Fw: CDC: Mounting Illness Reports Linked to Supplement: Washington Post April 18, 2008

[Guest guest]

Note: Chromium is recommended for those who have diabetes . . . Since they don't know what the toxic level is, one needs to be aware if the supplement they are taking contains either Selenium or Chromium. If one is taking multiple supplements, there may be higher levels of certain elements than they are aware.I thought my hubby was being anal when he made a chart of all his supplements . . then tallied the total amount he was getting of each vitamin/mineral. . . Maybe that's not a bad idea. - Rogene

CDC: Mounting Illness Reports Linked

to Supplement By MIKE

STOBBE

The Associated Press

Washington Post Friday, April 18, 2008; 6:19 PM ATLANTA --

Health officials are investigating more than 180 reports of illness in people

who took dietary supplements containing toxic levels of the mineral selenium. Last

month, federal officials warned consumers about harmful doses of selenium _ a

mineral considered healthful in small amounts _ in plastic bottles of liquid

Total Body Formula and Total Body Mega Formula. The

manufacturer recalled the product March 27, but reports of 184 illnesses

indicate many people are still taking it, health officials said. The U.S.

Food and Drug Administration found up to 200 times the label level of selenium

in the products. The agency also found 17 times the label level of chromium but

has not yet concluded if those levels are toxic. Toxic

levels of the minerals were in about 1,200 bottles distributed in 16 states and

over the Internet, said Dr. Lando, who is leading the team working on the

investigation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health

officials are looking into an escalating number of illnesses in 10 states _

Georgia , Florida ,

Tennessee , Kentucky ,

Texas , Louisiana ,

Michigan , Pennsylvania ,

Virginia and

North Carolina . No deaths

have been reported. One person has been hospitalized. Reported

symptoms include hair loss, discolored and painful fingernails, muscle cramps,

joint pain, diarrhea and fatigue. Victims have grown ill five to 10 days after

beginning to take affected products. Death is possible but unlikely, health

officials said. The

products are distributed by Total Body Essential Nutrition Inc. of

Woodstock , Ga. The company did not return a message Friday from The Associated Press. ___ On the

Net: FDA: http://www.fda.gov