DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine) was once a popular ingredient for inclusion within dietary supplements, in particular those marketed to the bodybuilding community as "pre-workouts." Also known as methylhexanamine, and geranium extract, DMAA was not in supplements prior to the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA); hence, DMAA would be classified as a New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 2012, the FDA issued warning letters to

more »

... and distributors calling for cessation of DMAA sales and use within dietary supplement formulations, partly because required safety data supporting DMAA's use was lacking. Thus, supplements containing DMAA were considered "adulterated". Adverse event reports following DMAA ingestion prompted the FDA's actions. Though the use of DMAA has since decreased considerably, sales of dietary supplements containing DMAA or close derivatives continue. Currently, no scientific evidence exists to support DMAA's use as an ergogenic aid, notwithstanding widespread anecdotal reports of improved exercise performance and focus following DMAA ingestion. While reports have documented an association between DMAA ingestion and adverse events, it remains unclear as to the causal role of DMAA, in particular considering the fact that specific to the reported events, DMAA was often used in combination with other dietary ingredients, prescription medications or recreational drugs. This review discusses the history of DMAA, anecdotal and laboratory findings pertaining to its use, and its use today within the dietary supplement market.