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Hyaluronic acid supplements that were sold in the U.S. through Amazon are being recalled by their manufacturer after the FDA found that they were contaminated with two over-the-counter drugs.
MXBBB is voluntarily recalling one lot of their Umary Acid Hyaluronic supplements following laboratory analysis that showed the presence of diclofenac and omeprazole.
The recall comes after the FDA warned three times this year that customers should not buy any Umary products because “they may be harmful to your health” due to “potentially dangerous hidden drug ingredients not listed on the product label.”
The recall includes a single lot of the the hyaluronic acid sold as 30 caplets of 850 mg. According to Newsweek, the brand sold the supplements on Amazon, though they are no longer available on the site. They were also available in retail stores and on several other websites, including solovital.com.
Hyaluronic acid can be found in foods like garlic, beans, sweet potatoes, peanuts, onions, cabbage, spinach, apples, grapes, and berries.
Taken orally as a dietary supplement, it can help ease arthritis pain and moisturize skin. It may also have benefits for the eyes, lungs, and bladder.
However, diclofenac — which was found to be in the supplements — is an NSAID, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs can increase the risk of cardiovascular issues like heart attack and stroke. They may also cause gastrointestinal issues like bleeding, ulcers, perforation of the stomach, which can be fatal.
It can also have adverse interactions with other drugs.
Meanwhile, omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (commonly referred to as PPI) often used to treat acid reflux. It’s sold under brand names like Prilosec.
According to the FDA, “this hidden ingredient may mask stomach issues such as erosion, ulcers, and stomach cancer, and it can also interact with other medications and should not be taken with certain medications.”
Consumers experiencing adverse reactions are instructed to fill out the online form.
In June, the FDA put out a warning to customers not to buy any products by Umary after their lab analysis found the drug contamination with the two drugs.
They followed up with an additional warning in July and yet another in September, noting an increase in reports of adverse reactions including stomach, heart, and skin issues.