ConsumerLab.com has issued a news release about an independent test conducted on dietary supplements containing the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA is available through grocery stores, health foods stores and other retail outlets.

The Lupus Foundation of America cautions people with lupus not to confuse these unregulated, non-prescription supplements with the prescription compound containing DHEA currently undergoing a clinical trial for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The pharmaceutical preparation involved in the clinical trial being conducted by Genelabs Technologies, Inc. -- GL-701 or Prestara™ -- contains prasterone, the pharmaceutical generic designation for DHEA, as the active ingredient. (GL701 previously had the name of Aslera.) People with SLE generally have abnormally low levels of DHEA and studies have shown that hormonal influence may play a role in the development and progression of SLE.

In August, 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an approvable letter for Prestara™. The FDA’s approval was contingent upon the successful completion of an additional clinical trial to provide sufficient evidence to confirm bone mineral density benefits.

The Lupus Foundation of America cautions lupus patients about self-medicating themselves using unregulated nutritional supplements containing DHEA without the knowledge or consent of their lupus doctor. As the ConsumerLab.com report suggests, the potency of these unregulated preparations can vary widely, even from levels published on the label. Only a physician who specializes and is experienced in treating lupus will have knowledge of whether DHEA would be a suitable therapy for an individual case of lupus, what dosage would be appropriate, or if the compound is having a beneficial or harmful effect on the patient.

Go to the ConsumerLab.com Report

Below is the news release issued by ConsumerLab.com

LUPUS PATIENTS CAUTIONED ABOUT HORMONE SUPPLEMENT

-- ConsumerLab.com Releases DHEA Testing Results Online Today --

WHITE PLAINS, NY -- December 10, 2002 – In its latest Product Review, ConsumerLab.com found that that 3 of the 17 DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) supplement products it tested contained less than their claimed amounts of this hormone -- one having less than one-fifth of what it claimed. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is useful in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a debilitating autoimmune disease that may affect as many 1.5 million Americans, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. DHEA is also used in treating adrenal failure and may be helpful in certain cases of male erectile dysfunction, depression, and osteoporosis. Although commonly touted as a way to reverse the effects of aging and enhance athletic performance, these effects have not been demonstrated in people.

ConsumerLab.com observed that one product boasted it was “Pharmaceutical Quality” and “produced and packaged in [an] OTC approved facility” despite having only 19% of the DHEA claimed. Another product with only 79% of its claimed DHEA stated that its raw material met USP standards. A third product contained only 84% of the DHEA claimed.

“There is good evidence that DHEA can help lupus patients reduce the dose of traditional corticosteroid treatment and its debilitating side effects,” said Tod Cooperman, M.D., President of ConsumerLab.com. “The treatment of these patients, however, is jeopardized by unreliable DHEA products. A product with half of the expected strength, for example, may have no significant benefit. People should be cautious when choosing a brand.”

A listing of all the products that passed the testing are now available at www.consumerlab.com along with additional information on buying and using DHEA products. Also available are results from 36 other Product Reviews of popular vitamins, supplements, and nutrition products. Additional reviews scheduled for release in coming months include probiotics, melatonin, and two supplements used for memory enhancement – ginkgo biloba and huperzine A. ConsumerLab.com's Guide to Buying Vitamins and Supplements is scheduled for print publication in coming months.

ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. The company is privately held and based in White Plains, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.