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Tuesday 28 April 2015

Multi-ingredient, Caffeine-containing Dietary Supplements: History, Safety, and Efficac

Volume 37, Issue 2, 1 February 2015, Pages 275–301
Review Article

Multi-ingredient, Caffeine-containing Dietary Supplements: History, Safety, and Efficacy


Abstract

Purpose

Our objective was to review the history, safety, and efficacy of caffeine-containing dietary supplements in the United States and Canada.

Methods

PubMed and Web of Science databases (1980-2014) were searched for articles related to the pharmacology, toxicology, and efficacy of caffeine-containing dietary supplements with an emphasis on Ephedra-containing supplements, Ephedra-free supplements, and energy drinks or shots.

Findings

Among the first and most successful dietary supplements to be marketed in the United States were those containing Ephedra—combinations of ephedrine alkaloids, caffeine, and other phytochemicals. A decade after their inception, serious tolerability concerns prompted removal of Ephedra supplements from the US and Canadian markets. Ephedra-free products, however, quickly filled this void. Ephedra-free supplements typically contain multiple caffeine sources in conjunction with other botanical extracts whose purposes can often be puzzling and their pharmacologic properties difficult to predict. Ingestion of these products in the form of tablets, capsules, or other solid dosage forms as weight loss aids, exercise performance enhancers, or energy boosters have once again brought their tolerability and efficacy into question. In addition to Ephedra-free solid dosage forms, caffeine-containing energy drinks have gained a foothold in the world market along with concerns about their tolerability.

Implications

This review addresses some of the pharmacologic and pharmaceutical issues that distinguish caffeine-containing dietary supplement formulations from traditional caffeine-containing beverages. Such distinctions may account for the increasing tolerability concerns affiliated with these products.

Key words

  • caffeine;
  • dietary supplements;
  • Ephedra;
  • Ephedra-free;
  • energy drinks

Address correspondence to: Bill J. Gurley, PhD, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, 4301 W Markham St, Mail Slot 5822, Little Rock, AR 72205.