Be on the lookout for a product called Total Body Formula and Total Body Mega Formula. Some people who have taken the “diet aid”, which was sold in health foods stores, have muscle cramps, hair loss, joint pain, diarrhea and fatigue.
The products are supposed to have been pulled from store shelves, but you might still have some at home.
An FDA analysis of Total Body Formula and Mega Formula found they contain hazardous amount of the trace minerals, chromium and selenium. The samples contained up to 17 times the recommended intake.
A couple in Athens, Georgia tells the news paper that they took the supplement to be healthy. Now they are anything but.
76-year old Virginia Crawford, was an active member of her community. Now she is frail, has thinning hair, scars all over her body, her fingers ache and she has brown streaks on her nails. Her 81-year-old husband, Ed isn’t doing too well either.
For several weeks in January and February they took Total Body Formula hoping to rejuvenate with added vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. Now their doctor confirms they are sick and have high amounts of selenium in their system.
What a coincidence – excessive selenium can cause hair loss, blotchy nails and mild nerve damage and gastrointestinal problems. Excessive chromium causes those symptoms and hyperactivity, hypoglycemia, renal failure and liver toxicity. And chromium can interfere with any medications you are taking.
They are just some of the 201 individuals reported in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia who’ve called the FDA with adverse reactions.
Remember if you have any adverse reactions, you can call the FDA’s MedWatch Program at 1-800-FDA-1088. You can also go online and contact them online. For more information on chromium and selenium see the CDC on toxic substances.
Unfortunately many products are put on the market with a cursory review for their safety. The manufacturer may not have done an adequate job of testing or researching, and our regulatory agencies generally rely on assurances of safety from the manufacturer. Thousands of injuries occur every year from defective products.
The product liability lawyers at Farah and Farah are experienced in defending you when you’ve been injured by a manufacturer’s negligence. Check our Web site on product liability or call us. We’re always available.
