Easy Ephedra

 A controversial nutritional supplement linked to heart problems can be easily purchased from McAllen retailers, despite federal and state bans on their sale.

A Monitor investigation reveals that at least four health stores in McAllen apparently sell supplements made with ephedra, even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the supplements more than four years ago.

"It's not just me," said Daniel Martinez, manager of the Lean Nutrition store on 10th Street, which sold an ephedra product. "It's everybody."

INVESTIGATION

The FDA enacted a ban on supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids - chemicals derived from the ephedra plant - in 2004. The decision was based on evidence that the supplements carry a risk of serious health problems. (Click here to see ephedra's effects on the body)

According to the Mayo Clinic - one of the country's premier health practices - ephedra is linked to high blood pressure, heart rate irregularities, sleeplessness, seizures, heart attacks, strokes and death.

Monitor undercover reporters visited health stores and attempted to buy ephedra supplements as part of a nine-month investigation.

The Monitor purchased the questionable products, saved the receipts and recorded the transactions with a hidden camera and microphone.

>>In April 2008, Lean Nutrition sold a bottle of Thermafire, which lists Ma Huang extract as an ingredient. Ma Huang is a source of the banned ephedrine alkaloids, according to the FDA.

>>Uptown Fitness sold a bottle of Lipodrene in February 2008. The bottle lists Sida Cordifolia as an ingredient. Sida Cordifolia is also a source of the banned ephedrine alkaloids, according to the FDA.

>>Vitamin Solutions sold a bottle of pills called Mahuang RP in February 2008. Ma Huang extract is listed as an ingredient in that pill.

>>Pump Nutrition sold a bottle of pills in December 2007 called XP2G listing both Ma Huang and Sida Cordifolia as ingredients.

Dr. Stephen Bent, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, said he was shocked to learn ephedra is so widely available in McAllen stores.

"To have a retail presence where someone can walk in the store and buy the product, that seems a little bold," said Bent, who has gained national attention for his ephedra research. "I'm surprised people would be selling illegal products."

LEAN

Martinez, of Lean, said his pills come from Laredo-based Olympus Industries. He said he had originally thought ephedra manufactured before the ban could still legally be sold.

After a Monitor interview earlier this summer, he said he realized he was wrong and would pull the product from his shelves. But Martinez said he has seen ephedra help hundreds of customers.

"They've been ecstatic with it," he said, adding that he was careful not to sell the product to people with diabetes or high blood pressure.

A clerk from the store said Sept. 10 that Thermafire was still available for purchase.

Martinez said those pills have a different formulation and contain a legal form of ephedra derived from the ephedra plant but not containing the banned ephedrine alkaloids. Health experts say that may be a new trend in the supplement business, but it's impossible to tell for sure without testing.

UPTOWN FITNESS

The Lipodrene from Uptown Fitness lists Georgia-based Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals Inc. on its bottle. In 2006, FDA investigators and U.S. Marshals seized $3 million worth of Lipodrene, other supplements and raw materials from the Hi-Tech facilities.

Hi-Tech owner Jared Wheat and his colleagues pleaded guilty last month to a slew of federal charges, including conspiring to import and distribute adulterated, mislabeled and unapproved new drugs from a facility in Belize.

Authorities accused Hi-Tech of producing unauthorized generic versions of popular drugs Xanax, Valium, Ambien, Vioxx, Zoloft, Viagra and Cialis.

David Cantu, owner of Uptown Fitness, said Hi-Tech officials had told him the Lipodrene is a legal product. Wheat has argued the FDA illegally banned ephedra to clear the way for the over-the-counter weight loss aid Alli.

"They push the product ... whatever it is," Cantu said. After an interview with The Monitor earlier this summer, he said he would take the supplements off his shelves.

But a store clerk said Sept. 10 that Lipodrene was still in stock and available for purchase.

Cantu, confronted with this, admitted his store continues to sell the remaining inventory of banned Lipodrene. He said he also sells a form of the supplement that lacks the banned ephedrine alkaloids.

VITAMIN SOLUTIONS

The Mahuang RP from Vitamin Solutions is widely available for sale online. It is made by Sports One of New Haven, Conn., at a state-of-the-art facility, according to the company's Web site.

Calls for this story were referred to Richard, a Vitamin Solutions manager who refused to provide his last name.

Richard would not discuss the situation in depth, saying only that the store has previously offered "a product sold as ephedra extract. ... It's not the whole ephedra."

According to Sports One's Web site, the product is "legal in all 50 states" and lacks the banned ephedrine alkaloids.

The Monitor purchased the pills from Vitamin Solutions in February. Earlier this summer, Richard told The Monitor his store no longer carried the product, but couldn't say when it stopped selling it. A store clerk confirmed to an undercover reporter on Sept. 11 that Mahuang RP is no longer for sale.

PUMP

Aaron Garza, who runs Pump Nutrition, said XP2G is manufactured for his store. He said it is a perfectly legal form of ephedra that lacks the banned alkaloids.

Health experts say so-called legal ephedra is a growing trend but remains a murky area of the law.

FUTURE

While bans are in place, state and federal agencies don't have the manpower to visit every retailer, and police say enforcing the supplement bans is not a priority.

Despite the ban, it appears ephedra is here to stay, said University of Maryland professor Dr. Fermin Barrueto.

Said Barrueto: "I think most companies, if they want to put it in the product, they really don't have any difficulty doing so."

Ryan Holeywell covers McAllen, PSJA, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.