FDA Confirms ‘Dangerous’ Levels of Heavy Metals in Some Kratom Products
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/911370
Final results of tests performed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 30 kratom products confirm the presence of heavy metals, including lead and nickel, at concentrations not considered safe for human consumption, the FDA said Wednesday.
The FDA first warned of “disturbingly” high levels of heavy metals, including lead and nickel, last November, as reported by Medscape Medical News.
The FDA has posted a list of the kratom products and concentrations of heavy metals found in them on its website.
Based on reported patterns of kratom use, heavy kratom users may be exposed to levels of lead and nickel many times greater than the safe daily exposure, the FDA warns in a statement.
Based on these test results, the typical long-term kratom user could potentially develop heavy metal poisoning, which could include nervous system or kidney damage, anemia, high blood pressure, and increased risk of certain cancers, the agency adds.
“Over the last year, the FDA has issued numerous warnings about the serious risks associated with the use of kratom, including novel risks due to the variability in how kratom products are formulated, sold and used both recreationally and by those who are seeking to self-medicate for pain or to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said in the statement.
Gottlieb said the FDA has been “attempting to work” with the companies whose kratom products contain high levels of heavy metals. The agency has released the final laboratory results to the public to “help make sure consumers are fully informed of these risks.”
“The data from these results support our public warning about the risk of heavy metals in kratom products. The findings of identifying heavy metals in kratom only strengthen our public health warnings around this substance and concern for the health and safety of Americans using it,” he added.
No Approved Use
Kratom is derived from the leaves of the kratom tree (Mitragyna speciosa), which is native to Thailand, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. The botanical’s popularity has been increasing in the United States, with manufacturers — and those who take it — claiming it can help treat pain, anxiety, depression, and more recently, opioid withdrawal.
Last year, an analysis of kratom by FDA scientists found that its compounds act like prescription-strength opioids. In addition to heavy metal contamination, kratom products have also been found to be contaminated with Salmonella, resulting in numerous illnesses and product recalls.
Kratom has been linked to numerous deaths in the United States. There are currently no FDA-approved uses for kratom, and the agency has advised against using kratom or its psychoactive compounds mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in any form and from any manufacturer.
Health providers are encouraged to report any adverse reactions related to kratom products to MedWatch, the FDA’s safety information and adverse event reporting program.
I gave some thought before I put this on my blog…what if, since the FDA and other parts of the bureaucracy have unsuccessfully been trying to ban Kratom in some form or another ..have they decided to put a “scary warning” out there to give people second thoughts about using it.
While they state that there is NO FDA APPROVAL for use of Kratom. Kratom is classified as a SUPPLEMENT and NO SUPPLEMENT has the FDA APPROVAL for any use to cure or treat. So the statement that Kratom is not FDA approved – Is NOTHING BUT BS !
Filed under: General Problems
I will definitely side with scare tactics on this. What the FDA fails to realize is that most of us buy from vetted sources, and those vetted sources test for heavy metals and other contaminants (like salmonella) before the product even reaches our shores, and then again once at the seller.
It would be pretty bad business to kill off your consumers now wouldn’t it?
The article also states ” kratom has been related to numerous deaths in the U.S.”
Is this true?
the toxicology of the typical OD shows 4-7 different substances.. one typically be the drug ALCOHOL.. I suspect that some will try adding just about any substance to the “cocktail” that they take in trying to get high. It has been reported that 1000 +/- people die of alcohol toxicity – every year.. the media is not focused on that drug nor the 100,000 that die from the use/abuse of alcohol. I am sure that some/few OD’s toxicology will show they consumed Kratom. I have seen very few reports that Kratom has been the sole substance in the toxicology of someone who OD’d. One woman died of drinking too much water http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16614865/ns/us_news-life/t/woman-dies-after-water-drinking-contest/
They can’t shut up. Seems we are having to deal with folks with “personality defects” and pathologic types of true emotional addictions and obsessions and violent impulses.
I often wonder if opiophobe crusaders are actually getting high on their own behavior…there’s a reason the phrase “religious ecstasy” exists, & some of those people certainly act as if they get off on their rants. Some of the outbursts I’ve seen by members of Oregon’s very extremist, anti-opioid zealots sure seem to give them a huge endorphin boost. Gives their repeated labeling of us as “addicts” a whole new level of irony & hypocrisy.
Very true. It seems that anti-opioid zealots may be under the influence of inflated egos. Can we ban that?
A major aspect of perpetuating the MANY lies contained in the false narrative regarding the Opiates is its potency as a substitute for political correctness and moral high grounds. Something that otherwise takes time, effort, wisdom and integrity to gain.
Flutterby; how I wish we could ban inflated egos…it’d sure cut out a huge herd of politicians. But where could we send ’em? We need a yoooooge desert island.
F1: very true. And we know that simplistic minds arrow straight to simplistic solutions, & it’s just much easier to stand firm on the moral high ground if you don’t bother to think.