The Truth about DMAA

DMAA, a popular supplement,  is not a product you want to play around with. It’s misuse can lead to cardiovascular problems and even death!

Dimethylamylamine, also known as DMAA, is a workout supplement that promises strength, energy, power and endurance when working out in the gym. It does, however, come with warnings on the packaging to the effect that it should not be used more than 5 times per week or for longer than 8 consecutive weeks at a time.

DMAA is an active ingredient in more than 200 brand-name supplements which include Code Red, Hemo Rage Black, Jack3D and Napalm, amongst others.

In a video posted on YouTube in 2013 by Peter Slonkosky, a dedicated workout fiend, who has been taking dietary supplements for years to boost his workouts, states that one of the most powerful supplements he has ever taken is a product called Jack3D, of which DMAA is an active ingredient.

He says that even when he did not feel like training, a can of Jack3D gave him an incredible boost of energy which enabled him to work out more vigorously than normal.

He completely ignored the warnings on the packaging and continued to drink can after can for the high it gave him, similar to a little bit of speed or cocaine.

Peter has since learned of the serious health risks associated with DMAA and has stopped using Jack3D, opting instead for healthier alternatives. His mission is to encourage others to do the same.

These health risks include elevated blood pressure which can lead to cardiovascular problems, strokes, psychiatric disorders, nervous system disorders and even death. There have even been positive reports of at least 3 deaths countrywide of people using DMAA.

Illegal, but still available!

Although dietary supplements containing DMAA have been outlawed by the US FDA, products containing DMAA are still sold by retailers across the US. The FDA is doing everything in its power to remove these products from the market and as a result, the list continues to decrease with every update.

Many companies have heeded the removal calls of the FDA, and products have either been discontinued or reformulated, while others have simply disappeared from the market. In the UK and Canada it is currently completely unavailable at retail outlets.

How will consumers know if a supplement contains DMAA?

It is very important to read ingredient labels carefully before purchasing or using any dietary supplements, especially those recommended for body building.

If the product contains DMAA, it should be listed on the product label as such.

Alternatively, it could be indexed as any one of these listed below:

• 1,3-DMAA.
• 1,3-Dimethylamylamine.
• 2-Amino-4-methylhexane.
• 4-Methyl-2-hexanamine.
• Geranamine
• Pelargonium graveolens extract.
• Geranium extract.

All of these may indicate that the product contains DMAA.

The chemical composition of DMAA is very similar to that of amphetamine and as a result constricts blood vessels and is also a central nervous system stimulant.

It is more than likely that the negative side effects on the cardiovascular system in particular, are caused by a combination of these factors, aggravated by simultaneous vigorous exercise which puts the heart under additional strain.

The main message about DMAA is that if you want to preserve your health and save your life, it should be avoided at all costs!

Guest Post by Eileen M.