NTP and ephedra

National Toxicology Program's Board of Scientific Counselors will consider comments and data on toxicology of ephedrine alkaloid dietary supplements Sept. 18 in Research Triangle Park, N.C., according to an 1Aug. 19 Federal Register notice. In June, an NTP committee recommended that ephedrine alkaloid supplements undergo various toxicological studies and requested public feedback by Aug. 12 2("The Tan Sheet" July 1, 2002, p. 20). In comments, Bradenton, Fla.-based Med-Tox Group cautions NTP testing of ephedrine alkaloids "may be compromised by the true identity of the substance tested, and its relevance to commercial products." Separately, a U.S. Army Forces Command senior physician assistant notes ephedra products still are sold on military bases "in part due to a lack of 'scientific study' and proof that they are in fact hazardous when used in high physical stress and high temperature environments"...