Ingestion of a Male Enhancement Supplement

 Ingestion of a Male Enhancement Supplement

What is already known about this topic?

Over-the-counter products sold as dietary supplements might contain undeclared Food and Drug Administration–approved prescription pharmaceuticals that could pose a substantial health risk to consumers who believe them to be harmless.To get more news about vigrx oil online, you can visit vigrxplus-original.com official website.

What is added by this report?

An unlabeled, over-the-counter product sold in Virginia convenience stores as a male enhancement supplement contained sildenafil and glyburide, a potent hypoglycemic agent, leading to life-threatening episodes of hypoglycemia requiring prolonged hospitalization among users.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Numerous tainted sexual enhancement products remain on the market as over-the-counter products, placing consumers at risk for unknown health complications. Collaborative and timely surveillance and prompt intervention are required to remove products known to cause substantial morbidity.
On August 14, an outbreak investigation was launched by VDACS and VDH. A confirmed case of V8-associated hypoglycemia was defined as the development of severe hypoglycemia within 48 hours of consuming an over-the-counter male enhancement supplement in a man with no history of use of insulin or other medication used to control blood glucose. During the 3 months following identification of the first two cases, 15 additional patients were hospitalized for management of hypoglycemia associated with ingestion of V8. All were men ranging in age from 33 to 73 years, and all met the confirmed case definition (Table). The mean blood glucose level for all confirmed cases at initial evaluation was 30 mg/dL, and the lowest documented level was 11 mg/dL. Three patients had two separate hospitalizations each for recurring hypoglycemia related to use of the supplement. All patients received intravenous dextrose for acute management, and seven also received octreotide. One patient received steroids and two sessions of empiric hemodialysis, although these therapies are not generally recommended for sulfonylurea poisoning. No V8-related deaths were identified. Patients reported that the V8 supplement was sold in service stations and convenience stores in clear jars without an ingredient list or warning label (Figure). The blue tablets found inside closely resembled prescription sildenafil. Patients reported that the supplement was promoted by word of mouth and was purported to enhance male sexual performance.

Samples of V8 were obtained from the patients’ personal inventories and from several stores throughout Virginia. Tablets were independently analyzed by the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, the state public health laboratory using liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry, and the University of Virginia Department of Pathology’s Laboratories using LC-QTOF-MS. The laboratories confirmed that all tablet samples contained sildenafil in amounts ranging from 55 to 156 mg per tablet, and that most tablets contained 90 to 100 mg of glyburide, a dose 5 to 10 times higher than that used in the treatment of diabetes. Blood from three patients was analyzed for the presence of glyburide, and all three tested positive. Glyburide and sildenafil were detected in the urine of a fourth patient.