THE METHYLHEX BAN
Editor's Note: Organic chemistry student Jared C. ('16) wrote this paper comparing the recent ban on Methylhex to the ban on chlorofluorocarbons.
In the early 20th century, new advances in technology were on the rise and new innovations for various everyday use had been developed. Though the method of food refrigeration had been prevalent in earlier times, the use of chlorofluorocarbon compounds (CFC’s) as the refrigerant had been on the rise because of their compatibility with the mechanical refrigeration method: vaporizing and liquefying within the right temperature ranges, as well as being able to absorb large amounts of heat as they vaporize (LeCouteur & Burreson, 2004). In addition, CFCs had also outweighed their competitors, such as ammonia and ether, in that they are non-toxic, stable, and fire-resistant (LeCouteur/Burreson, 2004). However, later on in 1974, CFCs were deemed to be a huge problem when it was determined that their exposure to the atmosphere had been depleting the ozone layer. Through the breaking up of CFCs creating various free radicals that bonded to the oxygen atoms that were to form ozone in the stratosphere, many oxygen atoms became unable to form ozone therefore depleting the ozone layer. In this situation, CFCs, despite their extreme compatibility for their intended use, became illegal because of a very extreme side effect.
Recently, the Supplement industry saw a very significant, very controversial ban on a compound that had been the staple of many products used by professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. The compound is known commercially as “Methylhex,” which is short for 1,3-dimethylamylamine. This compound is also known as DMAA. DMAA was synthesized in 1948, originally marketed as a decongestant and was taken off the shelves in 1971 due to side effects such as headaches, tremors, and increased blood pressure. In addition, DMAA had also sped up the heart rate of those who used it, also acting as a central nervous system stimulant. With a similar chemical structure to amphetamine (a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy), it sped up physical and mental processes, enhancing the alertness and the attention span of those who used it.
Eventually, some smart fellows in the supplement industry saw the beauty in these side effects. Since the pharmaceutical industry had used the structurally similar amphetamine to enhance the performance of their clients, why couldn’t they use DMAA to do the same with theirs? Soon, DMAA was being used in various workout products, ranging from protein powders that promised an “extreme workout,” to pills that allegedly pumped up the user to unimaginable heights (Chan, 2013). The best part about it is that the supplement actually worked- people had gained stamina, became more focused and driven at the gym, and were able to push themselves to unimaginable new heights.
That is, until 2011 when two army soldiers supposedly died after taking the supplement before a run. They’d been taking a form called “Jack3d,” which was meant to be used as a pre-workout booster (Lattman & Singer, 2013). Both died of heart attacks, and in both cases they were linked to the supplement they took beforehand. This caused a huge investigation of the supplement and outraged the FDA. The FDA ended up banning DMAA as an additive to any workout supplement because of its potentially life-threatening qualities (FDA, 2013). The supplement industry still argues that their warning labels and suggested serving size of 2 scoops maximum of the powder the supplement came in was more than enough information to prevent injury (apparently the two soldiers took more than two scoops each) (Chan, 2013). Despite this, it is speculated that everlasting tension between the pharmaceutical and supplement industries and the FDA announced the full ban on the use of the compound in the late summer of 2014.
The ban of DMAA is similar to the ban of CFCs in the way that the potency of the side effect had outweighed the benefits of the product. The only difference is that in the case of DMAA, the benefit essentially was the original side effects, which were abused for their impact on the human body. The CFCs served to be the perfect refrigerant, while DMAA served to be the perfect stamina-booster. Both ended up being banned because of their potential to harm the human race, either individually or as a whole.
Recently, the Supplement industry saw a very significant, very controversial ban on a compound that had been the staple of many products used by professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. The compound is known commercially as “Methylhex,” which is short for 1,3-dimethylamylamine. This compound is also known as DMAA. DMAA was synthesized in 1948, originally marketed as a decongestant and was taken off the shelves in 1971 due to side effects such as headaches, tremors, and increased blood pressure. In addition, DMAA had also sped up the heart rate of those who used it, also acting as a central nervous system stimulant. With a similar chemical structure to amphetamine (a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy), it sped up physical and mental processes, enhancing the alertness and the attention span of those who used it.
Eventually, some smart fellows in the supplement industry saw the beauty in these side effects. Since the pharmaceutical industry had used the structurally similar amphetamine to enhance the performance of their clients, why couldn’t they use DMAA to do the same with theirs? Soon, DMAA was being used in various workout products, ranging from protein powders that promised an “extreme workout,” to pills that allegedly pumped up the user to unimaginable heights (Chan, 2013). The best part about it is that the supplement actually worked- people had gained stamina, became more focused and driven at the gym, and were able to push themselves to unimaginable new heights.
That is, until 2011 when two army soldiers supposedly died after taking the supplement before a run. They’d been taking a form called “Jack3d,” which was meant to be used as a pre-workout booster (Lattman & Singer, 2013). Both died of heart attacks, and in both cases they were linked to the supplement they took beforehand. This caused a huge investigation of the supplement and outraged the FDA. The FDA ended up banning DMAA as an additive to any workout supplement because of its potentially life-threatening qualities (FDA, 2013). The supplement industry still argues that their warning labels and suggested serving size of 2 scoops maximum of the powder the supplement came in was more than enough information to prevent injury (apparently the two soldiers took more than two scoops each) (Chan, 2013). Despite this, it is speculated that everlasting tension between the pharmaceutical and supplement industries and the FDA announced the full ban on the use of the compound in the late summer of 2014.
The ban of DMAA is similar to the ban of CFCs in the way that the potency of the side effect had outweighed the benefits of the product. The only difference is that in the case of DMAA, the benefit essentially was the original side effects, which were abused for their impact on the human body. The CFCs served to be the perfect refrigerant, while DMAA served to be the perfect stamina-booster. Both ended up being banned because of their potential to harm the human race, either individually or as a whole.
