Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 22, 1990 TAG: 9003222660
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"We are confronted with a major public health problem," warned Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan in the FDA's announcement. "I urge everyone to stop taking these supplements immediately."
L-tryptophan - which is sold over the counter and used by some for insomnia, depression, premenstrual syndrome and appetite control - has been linked to a blood disorder called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, or EMS.
Reports of the disorder have climbed to 1,411, with 19 deaths, the FDA said. Cases have been reported in every state.
The FDA initially recalled only the larger-dose forms of the product, those that would result in daily intake of 100 milligrams or more a day. That was based on evidence from the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta that EMS victims had taken L-tryptophan in doses that ranged from 150 to 17,000 milligrams a day. Most were taking 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams daily.
However, at least one case of the disorder has been reported where the individual had taken less than 100 milligrams of the supplement daily, the FDA said.
Sullivan said the rate of EMS has slowed dramatically since the initial Nov. 17 recall, "but some recent victims have apparently continued using L-tryptophan products since the recall began."
EMS is marked by severe muscle and joint pain, breathing difficulties, swelling of the arms and legs, skin rash and sometimes fever. In some cases, victims show signs of congestive heart failure and paralysis.
by CNB