A new study, published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis, examined a popular sports supplement to determine if it contained any pharmaceutical or illicit substances.  In the past, hundreds of supplements that have purported to be natural have contained banned ingredients or other drug ingredients.

The researchers in this study focused on a sports supplement called Craze, which is marketed as “performance fuel” that is the “ultimate in pre-workout power.”  The ingredients on Craze indicate that it contains a specific orchid extract, which contains a designer drug that has a molecular and chemical structure analogous to methamphetamine.  While the study authors note that this is cause for concern, they also comment that the findings are limited by the unknown nature of the analog’s stimulant, addictive, and harmful properties.

According to the Huffington Post, the substance, N,alpha-diethylphenylethylamine (N,alpha-DEPEA) was described as a stimulant with effects that are likely to be less potent than methamphetamine, but still more potent than the legal drug, and ingredient of meth, ephedrine.  Last year, two athletes were banned from international competitions because they failed drug tests administered by the World Anti-Doping Agency.  The athletes claimed that they had unintentionally taken the drug when they took Craze.  The current study found that three different lots of Craze from online and traditional retailers, including GNC, all tested positive for the meth-like substance.

Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant that can strongly activate certain portions of the brain, explains Medline Plus.  Taken as a pill, snorted as a powder, or inhaled as a crystal through a pipe, meth first creates a rush of euphoria.  However, this is soon followed by feelings of anger, edginess, or fear.  Meth users often display severe itching, a body temperature so high that they can pass out, emotional and cognitive impairments, and oral and dental problems.

USA Today reports that the supplement was named the “New Supplement of the Year” by Bodybuilding.com.  The attorney for the company that produces the supplement did not have any comments on the latest findings.  However, he stated that a lab certified by the Drug Enforcement Agency has repeatedly indicated their products have no amphetamine-like compounds.  Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who oversees dietary supplements is working with a skeletal staff due to the U.S. government shutdown.  FDA representatives were unavailable to comment on the status of the investigation, if any.  However, similar results have been found in Asian versions of Craze as well.