Ephedra a 'factor' in Bechler's death

[Guest guest]

Ephedra a 'factor'

 

Coroner finds 'significant amounts' of diet supplement

 

Posted: Thursday March 13, 2003 2:32 PM

Updated: Thursday March 13, 2003 8:23 PM

 

Medical examiner Dr. Joshua Perper points to the chemical

components of ephedra found in Steve Bechler's autopsy. AP

 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- The diet supplement ephedra

was 'partly' to blame for the heatstroke death of Baltimore Orioles

pitcher Steve Bechler last month, a medical examiner said Thursday.

 

Toxicology tests confirmed that " significant amounts " of an over-the-

counter supplement containing the herb contributed to the

heatstroke, Broward County medical examiner Dr. Joshua Perper said.

 

The coroner's findings triggered more debate about the risks of

ephedra, banned by many sports but not major league baseball.

 

The 23-year-old pitching prospect was taking the supplement to lose

weight during spring training when he collapsed Feb. 16. He died the

next day after his temperature rose to 108.

 

Perper said the toxicology analysis revealed ephedrine in Bechler's

blood along with smaller amounts of two other stimulants,

pseudoephedrine and caffeine. That's consistent with taking three or

more tablets of the weight-loss supplement Xenadrine, Perper said at

a news conference.

 

The analysis showed no alcohol or other drugs in Bechler's system,

other than those used to treat him at a hospital.

 

 

Toxicology reports confirm ephedra was a factor in the death of

Steve Bechler.

Commissioner Bud Selig has banned players with minor league

contracts from taking ephedra, and union head Donald Fehr urged

players not to take supplements containing the herb.

 

Still, major leaguers are allowed to take ephredra.

 

" We remain prepared to discuss the issues raised by Mr. Bechler's

tragic death with the Players Association, " major league baseball

said in a statement.

 

 

 

 

Cytodyne Technologies, which makes Xenadrine, said Perper rushed to

judgment.

 

 

 

" The fact that the medical examiner found traces of ephedra in Mr.

Bechler's system does not mean that Mr. Bechler died from ephedra.

He died from heatstroke, " said Shane Freedman, legal officer for the

manufacturer.

 

 

 

The Ephedra Education Council, an industry group, also disputed

Perper's conclusions.

 

 

 

" Health policy concerning ephedra should be based on scientific

evidence, " the council said in a statement. " The current science

supports the safety and significant weight-loss benefits of ephedra

when it is used according to industry standards. "

 

Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, said

the findings were the latest reminder that ephedra is dangerous and

should be removed from store shelves.

 

 

 

Perper said he couldn't say whether Bechler would have died if he

hadn't been taking ephedra. Among the other factors contributing to

the heatstroke:

 

 

 

• Bechler was overweight and out of shape.

 

• He was not yet accustomed to the warm, humid weather in South

Florida.

 

• He was on a diet, primarily liquid or semi-liquid.

 

• He didn't feel well or eat the night before he collapsed.

 

 

• He had high blood pressure and abnormal liver functions. ( a major

contraindication for taking ephedra)

 

 

" It is my professional opinion that the toxicity of ephedra played a

significant role in the death of Mr. Bechler, although it's

impossible to define mathematically the contribution of each one of

the risk factors, " Perper said.

 

Ephedra constricts blood vessels in the skin and raises body

temperature, perhaps by up to 2 degrees in Bechler's case, Perper

said.

 

While the coroner's findings had been expected, he made one

surprising disclosure:

 

 

Bechler's autopsy listed his weight at 320 pounds. The Orioles said

the 6-foot-2 pitcher weighed 249 a few days before his death.

 

 

 

Perper said Bechler was given a lot of fluids in the hours before he

died, which partly explains the disparity. It's also possible one of

the measurements was wrong, Perper said.

 

The Orioles stood by their figure of 249, 10 pounds above Bechler's

listed weight.

 

Ephedra, which has been linked to heatstroke and heart trouble

before, is already banned by the NCAA, NFL and International Olympic

Committee. The Bush administration began building the case toward a

possible ban last month by proposing strong new warning labels that

the substance can cause heart attacks and strokes or even kill.

 

Such labels, blocked until now by the dietary supplement industry,

could be on every bottle by year's end.

 

" There's going to have to be some warning -- right off the bat,

right now -- until they decide on and get the facts about what's in

there, " Orioles catcher Brook Fordyce said. " But it's always going

to be a personal choice until it's banned. "

[Guest guest]

Yes, they are quick to blame herbs for anyones death, but how many

drug deaths do they hide under the rug from the people? You can over

do any thing, and to take a stimulant and go out in the heat is not

a very good idea anyway. Be it herb or drug. We know that drugs kill

many more people than herbs ever did.

