DMAA possibly linked to deaths of service members

Marine Corps Installations East
Story by Pfc. Nikki Phongsisattanak

Date: 01.06.2012
Posted: 01.25.2012 15:19
News ID: 82827
DMAA possibly linked to deaths of service members

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- All branches in the Department of Defense, as well as other organizations around the world, were apprehensive when claims of an over-the-counter supplement, Jack3D, was believed to test positive for illegal substances during urinalysis testing.

Concerned military departments took immediate action by warning service members. But after testing the supplement, the claims proved to be false.

Now, military organizations are taking a second look at Jack3D, as well as other weight-loss and bodybuilding supplements such as Oxy Elite Pro, Lipo 6 and Hemo Rate, which contain the popular amphetamine-like stimulant, Dimethylamylamine.

According to an article published on the MacDill Air Force Base website, the Army pulled these products off of their Army and Air Force Exchanges and GNC store shelves, Dec. 3 in regards to recent service members’ deaths linked to the product.

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and surrounding installations have also removed the products from their commissaries, exchanges and put the products on “medical hold” until a thorough investigation of the dangers of DMAA is completed. Although these products have been pulled, service members are still allowed to use them, but military leaders recommend holding off on further use until the results of the review are complete.

“My recommendation for (service members) is if they intend further use of these supplements before the conclusion of its study, they do so at their own risk,” said Staff Sgt. Ken Imamura, the substance abuse control officer with Headquarters and Support Battalion, MCB Camp Lejeune. “Before taking any supplement, for whatever reason, know what you’re putting in your body. If you’re putting this stuff in, you need to know how it affects you overall because any of these products may have something that may be a potential hazard to yourself.”

Imamura said there has been an issue with products such as Jack3D before where people were being hospitalized because they were not adhering to the directions for usage.

“If you find that (any supplement or prescription medication) is not working the way that it’s supposed to, or the way it worked when you first started, it might be time to research an alternative because your body has become adjusted to its effects and it’s no longer working,” said Imamura. “Increasing the dosage is not the solution.”

Part of the SACO mission is to pass the word out to all the unit leaders with strict instructions to inform service members of all ranks when drug concerns occur.

“I know many Marines that do use these products, which is why keeping everyone informed is important and necessary to protect the lives and health of the service members,” said Imamura.

Dimethylamylamine, also called methylhexanamin, is a synthetic stimulant which may be responsible for causing serious changes in blood pressure, headaches, light headedness, stroke, depression, elevated or irregular heartbeat, increased urination, dehydration, sweating, tremors, anxiety and lethal exhaustion. The risk of these effects also appears to increase with the use of multiple stimulants, such as caffeine, heat and dehydration, according to a release by Human Performance Resource Center.

For questions about these products, call Marine Corps Community Services’ Resilience Education 451-2865 or visit www.mccslejeune.com/health.

For more information on Department of Defense recalls, visit www.troopsupport.dla.mil/subs/fso/alfood/afamess.asp. Dimethylamylamine is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the international body that regulates drug use in sports and Major League Baseball.