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Friday, March 23, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
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FDA widens L-tryptophan recall
By Buck Taylor
Kansan staff writer
The Food and Drug Administration has expanded its recall of the dietary supplement L-tryptophan after linking the product to a severe blood disorder.
"We are confronted with a major public health problem," said Louis Sullivan, secretary of Health and Human Services, in the FDA's announcement. "I urge everyone to stop taking these supplements immediately."
The FDA issued its first alert to consumers Nov. 11 after more than 30 reported cases nationwide of sometimes fatal eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, or EMS.
L-trypophan, sold in pharmacies and health food stores, has been used for insomnia, depression, premenal syndrome and appetite control.
Chris Haley, director of the drug information center at the University of Kansas Medical Center, said the FDA had issued a class one recall, which required stores to remove the products from their shelves and return them to the manufacturers.
Haley said that although he had heard that some stores in the Kansas
City area continued to sell the supplement, most stores had compiled with the FDA's recall.
Severe muscle aches are the most easily noticeable signs, he said. Chest pains, breathing difficulties, swelling of the arms and legs, fever and skin rashes also are associated with EMS.
The FDA has reported 1,111 cases of EMS, including 19 deaths. Cases have been reported in every state.
Charles Yockey, chief of staff at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome was caused by an infiltration of eosinophils in the blood. Eosinophils make up about 1 to 3 percent of white blood cells.
Yockey said no cases of EMS-related complications had been treated by the Watkins health staff.
Initially, the FDA had recalled only large dose forms of the product, or those containing daily intakes of 100 milligrams or more. The FDA had based their recall on evidence from the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta that EMS victims
had taken the supplements in doses ranging from 150 to 17,000 milligrams a day.
Recently, however, at least one case was reported where the victim had taken less than 100 milligrams of the product, according to FDA statistics.
No reports of eosinophilia-myalgia had been reported to the Lawrence Health Department as of yesterday, said Elaine Houston, community health nurse.
Although L-tryptophan has been removed from the shelves of all pharmacies and health-food stores listed in the Lawrence phone book, some customers hope the product will return.
Linda Gwaltney, manager of the Community Mercantile Co-op, 700 Maine St., said the supplement had been popular with her customers.
"It's real good for sleeping problems and to help calm you down," she said. "I've had close to eight or 10 people ask me about whether it will come back."
The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
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