Thanks for the post Joanne.

 

 

, " JoAnn Guest "

<angelprincessjo> wrote:

> Ephedra a 'factor'

>

> Coroner finds 'significant amounts' of diet supplement

>

> Posted: Thursday March 13, 2003 2:32 PM

> Updated: Thursday March 13, 2003 8:23 PM

>

> Medical examiner Dr. Joshua Perper points to the chemical

> components of ephedra found in Steve Bechler's autopsy. AP

>

> FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- The diet supplement ephedra

> was 'partly' to blame for the heatstroke death of Baltimore

Orioles

> pitcher Steve Bechler last month, a medical examiner said

Thursday.

>

> Toxicology tests confirmed that " significant amounts " of an over-

the-

> counter supplement containing the herb contributed to the

> heatstroke, Broward County medical examiner Dr. Joshua Perper

said.

>

> The coroner's findings triggered more debate about the risks of

> ephedra, banned by many sports but not major league baseball.

>

> The 23-year-old pitching prospect was taking the supplement to

lose

> weight during spring training when he collapsed Feb. 16. He died

the

> next day after his temperature rose to 108.

>

> Perper said the toxicology analysis revealed ephedrine in

Bechler's

> blood along with smaller amounts of two other stimulants,

> pseudoephedrine and caffeine. That's consistent with taking three

or

> more tablets of the weight-loss supplement Xenadrine, Perper said

at

> a news conference.

>

> The analysis showed no alcohol or other drugs in Bechler's system,

> other than those used to treat him at a hospital.

>

>

> Toxicology reports confirm ephedra was a factor in the death of

> Steve Bechler.

> Commissioner Bud Selig has banned players with minor league

> contracts from taking ephedra, and union head Donald Fehr urged

> players not to take supplements containing the herb.

>

> Still, major leaguers are allowed to take ephredra.

>

> " We remain prepared to discuss the issues raised by Mr. Bechler's

> tragic death with the Players Association, " major league baseball

> said in a statement.

>

>

>

>

> Cytodyne Technologies, which makes Xenadrine, said Perper rushed

to

> judgment.

>

>

>

> " The fact that the medical examiner found traces of ephedra in Mr.

> Bechler's system does not mean that Mr. Bechler died from ephedra.

> He died from heatstroke, " said Shane Freedman, legal officer for

the

> manufacturer.

>

>

>

> The Ephedra Education Council, an industry group, also disputed

> Perper's conclusions.

>

>

>

> " Health policy concerning ephedra should be based on scientific

> evidence, " the council said in a statement. " The current science

> supports the safety and significant weight-loss benefits of

ephedra

> when it is used according to industry standards. "

>

> Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, said

> the findings were the latest reminder that ephedra is dangerous

and

> should be removed from store shelves.

>

>

>

> Perper said he couldn't say whether Bechler would have died if he

> hadn't been taking ephedra. Among the other factors contributing

to

> the heatstroke:

>

>

>

> • Bechler was overweight and out of shape.

>

> • He was not yet accustomed to the warm, humid weather in South

> Florida.

>

> • He was on a diet, primarily liquid or semi-liquid.

>

> • He didn't feel well or eat the night before he collapsed.

>

>

> • He had high blood pressure and abnormal liver functions. ( a

major

> contraindication for taking ephedra)

>

>

> " It is my professional opinion that the toxicity of ephedra played

a

> significant role in the death of Mr. Bechler, although it's

> impossible to define mathematically the contribution of each one

of

> the risk factors, " Perper said.

>

> Ephedra constricts blood vessels in the skin and raises body

> temperature, perhaps by up to 2 degrees in Bechler's case, Perper

> said.

>

> While the coroner's findings had been expected, he made one

> surprising disclosure:

>

>

> Bechler's autopsy listed his weight at 320 pounds. The Orioles

said

> the 6-foot-2 pitcher weighed 249 a few days before his death.

>

>

>

> Perper said Bechler was given a lot of fluids in the hours before

he

> died, which partly explains the disparity. It's also possible one

of

> the measurements was wrong, Perper said.

>

> The Orioles stood by their figure of 249, 10 pounds above

Bechler's

> listed weight.

>

> Ephedra, which has been linked to heatstroke and heart trouble

> before, is already banned by the NCAA, NFL and International

Olympic

> Committee. The Bush administration began building the case toward

a

> possible ban last month by proposing strong new warning labels

that

> the substance can cause heart attacks and strokes or even kill.

>

> Such labels, blocked until now by the dietary supplement industry,

> could be on every bottle by year's end.

>

> " There's going to have to be some warning -- right off the bat,

> right now -- until they decide on and get the facts about what's

in

> there, " Orioles catcher Brook Fordyce said. " But it's always going

> to be a personal choice until it's banned. "