Christine A. Haller, M.D., and Neal L. Benowitz, M.D., Concede that University of San Francisco Report on Ephedra Does Not Prove Causation

Statement from The Ephedra Education Council

"In this month�s New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) a letter from Haller and Benowitz conceded that their University of San Francisco Report, published late last year, does not prove that Ephedra is the cause of alleged adverse events. Specifically, Haller and Benowitz wrote, �our report does not prove causation, nor does it provide quantitative information with regard to risk.� This statement contradicts media coverage of Haller and Benowitz�s study which indicates that ephedra was responsible for adverse events, and helps reaffirm what responsible industry and medical and scientific research continues to indicate -- ephedra is safe and effective as an aid to weight loss.

Haller and Benowitz�s letter was written in response to another from Dr. Grover Hutchins that was published in the same edition of the NEJM. In addition to the wide spread criticism that the Haller and Benowitz study continues to receive, Dr. Hutchins writes, �the implication of ephedrine-type alkaloids in deaths from a wide-variety of conditions that occur in the general population is no more than idle speculation.� Haller and Benowitz appear to agree with Dr. Hutchins as they refer to ephedra-related events as �uncommon.�

Also contradicting findings by Haller and Benowitz are recently published abstracts from an important long-term and well-designed clinical study on Ephedra at Harvard and Columbia Universities. The study provides strong support for the safety and usefulness of Ephedra products.

Industry does, and will continue to support warning labels that inform the public of potential risks. However, it is important to remember that obesity itself is considered a threat to public health, and that Ephedra has been proven safe and useful in combating this growing public health crisis by millions of Americans who find it useful in managing their weight."

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The Ephedra Education Council is supported primarily by members of the Ephedra Committee of the American Herbal Products Association, a recognized leader in promoting the safe and responsible marketing of dietary supplements. The Council provides factual information to the media and public about dietary supplements containing Ephedra. For more information, logon to www.EphedraFacts.com.