FDA Warns About Selenium Megadose in Supplement

April 9, 2008 -- The FDA has found hazardous levels of the mineral selenium in samples of certain flavors of the recalled dietary supplements Total Body Formula and Total Body Mega Formula.

The FDA has received 43 reports of people in nine states -- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas -- who experienced serious adverse reactions after using these products.

Total Body Essential Nutrition, which distributed the products, has voluntarily recalled the affected products, according to the FDA.

Selenium, a naturally occurring mineral, can boost the immune system, but it's only needed in very small amounts for good health. Generally, normal consumption of food and water provides adequate selenium to support good health.

Too much selenium is known to cause symptoms such as hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, fatigue, fingernail loss, and skin blisters.

To read more of this content at WebMD, click here.

FL. Dept of Health Advises FDA of Adverse Reactions to Dietary Supplement

The Florida Department of Health has advised the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of 23 cases of adverse reactions to a liquid supplement distributed by Total Body Essential Nutrition based in Atlanta. As a result the FDA has issued a consumer alert warning consumers to immediately discontinue using the Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar flavored "Total Body Formula" and the Orange/Tangerine flavored "Total Body Mega Formula" supplements.

The symptoms being reported include "siginificant hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain and fatigue" after using the products for as little as seven days. The source of these reactions has yet to be determined and the FDA will issue more information as it becomes available.

To read more of this content at The Florida Injury Board, click here.