The Continued Detection of Methylhexaneamine and other Aliphatic Amine Stimulants in UK Supplement Products
Methylhexaneamine is a stimulant originally developed for use as a nasal decongestant in 1944. Although voluntarily withdrawn from medical use, methylhexaneamine later resurfaced as an ingredient within a wide range of weight management (fat burning) and/or energy-boosting supplements. After methylhexaneamine consumption was linked to a number of adverse health incidents, including fatalities, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) took steps to prohibit the use of this compound within dietary supplements. In 2010, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) listed methylhexaneamine as a banned substance and it remains prohibited for use by athletes.
Despite the steps taken by the FDA, MHRA and sporting bodies such as WADA, products containing these substances are still widely available on the market place and there continues to be incidences of athletes testing positive for prohibited stimulants.