Warning certain dietary goods bought online contain steroids

IRISH CONSUMERS have been warned about the presence of synthetic steroids in products marketed online as dietary supplements.

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) said yesterday a small number of Irish consumers may have bought the 66 products concerned from US based website www.Bodybuilding.com.

The IMB raised concerns about the effects of the products which had not been approved for use in Ireland. “The use of unauthorised steroids-containing medicines can have serious long-term adverse health effects including acute liver injury and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes,” said Pat O’Mahony, IMB chief executive.

The board is advising anyone using these products to stop taking them and to consult their doctor if they have any concerns. People with stocks are asked to put them in a safe place and to notify the IMB. Suppliers are being asked to contact the people they supplied.

The warning follows an investigation by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) into supplements sold on the website. The IMB has contacted the FDA.

As part of the FDA investigation, the Idaho-based website Bodybuilding.com announced a voluntary national and international recall of over 60 dietary supplement products earlier this month. The FDA was concerned the products contained ingredients classified as steroids such as: superdrol, madol, tren, androstenedione and turinabol. The company said it had not independently confirmed the FDA’s concerns but was undertaking the recall in “an abundance of caution”.

In a statement issued on the FDA’s website in the last fortnight, the company said steroids can cause acute liver injury, masculanisation of women, affect fertility in men and increase risk of heart attack, stroke and death. However, the Bodybuilding.com statement said it had so far not received any reports of adverse events.

Mr O’Mahony warned consumers about the dangers of purchasing medicines online.“There is no guarantee these products are of appropriate quality, are effective, that they contain what they claim to contain or that they come from a verified source,” he said.

Details of the 66 products concerned can be found on the IMB’s website, www.imb.ie