Bald vitamins

The FDA issued a consumer warning today advising people not to purchase or consume the “Total Body” dietary supplement formulas. Severe adverse reactions have been reported among people consuming flavors tropical orange, peach nectar and orange/tangerine, including significant hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain and fatigue.

The Florida Department of Health recently reported to the FDA that 23 people had had serious reactions seven to 10 days after consuming them and the FDA has learned of similar reports in Tennessee. FDA laboratories are analyzing samples to identify the cause of the reactions, and suspects excessive amounts of selenium, which causes similar reactions. Selenium, a trace mineral, is needed only in trace amounts.

Total Body Essential Nutrition markets its supplements as powerful combinations of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids and antioxidants that are claimed to be necessary to maintain energy and optimal health because of today’s “depleted soils” that leave our foods and American diet “nutritionally bankrupt.” Its formula also includes grape extract which it claims is superior to all other antioxidants, 50 times more powerful than vitamin E and 20 times superior to vitamin C, to protect from free radicals that lead to aging, impaired immune system and chronic diseases.