Health Highlights: Sept. 25, 2015
Health Highlights: Sept. 25, 2015
Label information on most yohimbe herbal supplement products is inaccurate, a new study finds.
The products are marketed for weight loss and as treatments for conditions such as depression, erectile dysfunction, and low libido in women. They are widely available in the United States but banned in Canada, Australia, Great Britain and the Netherlands, The New York Times reported.
The active ingredient in the products is yohimbine, which is derived from the bark of the African yohimbe tree.
Researchers analyzed 49 brands of yohimbe supplements and found that only 11 listed the quantity of yohimbine they actually contained. In other brands, the actual amounts ranged from 23 percent to 147 percent of what was on the label, The Times reported.
The study in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis also found that only two provided accurate information about both the quantity of yohimbine and side effects, while nine provided no details about side effects.
The products are marketed for weight loss and as treatments for conditions such as depression, erectile dysfunction, and low libido in women. They are widely available in the United States but banned in Canada, Australia, Great Britain and the Netherlands, The New York Times reported.
The active ingredient in the products is yohimbine, which is derived from the bark of the African yohimbe tree.
Researchers analyzed 49 brands of yohimbe supplements and found that only 11 listed the quantity of yohimbine they actually contained. In other brands, the actual amounts ranged from 23 percent to 147 percent of what was on the label, The Times reported.
The study in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis also found that only two provided accurate information about both the quantity of yohimbine and side effects, while nine provided no details about side effects.
Source...