not contain any of the listed label ingredients. The remainder contained some of the label ingredients, but the amount ranged from 0.02% to 334% o…